Flames roll into the regional finals
BRENHAM — The time it takes for Faith Academy football fans to snap their fingers was all the Flames needed to dispose of Houston Clear Lake, 65-19, Saturday in the area round of the playoffs of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.
“It feels very good,” said head coach Russ Roberts. “Every team has to learn to condition itself in the playoffs. Our guys are in the process of learning that. The key part is to stay focused, stay on task.” The first quarter belonged to sophomore Jason Byrd.
He accounted for the Flames’ first 22 points of the game, scoring three touchdowns from five, eleven and seven yards and added a safety. Senior Travis Roeder hit a two-point kick to give Faith a 24-0 lead.
“I thought he played well,” Roberts said. “I thought the blocking was important. I thought that was key. Jason was the guy doing the scoring, but it was a great team effort.”
Clear Lake finally got on the board by scoring on a run from two yards out, 24-6, with 9:46 left in the half.
Senior Randy Burton got the points right back, scampering seven yards to pay dirt. Senior Zach McAnally hit junior Peter Perkins for the extra point, 31-6.
Senior Dylan Robichaux couldn’t let his teammates have all the fun, getting to the end zone thanks to a 17-yard run, 39-6. The drive took three plays and covered 30 yards after Faith recovered an onside kick.
Just to prove Clear Lake couldn’t contain him, Byrd struck again. This time he caught a 31-yard pass from senior Dalton Powell, 47-6, with 5:40 remaining in the second quarter.
Before the mercy rule could be enacted, Clear Lake’s Ritt Haller scored on a 50-yard pass, 47-12, with 5:19 left.
Not to be outdone, Powell hit Roeder on a 44-yard bomb 16 seconds later, 53-12.
On the next drive, Roeder returned the favor by finding Powell on a 35-yard reception. Robichaux completed the drive by scoring on a one-yard run, 59-12.
Clear Lake added a touchdown, 59-19, to extend the game into the third quarter.
Flame substitutes started the second half. But coaches inserted the starters and ended the contest when Burton ran to score from 35 yards out.
As for the defense, the coach said he was happy with the way Faith attacked the Eagles from the onset and rarely allowed them to get comfortable.
“I thought we played very well early on,” he said. “As the game went on, we lost our focus a little.”
In addition, he also was content with special teams. Faith lost sophomore kicker Brian Freeman to an injury, so Roberts said the squad was searching for consistency. The Flames recovered onside kicks to give themselves extra possessions to build a lead.
The coach hoped his team had advantages at blocking and with speed. He thought those two factors played into the Flames’ favor.
Now Faith prepares for Dallas The Covenant, which defeated Temple Holy Trinity, 52-30.
Game time, site and day are still to be determined.