The Red Devils of Prague gave the Longhorns quite a scare on Friday Night, but in the end, the Longhorns were able to make a few key defensive plays and take advantage of the Red Devil defensive lineup and walk away with a 49-42 victory. The Longhorns sit at 5-1 in District Play in a three-way tie for first place in District 2A-2.
The Red Devils run a Wing-T Flex offensive scheme, and the misdirection as well as the legs of Quarterback Trip Davis often gave the Longhorn Defense trouble throughout the evening. On the other side of the ball, Prague seemed to bring extra safety help over to cover wideout Cadyn Karl, which put Emmett Murphy in some single coverage situations that created some big plays for the Longhorns and a career night for Murphy.
The Red Devils received the opening kick, and after getting a first down, were forced to punt. The Longhorns scored three plays later on a five-yard Carson May rush. The TD was set up by two chunk plays by Clayton Creasey and Emmett Murphy, a foreshadow of the offensive production for the Longhorns. On the opening play, Creasey took the ball 20 yards into Prague territory. On the next play, May found Murphy on a 40 yard strike that gave the Longhorns the ball 1st and goal from the 5. Jones led 7-0 at the end of the 1st.
Prague was already deep in Longhorn territory at the beginning of the 2nd Quarter. On the third play of the 2nd, Prague running back Trevor McGinnis took the ball in the end-zone. This would set off a 35-point scoring barrage in the 2nd after a relatively uneventful 1st Quarter. It is worth noting that Prague would go for two on every TD of the evening. Their first attempt was successful, giving the Red Devils an 8-7 lead and the first lead-change of the evening. It would not last long as Senior Wideout Cadyn Karl returning the ensuing kickoff 77-yards for the Touchdown. Both teams would exchange punts, including a Braiden Martin punt that was downed at the 16-yard line. That is when the Wing-T Flex started to work. The Devils went on a 5 play, 84 yard drive, all on the ground. The biggest play was a 66-yard rush by Davis. After the Devils scored, the two-point conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the game tied at 14-14.
Karl had another outstanding kickoff return, this time to the Red Devil 49 yard line. Five plays later, May found an open Emmett Murphy for a 38-yard Touchdown. The Longhorns were able to stop Davis behind the line of scrimmage the next two play, setting up the first 3rd and long for the Red Devils on the evening. This forced Davis into a passing situation, and Braiden Martin was able to come up with the big interception. This set up another May to Murphy Touchdown with 20 seconds left and the Longhorns went to the locker room with a 28-14 lead.
The Longhorns received the ball to begin the second half. A promising drive was halted by a fumble in Red Devil territory. The Devils would then put the ball on the ground again a few plays later, recovered by the Longhorns. Jones would go three and out on the next drive. A few plays later, Trip Davis would take the ball 63-yards for the Touchdown. On the next drive for the Horns, Clayton Creasey would find room and the edge and make a cut for a 75-yard Touchdown. Two plays later, Davis would rush for another TD, this time for 50-yards. Jones would fumble on the kickoff, giving the ball to Prague up 35-26 heading to the 4th.
McGinnis would have another rushing TD on the first play of the 4th, after a successful two-point conversion, Jones was nursing a 35-34 lead early in the final frame. The Longhorns were not able to convert on the next drive, giving the Devils and opportunity to go on a six play, 66 yard drive, all on the ground to give Prague a 42-35 lead. Just like the last time the Devils took the lead, it would not last long as Murphy would beat his man and May would place the ball right where it needed to be on a 75-yard strike. With the game tied 42-42, Prague had the ball with 2 minutes left in the game, but facing another third and long, Davis was forced to pass, which was picked off by Kameron Sweat along the sideline. “It went up and I knew I had to get something…I wanted to make a play for my team, I lost it in the light but then I had it” an exhausted Sweat said after the game.
With the ball on their own 36-yard line, Carson May and Jones offense had 53 seconds left on the clock. Three plays later May found Murphy in single coverage again for their fourth connection on the night. “I’m just so excited, Carson put the balls in the right spot for me to make the plays, I’m just so excited we executed and got the win.” Murphy said shortly after his game-winning catch.
Carson May finished the night 8/16, 264 yards and 4 Touchdowns while adding another 62 yards on the ground with another score. All four of May’s passing TDs went to Emmett Murphy, who had 6 receptions for 208 yards. Clayton Creasey averaged over 11 yards-per-carry on an 11-run, 125 yard performance.
Prague finished the night with 454 total yards on 69 plays, including 436 on the ground. QB Trip Davis had 299 rushing yards and 2 TDs on 26 runs. Trevor McGinnis had 122 yards and 3 TDs on 26 carries. However, Prague only attempted 10 passes, with one completion and two interceptions. Both interceptions led to Longhorn TDs.
“The kids deep playing…that is what we’re most proud of” Coach Dave Martin said after the game. The Longhorns hit the road next week to take on the Meeker Bulldogs for the regular season finale.
The Jones Journal 