Cedar Hill Races Past Tomball Memorial

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: December 28, 2020

photos: Steve Thomas

Longhorns end Wildcats’ perfect season and advance to 6A DII Quarterfinals

Despite the chaos of 2020, the Tomball Memorial Wildcats were having a magical season. In only their tenth season of varsity football, the Tomball Memorial Wildcats entered Saturday’s UIL 6A DII regional semi-final at 11-0. With last week’s 49-13 win over Conroe Oak Ridge in the Area Round, the Wildcats had advanced further than any other team in school history. On Saturday, the Wildcats looked to advance to the state quarterfinals and continue their historic run. Opposing the Wildcats were the perennial powerhouse Cedar Hill Longhorns. At 9-1, the Longhorns’ lone loss was a 28-14 decision to 6A juggernaut Duncanville. Last week in the Area Round, the Longhorns blanked Tyler Legacy 45-0.

Throughout Saturday’s game, Cedar Hill’s high-octane offense and stifling defense was too much for Tomball Memorial to overcome. Longhorn quarterback Kaidon Salter rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 159 yards and one touchdown. The defense, meanwhile, stopped the Wildcats on multiple fourth-down tries and forced two key turnovers to lead the Longhorns to a 38-21 victory and end Tomball Memorial’s perfect season.

On the opening drive, the Wildcats drove the ball inside the Longhorns’ 30-yard line; but the Longhorn defense stopped the Wildcats on fourth down. Following the turnover, Salter broke free for a 67-yard touchdown run to put Cedar Hill ahead 7-0. After the Cedar Hill defense stopped Tomball Memorial again on fourth down, Salter connected with receiver Kris Allen for a 17-yard touchdown pass.

Despite the two quick scores for Cedar Hill, the Wildcats were able to answer with a sustained 17-play offensive series on their next drive. The Wildcats capped off the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Colton Marwill to running back Richard Rodriguez. Salter responded on the next drive with a ten-yard touchdown scramble to extend the Longhorns’ lead to 21-7 midway through the second quarter.

On the ensuing drive, the Wildcats put together a sustained drive but once again faced a fourth down in Longhorn territory. Instead of Cedar Hill stopping Memorial as they had on their previous two fourth-down attempts, this time Marwill found the end zone on an 11-yard touchdown keeper which cut the Cedar Hill lead to 21-14 going into halftime.

On the opening drive of the second half, the Wildcat defense forced the Longhorns to punt. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the Longhorn defense once again stopped the Wildcats on fourth down on the following drive. Running back Jaiden Calahan then extended Cedar Hill’s lead to 28-14 with a 32-yard touchdown run. The Wildcats appeared to respond with a touchdown of their own, but Rodriguez fumbled the ball at the goal line. The ball bounced out of the end zone which gave possession back to Cedar Hill.

Following the turnover, Salter capped off the Longhorn offensive drive with a three-yard touchdown keeper and extended the lead to 35-14. On the next drive, Memorial receiver Chase Lovick caught a 25-yard touchdown pass which cut the deficit to 35-21. Following the touchdown, Longhorn kicker Jadon Cardell extended his team’s lead to 38-21 with a 22-yard field goal. Wildcat receiver Jake Ferrell returned the ensuing kickoff to the Longhorn 25-yard line, but Cedar Hill defensive back Jalon Peoples intercepted Colton Marwill’s pass in the end zone. From there, the Longhorns were able to run out the clock.

With the win, Cedar Hill improves to 10-1 overall. Next week, the Longhorns will face the Rockwall Heath Hawks in the UIL 6A DII Region 2 Championship. The Hawks are 11-2 following a 48-24 win over Cypress Bridgeland. The game will be played on Saturday, January 2 nd , 2021, at 3:15pm CST at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Tomball Memorial, meanwhile, finished the season at 11-1.

by Steve Thomas