CLASS 2A GRIDIRON GRADES: Week 2

Grabbing the spotlight, Class 2A, DII top-ranked Mart reigns supreme by beating Class 3A, DI McGregor

With the 2020 Texas high school football season heating up during Week 2, the cream began to raise to the top of Class 2A teams competing in the Heart of Texas region.

Looking for its fourth straight state championship, Class 2A, DII’s top-ranked Mart once again grabbed the spotlight under the Friday night lights with an impressive 43-33 road victory of the larger Class 3A, DI McGregor Bulldogs.

But with a full slate of games under the lights, several other Class 2A clashes captured their share of the attention.

MART 43, MCGREGOR 33

On the heels of winning three consecutive state titles, the Class 2A, DII’s top-ranked Mart Panthers came into the season challenging themselves by scheduling a four-game non-district run against Class 3A opponents. But the Panthers keep rising to the occasion and winning.

Mart junior running backs Keishawn Clater and Klyderion Campbell ran for two touchdown each and senior quarterback Roddrell Freeman connected with DaMarion Medlock for a 66-yard scoring strike as the Panthers jumped out to a 43-19 with 5:40 left in the game.

But McGregor mounted a late rally as senior quarterback VeAndre McDaniel tossed three touchdown passes and ran for another.

CRAWFORD 39, BRUCEVILLE-EDDY 25

After inclement weather forced the game to be postponed until Saturday and moved to Robinson’s Rocket Stadium, the Crawford Pirates remained undefeated under new head coach Greg Jacobs with a hard-fought 39-25 victory over Bruceville-Eddy.

Coming up with three turnovers and converting two of them into points, Crawford (2-0) scored 25 unanswered points in the second half to erase a deficit to build a 39-19 lead with 6:15 left in the game.

In a clash of dueling signal callers, Crawford quarterback Tanner Merenda completed seven of nine passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Bruceville-Eddy quarterback Trapper Ensor finished with 206 rushing yards for two touchdowns and 166 yards passing.

Once again this season, THE SPORTS BUZZ will provide award-winning coverage of the 2020 Texas high school football season, focusing on Class 3A, 2A and 1A schools in the 10-county Heart of Texas region — which includes Bosque, Comanche, Coryell, Erath, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Johnson, McLennan and Somervell counties.

Within the Heart of Texas region, THE SPORTS BUZZ will be covering 15 Class 2A schools spread out across six districts in two divisions. Be sure to check back every Sunday for the Class 2A Gridiron Grades and Friday Night Flashback featuring district standings, scores and upcoming matchups for all 15 Class 2A teams from the Heart of Texas.

Photos by WENDY OROZCO & SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

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