Pflugerville Edges Pflugerville Weiss

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: November 7, 2020

photos: Steve Thomas

Panthers secure win over Wolves with goal-line stand

“Believe.” Pflugerville head coach Charles Taylor said that was all his players had to do to be successful. In his fourth year as head coach of the Panthers, Taylor’s players seem to be buying into the philosophy. At 5-1 overall and 3-1 in district, the Panthers are off to their best start since 2012. The Panthers’ lone defeat was a 48-47 loss against Leander three weeks ago. Last week, the Panthers bounced back with a 32-31 overtime victory over Manor. This week, the Panthers looked to secure another win in a loaded district in their first-ever meeting with the Pflugerville Weiss Wolves.

Under first-year head coach Steve Van Meter, the Wolves entered Friday night’s game at 1-3 overall and 1-1 in district. Last week, the Wolves lost a close 49-48 contest to Pflugerville Hendrickson. Oddly enough, the Wolves’ lone win of the season was a 63-34 victory over Leander. Behind a solid ground game and several big defensive plays, the Panthers secured a 27-20 Homecoming victory over the Wolves.

In the first half, mistakes plagued both teams. Weiss appeared poised to score on the opening drive, but the Pflugerville defense forced running back Calin Rogers to fumble the ball at the Panthers’ one-yard line. The Panthers’ then drove the ball deep into Weiss territory, but running back Elijah Oakmon fumbled the ball at the Wolves’ three-yard line. The Pflugerville defense then forced the Wolves to punt, but the Panthers were flagged for running into the kicker. Rather than punt again, the Wolves went for it on fourth down; and quarterback Dior Bradfield connected with Micah Gifford for a 37-yard pass. Three plays later, Bradfield connected with Tavian Cord on a five-yard touchdown pass.

Later in the second quarter, Pflugerville quarterback Jaylon Reeves tied the game with a 19-yard touchdown pass to receiver and Homecoming King Patrick Onyia. On the ensuing drive, Bradfield connected with receiver Jeremiah Robinson on a ten-yard touchdown pass. The Panthers blocked the extra-point-attempt, however, which left the Weiss lead at 13-7 going into halftime.

In the second half, Elijah Oakmon and the defense stole the show for Pflugerville. After the defense forced Weiss to punt on the Wolves’ first drive of the half, Oakmon gave Pflugerville at 14-13 lead on a 14-yard touchdown run. The defense again forced Weiss to punt, and Oakmon extended the Panther lead to 20-13 on a five-yard touchdown run.

Following Oakmon’s second touchdown, Weiss running back Devin Cross tied the game at 20-20 with a 67-yard touchdown run. The Weiss defense appeared to swing momentum in their favor on the ensuing drive when they recovered Jaylon Reeves’s fumble at the Panther 46-yard line. The Panthers’ defense stiffened, however, and forced the Wolves to punt.

On the drive following the punt, Oakmon put the Panthers back in front with a 29-yard touchdown run. The Wolves’ offense was forced to punt on the next drive, but their defense gave them a chance to tie the game when they stopped Oakmon short of the first-down marker on fourth down. The Wolves drove the ball all the way to the Panthers’ one-yard line, but a false-start pushed them back to the six-yard line. Despite having four tries at the end zone to tie the game, the Wolves were unable to get into the end zone; and the Panthers held on for the win.

After the game, Coach Van Meter cited youth and inexperience as the cause of his team’s struggles. According to Van Meter, the Wolves’ offensive line featured three sophomores and a freshman. He said that the key to improving will be to continue working hard and maturing. Additionally, he said the Wolves still have a path to a playoff spot; but it is significantly more difficult. On the positive side, Van Meter praised his team’s work ethic and perseverance even in tough games.

Next week, the Wolves will host the Manor Mustangs (1-4, 1-3) on Thursday at the Pfield. Pflugerville will travel to Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park on Friday to take on the Cedar Park Timberwolves (6-0, 4-0.)

by Steve Thomas