For Cleburne, the playoffs are a game away.
You read that right.
After limiting Waco University to 121 yards of total offense in a 21-0 victory on a muddy field at Yellow Jacket Stadium on Friday night, the Yellow Jackets are a road win away from the postseason.
Cleburne head coach Phil Young expressed pride in his team’s first home district win of the season.
“The three teams that have beaten us have all been in the Top 10,” Young said. “Ennis was No. 9 when they beat us.
“I think our guys understand that and even played within two touchdowns of those teams. They believe real strongly and never doubt.”
Young praised the coaching staff in the victory that ensures the Jackets will have a winning season at the very least.
But obviously, Young said, Cleburne is hungry for more.
“These boys play hard,” Young said. “If you cut them open, half their bodies would be full of heart.”
In a contest that contrasted starkly with last week’s 43-36 overtime shootout with No. 4 Waxahachie, Cleburne’s defense saved the day time and again by forcing three turnovers while the Yellow Jackets experienced some offensive hiccups of their own.
The Trojans’ offense hardly resembled the same unit that hung 55 on Midlothian on Oct. 23 and managed just eight first downs in the loss.
Cleburne was able to grind out 162 rushing yards on 41 carries with L.J. Holmes gaining 109 on 22 carries with a score.
Cody Hicks accounted for the two other Jacket touchdowns on the ground and finished with 63 yards on 15 carries.
After University deferred the opening kickoff to Cleburne, the Jackets stuck with their trend of striking first and drove 80 yards in seven plays to take a 7-0 lead behind Holmes’ 13-yard touchdown plunge.
The remainder of the opening period took on a sloppy tone with muffed punts, penalties and an overall inability of either team’s offense to put the ball in the end zone.
The Trojans had a chance to cut the lead to four with a 36-yard field goal at the beginning of the second quarter, but the kick fell short and Cleburne maintained it’s 7-0 lead.
The Jackets harassed University quarterback Randy Price all night, who finished 3-of-17 for 22 yards and was picked off by Holmes as the second quarter wound down.
With the Trojans poised to try to tie the game after receiving the second half kickoff, the Jacket defense stepped up and forced a fumble on second-and-11 from the 9, and scored two plays later when Hicks took it in from two yards out.
Young said the defensive effort ranked among the season’s best for Cleburne.
“They played playoff caliber defense,” Young said. “That’s what I keep telling them. They got the shutout against a very good, quality team. They played their guts out and I’m very proud of them.”
With a road date against Corsicana on Friday determining a playoff spot, Young said he expects the focus to be just as intense against the Tigers.
“It’s on the line,” Young said. “Whoever wins goes on. More than likely that looks like what is going to happen.”
After feeling a bit under the weather during the day, Young said he was in brighter spirits after the shutout.
“I’m feeling great right now,” Young said, smiling. “No sickness can keep me down.”
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David Beans/Special to the Times-Review
Discussion
One down, one to go
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