ISAIAH PEVIA speeds toward a touchdown run of 71 yards on the final play of the third quarter in Groesbeck, Friday night. Fightin' Cats won 60-28. Mexia's D.J. Robinson (21) comes up to block. Elizabeth Hickenbottom photo
Fightin' Cat offensive machine races past Groesbeck 60-28
by By BOB WRIGHT Editor
(Posted 11/10/2009 11:12 am)
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It appears that Mexia will go into Bi-District next Friday night at Cedar Hill Longhorn Stadium, with the opponent to be announced sometime today.
The Mexia magic continued over Groesbeck last night before a large crowd as the Fightin’ Cats won their 11th straight over their Battle of the River rivals.
Senior quarterback Trae Davis was sharp through the airlanes, flying the friendly skies of Groesbeck Stadium by connecting on 17 of 18 passes without an interception, hitting receivers for four scoring passes. Trae also scored twice on runs of four and eight yards.
Davis played until the final two plays of the third quarter, when he was relieved by sophomore QB D.J. Weathers. Lots of reserves came in for the entire fourth period as the referees kept the clock rolling for most of the quarter, including incomplete passes.
Mexia, every time Groesbeck scored had an answer, and it was usually fast in coming, including a second-half 74-yard kickoff return for a score.
Groesbeck did not score in the second period, while Mexia really “put it away” with four third-quarter touchdowns.
First-line defender Isaiah Pevia, but backup offensive runner, got in on the act on the last play of the third quarter when he sped down the east sidelines enroute to a 71-yard touchdown.
Both teams played turnover-free ball, with neither an interception nor a fumble.
Mexia received to start the game. The Fightin’ Black Cats scored on their first four possessions to quickly establish the tone of the game. Groesbeck never got close, except for the Goats’ initial possession to pull to within 8-6, after their two-point conversion attempt failed.
Mexia’s crisp-blocking line again asserted itself in providing room for runners, but really shone forth on giving protection to Davis on passing situations.
With reserves in, there were still some entertaining offensive moments, while Mexia registered 20 first downs and 475 yards in total offense - 259 aground and 216 through the air.
Groesbeck quarterback Caleb Holbrook had a good passing night himself, connecting on 18 of 30, with no interceptions. Holbrook, ever the dangerous runner when he runs out of passing options, scored on a 41-yard run on the Goats’ first series, and that was the time Groesbeck came closest at 8-6. He also fired a 21-yard scoring pass to Russell Neal in the fourth period.
The Goats never gave up, and put 358 yards onto the offensive output. Passing was the main forte with 241 yards, while Mexia’s defensive brigade shut down the Goat running game in the second half, holding the Goats to 30 yards on the ground.
The defense put a pretty good “rush” on Holbrook with a couple of first-half losses and three more minus-yardage situations in the final half. Doing the most damage were the Gees - Javoy and Sam, Nick Zerkle and Jacob Beachum, all of whom put on the pressure.
Other Crimson and Black defenders who got in some good licks throughout the evening were Trent Mack (sack of Qb), Matt Chaney, B.J. Johnson, Diontre Oliver, Marquis Melton. And, in the secondary, along with the linebacking corps, were Aaron Childs, Davonta Foreman, Jeffrey Proctor, Alaric Strain and Mister Carroll. Groesbeck did burn ‘em a few times on passes at the corners. But, that situation will get attention this week as the Fightin’ Black Cats march into the playoffs.
Doug Gentry had 96 yards to lead all rushers, while Davis rushed for 71 yards. He did not carry the ball in the second half. D.J. Weathers, quarterbacking for all of the fourth period and for two plays in the third, netted 11 yards on the ground, while Pevia had 72 yards on four carries.
On the offensive line side, the blocking for the most part was crisp, including that of Will Padgett, Devin Threat, Jacob Beachum, Andres Lara, Brandon Allen, Will Johnson and center Bradley Crenshaw.
Mexia had to punt only once. Davis booted the ball for 42 yards on that occasion. The coverage in the kicking game showed signs of some positives with Jereal Proctor, Alaric Strain, Jeff Proctor, Pevia, Foreman, Mack and Jake Cherry “getting downfield.” Cherry also filled in at wide receiver for a play or two, and is the deep snapper on extra-point kicks by Angel Contreras.
Groesbeck runners stacked up like this - Joel Wells run hard and wound up with 47 yards, Holbrook had 43 yards and Zeb Thomas netted 30.
Despite Mexia’s scoring prowess, the Goat defense played hard, with some key plays turned in by Jesse Barraza, Will Stone, Joel Wells, Kyle Cortines (strong and physical), Zeb Thomas and Micheal Graves.
Groesbeck scoring came on the Holbrook 41-yarder in the opening period, Zeb Thomas’ one-yard run in the third, Joel Wells’ two-yard run in the same period, and Holbrook’s 21-yard pass to Russell Neal in the final quarter.
Mexia scored on Davis’ 44-yard pass to Jereal Strain and Davis’ run for eight yards in the opening quarter; Davis’ four-yard run in the second period, a Davis-to-Gentry pass for 15, also in the second; and four scores in the third quarter - a Davis-to-Gentry screen for 11 yards, a six-yard toss by Davis to D.J. Robinson, Davonta Foreman’s 74-yard kickoff return, and Pevia’s 71-yard run.
Two-point conversions came on a run by Strain, a run by Gentry, another run by Gentry, and another run by Strain.
Tony Contreras booted four of four extra points.
Extra-point conversions by Groesbeck came on a Holbrook pass to Cortines, a Joel Wells’ run and a Holbrook aerial to Russell Neal.
Some highlights of Mexia drives, and how those producing scores evolved:
Mexia capped a 67-yard march just a minute and 29 seconds deep into the game, using four plays, and culminating with Davis’s 44-yarder to Jereal Proctor. Strain ran for two, and it was 8-0 about as fast as you could say “Go, Cats.” The first offensive play of the evening was a seven-yarder by Strain on the end-around. Gentry then bolted for eight yards, followed by an eight-yard pass from Davis to Jereal Proctor.
Davis’ eight-yard run made it 14-6 with 4:48 remaining in the opening period, and ending a 10-play, 71-yard march. Gentry ran for two points. In the drive, Davis put on a great fake then sped to his right for 10 yards. Davis hit Williams for six, then Jereal Proctor for 14, and Williams for 16, with some Gentry runs of three and eight yards thrown into the mix.
The Fightin’ Cats started another scoring drive with Davis running for six yards as the first period ended. After an illegal motion penalty, Gentry got that lost yardage back, then some, with a zip of 32 yards. Davis connected with Williams for seven, then ran for six and followed up with a 35-yard run. Gentry had runs of six and 19 more before Davis scored from the four with 7:32 to go in the half. Gentry ran for the two-point conversion, ending an 89-yard drive in 10 plays and putting Mexia in front 24-6.
Mexia stretched the lead to 32-6 with a minute and five seconds to go in the half when Davis passed to Gentry for 15, followed by Jaramee Strain’s two-point run. The 62-yard drive needed seven plays. Some Davis passes - eight yards to Robinson, eight to Gentry, two Gentry runs of four and eight, and a Davis pass to D.J. Weathers for 12 kept the drive alive.
In the third period, Mexia cranked up another scoring drive on a six-yard pass to Robinson, Gentry’s runs of seven and 30 yards (the latter coming on fourth-and-two at the Goat 41. The score came on an 11-yard pass from Davis to Gentry at the 7:16 mark. Contreras’ kick made it 39-6, finishing up a 49-yard drive in five plays.
Mexia made it 46-14 on a six-yard pass from Davis to Robinson. Contreras kicked the extra point. It was a 48-yard drive in four plays, set up with Davonta Foreman’s 32-yard kickoff return. The drive’s big play along the way was Davis’ 35-yard pass to Robinson.
After Groesbeck scored again, Foreman started slowly, using a couple of blockers to advantage, then turned on the speed for a 74-yard kickoff return with 2:26 to go in the third. Contreras booted the point, stretching the lead to 53-22.
On the quarter’s final play, Mexia wrapped up its scoring when Pevia sped down the sideline for a 71-yard touchdown run. Contreras’ kick made it 60-22.
in the final Mexia series, D.J. Weathers knelt three times to run out the clock, which had been running on all occasions for quite some time.
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Mexia YARDSTICK Groesbeck
20 First Downs 17
259 Rushing Yds. 117
216 Passing Yds. 241
18 Passes Att. 30
17 Passes Comp. 18
0 Passes Int. By 0
0 Fumbles Rec. By 0
1-42 Punts-Yds. 3-80
42 Punt Avg. 26.7
3-20 Penalties 3-30
Mexia's football team had just come through the Black Cat tunnel, bearing the United States flag, with the final entrance onto the field to start the game. The team then knelt, in tribute to the wounded and in memory of the deceased from the Thursday tragedy at Fort Hood. Bearing the flag are Fightin' Black Cats Jake Cherry (6), Bradley Crenshaw (50) and Jereal Proctor (3). Elizabeth Hickenbottom photo
