Tigers Rout Panthers 49-13
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Updated: October 9, 2017
photos: Caleb Wiesenhutter
Stony Point Pflatens Pflugerville 49-13
The Round Rock Stony Point Tigers (3-3) controlled the matchup with the Pflugerville Panthers (2-4), in a 49-13 statement win to push the Tigers to 2-0 in district play and give them a win on homecoming night. The Tigers out-gained the Panthers with 546 yards, compared to Pflugerville’s 283 yards, with the heavy difference coming from the passing game. Led by senior quarterbacks Zach Rangel (253 yards passing, 3 TD) and Donovan Rybachek (81 yards passing, 2 TD) the Tiger offense once again exploded, going over 40 points for the 5th time this year. Tiger head coach Craig Chessher was very pleased with his team's performance at night's end.
“I’m proud of our guys for maintaining their focus tonight throughout the whole game,” Chessher said. “Our offense was dynamite and has been real hot lately, and our defense has some things to improve on, but did well overall. Hopefully we can get a little bit better.”
The scoring for Stony Point came early and often with Stony Point scoring on their first four drives of the game. Senior WR Jaylen Williams caught two touchdown passes in the opening quarter, one from Rangel and one from Rybachek to give Stony Point a 14-0 lead at the end of the quarter. Pflugerville was forced to punt on their lone possession during the quarter, and could not move the ball effectively in the first half of the game.
The 2nd quarter opened with an unsuccessful Pflugerville 4th down conversion attempt, which gave the ball back to Stony Point. That drive ended successfully, when sophomore RB Kendall Thomas punched in a 27 yard TD run. Thomas followed that by catching an 88 yard TD pass from Rangel on the very next drive for the Tigers. A punt from each team followed, but on the Pflugerville drive, following the Tiger punt, senior DE/P Jack Landry stripped Panther QB Damon Tamez and fell on the fumble to give the Tigers the ball on the 50 yard line with just 1 minute before halftime. Rangel wasted no time as he found Williams with a perfectly thrown 50 yard TD pass, to send the Tigers up 35-0 into halftime. Chessher was very pleased with the strong offensive play from both his senior WR and sophomore RB.
“Kendall has some speed, and it makes a difference, it’s a change up,” he said. “He’s been a breathe of fresh air for us, and has played a really important role for us on offense. Williams has been a huge component for our offense. He does everything he needs to well, and he’s been a real blessing for us. He’s really helped our offense here in his senior year.”
Coming out in the second half, Pflugerville finally managed to get their offense moving. Halfway thru the 3rd quarter the Panthers hit paydirt on a long score. Tamez found his target on a deep ball for a 66 yard TD pass, to put the Panthers on the board. Stony Point responded quickly just before the quarter ended, when Rybachek tossed the ball off to junior RB Tyler Cleveland, who took it to the house for a 57 yard TD pass to end the quarter with the Tigers leading 42-7.
In the 4th quarter, Pflugerville scored again on a 4 yard TD pass from Tamez to senior DE/TE Zion Cage, but the PAT was blocked to put the score at 42-13. Thomas put an exclamation point on his big night for the Tigers, when he punched in another 27 yard TD run, to put the game in the books, giving the Tigers the 49-13 win.
Thomas paced the Tiger run game, finishing the night with 131 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns on only 8 carries, and picked up an additional 88 yards receiving thanks to the long TD pass. Williams ended the night with 131 yards receiving and 3 touchdown catches to lead the Tiger pass catchers.
The Tigers will play their rival, the Cedar Ridge Raiders next week, in a battle of District 13-6A’s two top teams. Pflugerville will play the Round Rock Dragons (0-5), in a game that could play out in determining a playoff spot come season’s end.
*Note: Stony Point’s record sits at 5-1 but due to a UIL ruling, the Tigers were forced to vacate wins against Killeen and Killeen Ellison to open the year, which puts their record at 3-3 following this win.
by Caleb Wiesenhutter
(click photo to see slideshow)
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