The Knights Roll On
Elkins' second half explosion clinches a playoff spot
Roger Smith
Nov 15, 2018, 5:00 am
Elkins will face Katy Tompkins in next week’s bi-district round of the Class 6A Div. II playoffs. Vype
Originally appeared on Vype
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SUGAR LAND – The Elkins Knights exploded for 28 unanswered points in the second half Saturday afternoon at Mercer Stadium, prevailing 35-21 to earn the last available playoff spot in District 20-6A. Quarterback Cameron George threw for two touchdowns and ran for two others, with the last one covering 58 yards and slamming the door with 42 seconds remaining.
Elkins’ dominant second half performance was stunning because the Bulldogs had their way in the first two quarters. After Knights’ kicker Ethan Henry missed a 28-yard field goal wide left with 3:40 left in the first, Austin QB Trey Larsen lofted a 46-yard rainbow TD bomb to Troy Omeire. The ‘Dawgs led 7-0 with 1:44 remaining.
The ‘Dawgs domination and the Knights’ frustration continued. George lifted an even longer and more beautiful pass to Kolby White for an apparent 70-yard score, but offensive holding nullified it. After the Knights punted it away and the second quarter began, Austin’s Moise Tezzo scored the first of his two TDs with 7:31 left in the half and the Bulldogs were on top 14-0.
The only memorable moment the Knights’ offense had in the first half was George’s 20-yard strike to Mike Granson that narrowed the gap to 14-7. On their next possession, with an opportunity to drive for a tying touchdown, George threw late over the middle where Omeire intercepted and returned the ball to the ‘Dawgs’ 29.
With less than two minutes left before intermission, Tezzo broke at least three tackles and outran the Knights’ secondary for a 72-yard TD, his ninth and longest of the season. When the first half dust settled, Austin was on top 21-7.
Omeire’s second interception of the game stopped the Knights’ first drive of the third quarter, but the Elkins defense forced a three-and-out.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.