Manvel runs roughshod over Strake Jesuit 75-14
November 30, 2015
MANVEL — Manvel scored on four of their first five possessions and then put it on cruise control in a 75-14 route over Strake Jesuit in a Class 6A Region III Div. II semifinal contest.
The victory sends the Mavericks to the Region III Div. II finals to face the No. 2 state-ranked Katy Tigers (13-0) for the third straight year.on Friday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at NRG Stadium.
Katy has ended the season for the Mavs the past two years on their way to the state title game. The Tigers defeated Manvel 56-14 in 2013 and 45-17 in 2014.
Manvel is hoping to see a different outcome this year in what will be their last year in Class 6A when the UIL realignment will drop them down to Class 5A when Shadow Creek High School opens in the fall of 2016.
It was the third straight playoff game that Manvel has scored at least 70 points, but they will probably need every point they can get when they face Katy who has allowed only 38 total points in 13 games while blanking nine opponents. They shutout Friendswood last week 66-0.
The Mavs defense stood out against Strake Jesuit as the Mavs allowed only 333 yards after giving up over 600 yards to Clear Creek the previous week in a 70-56 slugfest.
After Manvel held the Crusaders on the opening drive, the game was dominated by the Mavs.
With 9:36 left in the first quarter, D'Vaughn Pennamon took a handoff from QB D'Eriq King, broke a tackle, and raced to the pay station for the game's first score.
Manvel scored two more touchdowns in the opening period to build a 21-0 lead.
Hunter Haghorn caught a 23-yard scoring strike from King and Pennamon scored on a 5-yard run.
The teams traded scores in the second quarter as Andrew Eschelberger caught a 25-yard pass from Zach Zubra to cut the lead to 21-7.
Manvel answered with a four-play scoring drive capped off by 41-yard touchdown pass from King to Reggie Hemphill to bump the lead to 28-7.
Strake answered with a 1-yard run by Josh Reece to close the gap to 28-14 with 5:20 left in the second, but that would be as close as the Crusaders would get for the rest of the game.
The Mavs had a quick reply as King hit Hagdorn on a 60-yard bomb to make the score 34-14 before intermission.
Manvel closed out the first half with a 26-yard fumble return for a score by Derrick Tucker and a 41-14 advantage.
Manvel put the game completely out of reach in the third quarter when they scored 28 unanswered points to blow up the lead to 69-14.
Hagdorn scored his third touchdown on a 29-yard pass from King.
Depriest Taylor scored on a 33-yard pass interception for a pick 6.
Pennamon scored on a 92-yard scoring jaunt at the 4:32 mark of the third quarter.
Backup QB Kyle Trask entered the game late in the third and fired to touchdown pass to Caleb Blanton for 29-yards and one to Joseph Baldwin covering 24-yards.
Haghorn had five catches for 134 yards and three scores. Keylon Stokes had two catches for 58 yards. Blanton had two grabs for 38 yards and one TD. Baldwin had one catch for 24 yards and a score. Hemphill had one catch for 41 yards and a TD.
Manvel has only two losses this season. Westfield nipped them 29-26 and Pearland kicked a last second field goal to capture the 22-6A championship 27-24.