Clear Creek overcomes Mistakes and gets Big Win over Clear Brook
Maybe the first kickoff of the game was a sign of the Wildcat’s mistakes to follow as the ball bounced out of bounds for their first penalty of the game. The night held promise and the stadium was full of fans celebrating Clear Brook’s Homecoming. The Wolverine Band performed before the game and filled the field with their outstanding music and organization. The Choir of Clear Brook High School sang the National Anthem. The teams ran onto the field, Coach Paul Lanier’s Wolverines and Darryl Warden’s Wildcats, in the wake of running and jumping cheerleaders from both schools and the anticipation was high in League City.
The Wildcats stopped Clear Brook on its first possession, forcing a punt, but made another mistake with 9:20 in the first quarter, when Quarterback Jarryd Garza threw an interception to Wolverine Cornerback Javis Roberts. Clear Brook wasted no time and gave the ball to Senior Running Back, Cameron Newson, #24, who blazed through the Wildcats for an 81 yard touchdown with 9:06 remaining in the first quarter, giving the Wolverines a 7-0 start. Aaron Yelovich added the extra point. This was just the beginning of what would soon be a scoring extravaganza in the first quarter.
The Wildcats took revenge and marched down the field with passes and runs striking from multiple formations, from the Wishbone, to the Spread, to the Wildcat, and their hurry up “no-huddle” caused the Wolverines to scramble for answers. Clear Creek dialed up a reverse to #28, CJ McElory, who took it in for a 4 yard touchdown, evening up the score at 7-7.
Twelve seconds after the Wildcats scored Clear Brook’s Alex Jennings took the kickoff back 55 yards for another touchdown, putting the Wolverines up once again, 14-7. Clear Creek took the following kickoff and drove the field in less than 3 minutes and Jarryd Garza hit CJ McElory with a 31 yard touchdown pass, tying the game up 14-14.
The Wolverines were not content to allow the first quarter to end up tied with the cross town rival Wildcats and with 3:27 left, Barndon Ellison, #33, blasted up-field and into the secondary, outrunning the Wildcats for a 74 yard touchdown. At the end of the first quarter the score was Clear Brook 21-Clear Creek 14. The two teams scored five touchdowns in the first quarter between them. The stadium was rocking and the fans loved every minute of this scoring fest.
In the second quarter the Wildcats kept their momentum and habit of tying the game. With 9:25 left, Jarryd Garza threw another touchdown pass, this time 34 yards to #4, Tevin Jones, locking the score at 21-21. Three minutes later Brandon Ellison answered with a 19 yard touchdown run to give Clear Brook the lead for the fourth time, 28-21. The Clear Creek Wildcats stormed back before the half ended and scored with 2:25 left. CJ McElory scampered 13 yards for a touchdown, tying the score for the fourth time, 28-28. Clear Creek had overcome 7 penalties in the first half to keep the game knotted up.
With a Halftime score of 28 to 28, the thrilling marching band of Clear Creek strode onto the field with tall white plumes shimmering in the night air of Veteran’s Memorial Stadium. The band performed while the drill team, the Cavaliers, did an invigorating white chair dance to delight the crowd. After the Wildcats Band performance, the Clear Brook Homecoming Court strolled out with each nominee escorted through a row of military uniformed students with swords raised in salute.
The Clear Brook Homecoming Court consisted of Freshman Princess, Salina Holcomb, Sophomore Princess, Samantha Tisci, Junior Princess, Rachel Arend, and the Senior Court of Ashleigh Kent, Rose Hale, Aliza Anzaldua, Elliot Marsh, and Homecoming Queen Ta’ Micky Brooks.
After the Halftime Festivities the game took a turn for the defenses to make a few stops. It was a struggle until, with 3:08 left in the third quarter, Brandon Ellison scored his third touchdown of the night with a 3 yard touchdown run, giving Clear Brook their fifth lead of the night, 35-28. They wouldn’t reach the end zone ever again on this Homecoming Night.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Clear Creek Wildcats. Marcus Mata scored on a 5 yard touchdown run with 10:49 left, tying the score once again, 35-35, and then repeated his running performance with only 1:27 left in the game to give the Wildcats their first and only lead of the game with a 4 yard touchdown dash. Clear Creek led 42 to 35 and Clear Brook would get the ball back with a little over a minute to try and answer back.
The game came down to fourth down and only a few yards with 46 seconds left on the clock. The Clear Creek defense plugged the middle and stopped the first down try, giving the Wildcats possession and the game.
Clear Creek’s total yardage was 405, with 230 passing and 175 rushing. Clear Brook passed for only 29 yards but rushed for 321 for a total yardage of 350. Quarterback Jarryn Garza was 17 for 28 for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns and two interceptions. Clear Creek had 9 penalties for 60 yards to Clear Brook’s 3 for 25 yards.
Clear Creek brings its season record to 2-2 and its District record to 1-0. Clear Brook drops to 1-3 and 0-1 in District play. This game proved that these two teams are cut from different molds in their style of play but are equal in their output, with both teams proving that they are true sportsmen and gifted athletes working for each yard and score for their dedicated coaches. This might be one of the best games of the year and only time will tell, but when the dust settles and the playoffs roll around I suspect that both of these teams will be there.