Cleburne’s hope of a season-opening win over Dallas Madison on Friday night at home went up in flames as the speedy Trojans used big play after big play to bury the Yellow Jackets, 62-9.
Madison (1-0) had four scoring plays of 85 yards or more in the rout, and three of those came through the air.
Trojan quarterback Bryce Pearson broke free on an 85-yard yard touchdown run with 4:25 left in the first quarter to give Madison a 6-0 lead after a failed two-point conversion attempt.
Cleburne had three chances inside the Trojan 10 in the first half to keep pace with Madison, but netted only three points on a 38-yard field goal by Jacob Vasquez.
On the Jackets’ first trip downfield, Cleburne advanced all the way to the 6, but penalties and stiff Madison defense drove the Jackets back to the 41 where a fake field goal attempt failed to net Cleburne any points.
Later in the half, the Jackets drove down to the 3, only to turn the ball over on a fumble.
Head coach Phil Young said that was what did Cleburne in.
“We had a lot of real good drives early,” Young said. “We had a lot of yardage and we were driving the ball. We’d get inside the 10 and then shoot ourselves in the foot. We didn’t capitalize and they beat us with some big plays.
“Their speed beat our youth and inexperience.”
Big plays ruled the day for Madison as the Trojans had five scoring plays of 70 yards or more.
After Pearson’s big run in the middle of the first quarter, he found Ronald Wilcot two minutes later for an 18-yard touchdown strike.
Vasquez’s field goal made it 12-3 with 9:37 left in the second, but Pearson tossed another touchdown pass, this one from 13 yards out, to Wilcot to make it 20-3.
Three minutes later, pinned deep in their own territory, the Trojans showcased their speed.
Backup quarterback Terry Ross lofted a high pass to Marquise Smith who hauled it in and raced downfield for a 97-yard touchdown. Madison led 28-3 at the half.
“We didn’t block and tackle real well,” Young said. “We’ve got young kids that have to grow up and drop their stingers.
“I’ve never heard of a baby coming out of the womb that can walk. They’ve got to crawl and then learn to walk. This group of young men is very resilient and they played four full quarters. We’ve got to learn to also finish on offense.”
Madison picked up where it left off in the third quarter as Eric Horseley charged in for a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 34-3.
L.J. Holmes, who finished with 107 rushing yards on 20 carries, finally got Cleburne its first touchdown later in the frame with a 24-yard run, but the Trojans weren’t done.
After a 1-yard run by Horseley to make it 42-9, Madison ripped off three straight scoring plays of 70 yards or more.
Jamon Brewers hauled in an 85-yard scoring strike from Pearson, Derrick Edwards returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown and Johnathan Houff caught a 90-yard touchdown pass from Pearson to round out the scoring.
Pearson finished 8-for-12 for 242 yards and four touchdowns.
The Jackets will take on Frisco Centennial at 7 p.m. Sept. 3 at Pizza Hut Park with a chance to move to 1-1.
Sports
Jackets routed at home, 62-9
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