One word could sum up Clear Springs' win over Manvel Thursday night at Veterans Stadium in League City, capitalize.
There were many factors that went into the Chargers’ 35-18 win, but that one word speaks plenty of volume and was one of the primary reasons they got the momentum early and it carried them throughout the entire game.
For starters, Clear Springs’ first two scores were the result of Manvel’s special teams mishaps, both on the punt team. The Chargers scored their first 14 points in the first quarter and had a short field to work with the get the ball rolling.
“You know last week, we lost the field position battle and we talked about it all week,” Clear Spring coach Clint Hartman said. “I believe football is a game of territory and if you let a team play in your territory, you are going to have a hard time. I was pleased that when we got in the red zone, we did not have to settle for field goals, we capitalized.”
The first drive for the Chargers started on the 4-yard line and the second on the 14-yard line. Trevon Randle and Sam Richardson, both of who are primary defenders, scored the games first two touchdowns.
But it didn’t stop there. While the offense was handling their end of things, the defense made plays also. Aside from the fact that Dallas McClarty, Brandon Mickens and Donnie Baggs kept constant pressure on Manvel quarterback Dexter Foreman and getting the key sacks when needed, Khary Alexcee broke the game open with an 81-yard fumble recovery just before halftime to extend the Clear Springs lead 21-6.
“We got some big plays and capitalized for some momentum changers. I thought the big fourth-down play with James (Cunningham) was special. You know you have to decide, do we kick or get it to one of our best players, and we decided on the latter,” Hartman said. “We picked up that fumble and scored and every time was got the short field we put it in. That was big for us.”
And in the third quarter, with the ball back in their hands, the Chargers went ahead kept the foot on the gas. Quarterback Dillon Doebler, who was 16-of-25 for 285 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, threw second-half touchdown passes to James Cunningham and Deche Milburn. Cunningham led the Charger receivers with five catches for 146 yards and a score.
For the Mavericks, Foreman played through three quarters and was 17-of-25 for 203 yards and a score. His primary target was Saqwan Edwards, who led all receivers, with 12 catches for 207 yards and three touchdowns.
Travaugh Colwell also saw some action and threw for 124 yards and two touchdown passes.