ALVIN — The Community Christian Lions have cashed their ticket to the TAPPS 1A-6Man state semifinals after a huge win on Saturday.

The Lions  took down the Brazosport Christian Eagles 54-6 in the state quarterfinals, ending the game in the third quarter due to the 45-point mercy rule.

The Lions (10-2) defeated the Eagles (8-3) 79-59 in district play earlier this season but left little doubt on Saturday.

The win advanced the Lions into the semi-final brackets of the journey to the state title. The opponent in the next game will be Seguin Lifegate Christian.

The game started badly for the Lions when the Eagles’ kickoff to them was fumbled and the Eagles recovered to gain possession. The Eagles play earned them a first down after four plays, but after four more plays they were not able to gain the needed 15 yards and the ball went to the Lions.

One the fourth play of the Lions’ possession a handoff to R.C. Morris and some good blocking led to Morris scoring the first TD of the game with 5:36 on the clock.

The Eagles took the ball and only ran three plays before heavy defensive pressure by the Lions caused a frantic fumble in the backfield. When the dust settled and the bodies were cleared off, the Lions had recovered the ball.

C.J. Wagner carried the ball on three of the Lions’ seven plays. Play number seven saw him cross the goal line to make the score 12-0, Lions. The PAT was wide.

With 1:12 left on the clock the Lions kicked to the Eagles and the Eagles started the group of plays that would go into the second quarter and see them score early in the quarter. There was 8:45 on the clock when they made what would turn out to be their only TD of the game. The PAT kick was blocked by Jacob Alexander.

The Lions took the kick and on the first play of their next series, Wagner crossed the goal from the 31yards out. There had only been 15 seconds of play since the last TD. The PAT was passed for one point and the score became 19-6, Lions.

Things did not go well for the Eagles. On their third play, Morris intercepted a pass to start another Lions’ possession. On the first play, Morris kept the ball and gained 7. Wagner gained 12 on the next play, then Morris flew down the sideline to score. This time the PAT was kicked across the cross bar and the score became 27-6 with 6:39 on the clock.

Four plays into the Eagles’ possession Alex Parrish blew through the Eagles defenders and caused a massive fight for the ball. In addition to scattering a flock of Eagles, he came out of the pile up with the ball.

Lawrence Gallow ran twice and gained 10 yards on his first run, then finished off the first down on his second try. Dakota Alexander carried twice and on his second run, scoring another TD for the Lions. The PAT was blocked and the score was 33-6 with 4:41 left to play.

The Eagles’ possession led to the longest series of plays in the game by either team. There would be a loss and a gain and an incomplete pass and a completed short pass. The Lions defense kept the Eagles from scoring two times even though the Eagles had earned two first downs in the series. The Lions’ defensive standout in the series was Parrish. He blocked hard and tackled hard and one time just reached out and snagged the runner like he was a bear grabbing a salmon. The Eagles’ play ended when Parrish broke up a pass attempt, causing an incomplete pass on a fourth-and-10. The Lions took the ball again.

On the Lions first play, Morris ran for a TD that was called back on a penalty. The ball was spotted on the 20. Morris then took the ball and crossed the line for a legal TD. The passed PAT put the score to40-6 as the first half ended.

The second half kick to the Lions was fumbled and recovered by the Eagles. Parrish stopped an Eagles’ runner at the line of scrimmage and then later ended the series when he went through the line like a charging tank and made a tackle in the backfield that put the ball back in the Lions hands.

In five plays with 6:40 left in the third quarter having gained a first down, Gallow passed to Morris for a TD. The PAT kick was good and the score was 48-6.

The Eagles took possession and on their first play Morris intercepted the pass to give the Lions the ball again. The snap on the Lions ‘first play was fumbled and the Eagles recovered. The recovery gave the Eagles the ball on the 13. On their first play Parrish bulled his way through the line and dropped the ball carrier on the 25. Eagles runners gained yardage to put the ball on the 10 and then they fumbled. Jimmy Cornell covered the ball in the backfield and the Lions went back on the offensive.

Lions’ possession started on the 5. The first play was an incomplete pass. The next play was fumbled and was recovered by Dakota Alexander. Morris carried the ball three times to score. The Lions were ahead 54-6. The 48-point lead ended the game due to the “Mercy Rule”.