By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

 

HUFFMAN—The Navasota Rattlers used a big-play offense to top the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears 38-7 in Class 4A Region III Division I bidistrict playoff action Friday night at Huffman Stadium.

The Rattler’s quarterback Zack Dyer led the way for Navasota (6-5) in the air and helped on the ground.

The Bears (4-7) had real trouble all game getting their offense going. The rushing and passing game both struggled against a stingy Rattler defense.. The defense could only hold on so long after Navasota had the ball as often as they did.

The Rattlers finished with 461 total yards while the Bears had 151.

Dyer competed 12-of-23 passes for 189 yards. Truman Garza led the Navasota ground game with 82 yards on 17 carries. Darius Randle had 10 totes for 80 yards.

LC-M senior quarterback Adam Pope completed 17-of-33 passes for 101 yards and was the leading rusher with 44 yards on 10 carries. James Williams had four catches for 42 yards for the Bears.

LC-M entered this playoff game with a huge historical chip on their shoulder. The last time the Bears were able to win a playoff game was 1997, while appearing in the playoffs five times since then, falling in the bidistrict round each time.

The Rattlers opened it up with an explosive 81-yard drive from their own nine-yard line. Behind quarterback Zack Dyer, the Rattler offense was able to cover a lot of ground fast. Dyer connected with Ke’Eric Moore a couple times, including the touchdown pass from 10 yards out. After the PAT the Rattlers went up 7-0 in the first.

The Rattlers get the ball again, after stopping the Bears offense inside their own 20. This time a scamper by running back Darius Randle for 52 yards would cap off the drive. The offensive line made a semi-truck hole and Randle took full advantage. After the PAT Navasota was up 14-0 late in the first quarter.

Navasota would add more points, but would settle for three this time around. La’Darrius Thomas had a big 24-yard run to help get the Rattlers in good field goal range. A flurry of penalties would push the Rattlers to a field goal. After a 32-yard make from kicker Alvarado, Navasota went up 17-0 with eight minutes in the half left.

The Bears finally find points mid-way through the second quarter, thanks to quarterback Adam Pope’s running ability. Pope would find James Williams for a long 26-yard pass early in the drive. Pope would later break a 35-yard run to the three, to setup the QB sneak for the touchdown. After the PAT the Bears were only down 10 at 17-7 and that was the score at the half.

Navasota would add to their lead half way through the third quarter. After Dyer lobbed a 16- yard pass to William Jackson to set up Donovan Thomas, who would run free from the 10-yard line to cap off the drive. After the PAT the Rattlers went up 24-7 with five minutes left in the third quarter.

The Rattlers added more to their lead, while chewing a lot of the clock away in the third quarter. A crew of running backs would account for most of the plays, until Ja’Vonzae Jones punched it in from the two -yard line. After the PAT went through the Rattlers led 31-7 with just a minute left in the third left.

Navasota collected another touchdown thanks to the strong running game. The Rattler’s running backs led the way down the field and made it look easy. The fatigue of the Bears showed on this drive as the Rattlers were able to run through the Bears the whole way. Jones would punch in another touchdown to cap the drive off as the Bears were down 38-7 with just seven minutes to catch up to the Rattlers.

Navasota will now move on to face Midlothian Heritage in the area round next week.