CLASS 3A GRIDIRON GRADES: Week 4
COVID-19 derails defending state champion Grandview’s showdown with Glen Rose; Clifton claims first win with wild 4th quarter rally
After winning the Class 3A, Division I state championship in 2019 and opening this season with three straight wins, the only thing that could derail the second-ranked Grandview Zebras proved to be the novel coronavirus COVID-19, wiping out the much-anticipated clash with the Class 4A, DII Glen Rose Tigers last Friday night.
On the flip side, the Lorena Leopards were back in action as their Week 3 game at the Gatesville Hornets was cancelled due to pandemic concerns due to “a positive COVID-19 test for one of our players.” And the Leopards came back with a vengeance, shredding Madisonville, 56-25.
Re-emerging as a legitimate playoff contender after opening the season by losing three straight to larger schools, Class 3A, DII’s pre-season 21st-ranked team the Clifton Cubs scored 29 fourth quarter points to post a come-from-behind 43-26 victory over Class 2A, DII perennial powerhouse Tenaha last Friday night at Cub Stadium.
As THE SPORTS BUZZ Game Of The Week, be sure to watch the video highlights of the Clifton vs. Tenaha game here: https://www.facebook.com/SCrossCreative/videos/627033031329205/, or watch Clifton head coach Chuck Caniford’s post-game interview with THE SPORTS BUZZ On The Air here: https://www.facebook.com/SCrossCreative/videos/2677020795907433/.
WEST 35, ROGERS 29
WEST — After losing their season opener, the Class 3A, DI West Trojans won their third straight by clipping the Class 3A, DII Rogers Eagles, 35-29, last Friday night as senior running back Trey Janek rushed for four touchdowns at Trojan Stadium.
Despite West (3-1) enjoying a 21-9 halftime advantage, Rogers (1-3) rallied in the third quarter to take a 22-21 lead when Eagle Brandon Kosel scored on a one-yard run. The Trojans responded to recapture the lead as Janek scored on a 41-yard touchdown romp late in the third quarter.
Rogers came right back in the fourth as RJ Cook scored his second rushing touchdown of the game and Julian Lashbrook nailed the extra point to put the Eagles up by one, 29-28. But once again, West responded as Janek ripped off a 32-yard scoring scamper for the game-winner.
MCGREGOR 41, ARLINGTON OAKRIDGE 23
ARLINGTON – Junior running back Chad Lorenz scored four touchdowns while senior quarterback VeAndre McDaniel threw for two scores and ran for another to lead the McGregor Bulldogs in a hard-fought 41-25 road victory over Arlington Oakridge last Friday night.
Clinging to a 28-23 lead going to the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs (2-2) put the Oakridge Owls away for 13 unanswered points. Lorenz rushed for 200 yards and three scores as well as hauling in a 22-yard touchdown pass. McDaniel complete 14 of 20 passes for 172 yards and rushed for 42 yards on 10 carries.
LORENA 56, MADISONVILLE 25
LORENA — After getting shutdown by COVID-19 just hours before game time last week, the Lorena Leopards came leaping back into action with a resounding 56-25 victory over the Madisonville Mustangs at home last Friday night.
After taking a 29-17 lead before intermission, Lorena scored 27 unanswered points in the second half to put the game out of reach. Junior running back Reed Michna led the Leopards with 114 yards rushing and four touchdowns followed by sophomore Karen Taylor with 107 yards and two scores as Lorena piled up 331 yards on the ground.
But the Leopards balanced their offensive attack as senior quarterback Ben Smedshammer completed nine of 15 passes for 178 yards while rushing for 79 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Jadon Porter finished as Lorena’s leading receiver with two catches for 101 yards.
Within the Heart of Texas region, THE SPORTS BUZZ covers nine Class 3A schools spread out across four districts in two divisions. Be sure to check back every week for our Friday Night Flashback roundups, district standings, scores and upcoming matchups for all nine Class 3A teams in the area.
Photos by DAVID HARDING & SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS
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