Playing the underdog role to perfection, the Lions get a chance for an encore at 2 p.m. today when fifth-ranked CTCS meets No. 2 Rockwall Heritage Christian at Bearcat Stadium in a TAPPS Six-Man Division I state semifinal.
“I saw God work on their hearts between the first and second halves,” said Lions coach Jeremy Wentrcek, whose team trailed 50-32 at halftime before rallying for a 94-63 victory against Pine Drive. “They went into that game thinking the season might be over. They came out of that game thinking, ‘We can play with anybody.’”
The winner will face No. 1 Greenville Christian (10-0) or No. 4 Austin Hill Country (7-4) for the state championship next Saturday, also in Moody.
According to sixmanfootball.com, the Eagles (10-2) are 37-point favorites, but the Lions (7-5) faced a stiff regular-season schedule - No. 7 Abbott, TAPPS Division II No. 1 Fredericksburg Heritage and No. 2 Brenham Christian - and were 39-point underdogs last week before showing their mettle.
“When David killed the giant, after that he was like, ‘Well, it’s just another giant.’ He was used to playing giants,” Wentrcek said. “If we can get used to playing giants, it’s not such a big issue when you get up against them. I think it had a lot to do with them, especially in the second half.”
That and a breakout performance from junior quarterback Taylor Truitt.
Truitt ran for seven touchdowns, threw for two, returned an interception for a score, recovered a fumble, was 11-for-12 on conversion kicks and accounted for 82 of CTCS’ 94 points. Truitt had just eight total TDs before last week, but when the Lions switched from their run-based tight offense to the spread, Truitt led CTCS on eight consecutive touchdown drives.
“Whenever we’re able to switch that also gives more people the ball to run,” Truitt said. “It doesn’t put pressure on one person. Jeremiah (Bergert) and Caleb (Paschall) - it doesn’t keep putting all the pressure on them and it keeps us away from injuries. Since we are small, we have to switch it up a little bit and that changes the game.”
Bergert has rushed for 1,025 yards and 17 TDs, Paschall has 735 yards and 13 TDs and receiver Brent Reynolds has caught 23 passes for 411 yards and 10 TDs.
The Lions’ offensive versatility helped them blow past Pine Drive, but their defense also played a big part, allowing four first downs and 13 points in the second half.
“Defensively they had a tough chore trying to slow down the other team, but they did a great job of wearing them down,” said Heritage Christian coach Robert Huckabee, whose team has reached the state semifinals the last four seasons and won the title in 2006.
CTCS’ defense turns its attention from Pine Drive quarterback Keenon Ward to RHC tailback Josh Points.
Having totaled 222 rushing yards and four TDs in last week’s 56-8 win over Bulverde Bracken Christian, Points has rushed for 1,401 yards and 24 TDs and is the focal point of an offense that averages 59.2 points per game.
When asked how Points stacked up to Ward, Huckabee said they are completely different players.
“Ward is very athletic, fluid and throws the ball well. He is a more typical six-man spread back,” he said.
“With Josh, his strength is running the ball, catching passes and trying to make people miss. He just really runs hard, he hits the hole quick and kind of bounces around like a pinball.”
Quarterback Zach Read has tossed 31 TD passes and Noah Ward and Josh Peschell have a combined 23 receiving scores.
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
