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Shifting gears: Rowlett overcomes slow start to down North Garland, move to within a win of playoffs
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
Even after an 0-3 start in district play, Rowlett knew its potential path to the playoffs was as simple as 1-2-3.
Three, as in the number of victories it would need down the stretch to return to the postseason for the eighth consecutive season.
But the Eagles also understand that there is no room for error, so after a scoreless first quarter against last-place North Garland, they shifted gears and the Raiders could not keep up.
The Eagles (3-6) improve to 2-3 in 11-5A and are now tied for fourth place with both Naaman Forest and Lakeview, with a match-up with the Patriots slated for next week.
Rowlett managed only 16 yards and one first down in the opening quarter, but was a different team in the second, starting with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Carson Hyles to Jonathan Williams that started a four-touchdown barrage in a span of 10 minutes.
“We just started a little slow, we had some things we thought that could work that didn’t work,” Rowlett head coach Kiff Hardin said. “We changed to what did work and that was about it, there was nothing fancy.”
The Eagles have been coping with life without Jalen Rhodes, the 1,000-yard rusher from a year ago who is out for the season. While Rowlett struggled at times running the ball, the passing game more than made up for it, as Hyles finished 16-of-21 for 210 yards and two touchdowns.
Leading 7-0, Hyles led the offense down the field and Jerek Capdeville then entered the game in the wildcat formation, took the snap and raced around the left end for an 8-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0.
The Eagles then took firm control in the final 76 seconds of the half. Hyles threw a 30-yard scoring strike to Tyler Hogan, who had a big game with six catches for 108 yards.
Then after the defense forced a three-and-out, Joey Clegg blocked a punt that led to a 1-yard sneak by Hyles that gave them a 28-0 lead going into halftime.
“I feel like the kids are playing together offensively and I thought we played well after we got untracked,” Hardin said. “We’ve got to do what we do and I think we’ve got to be balanced, there’s no doubt about it, but the main thing is to take what defenses give us and do it efficiently.”
That cushion was plenty for the Rowlett defense that was coming off a strong performance against Naaman Forest in which it allowed only seven points. The Eagles were again stingy, allowing only 72 yards in the opening half, including just 12 in the second quarter, to help take control.
“Defensively, we’re playing well and we’re just getting better every week,” Hardin said. “I’m proud of the kids’ effort, they played hard and have really eliminated a lot of the mistakes, especially penalty-wise, that we have been making.”
Rowlett put together its most balanced drive of the game at the start of the second half, moving 83 yards in nine plays. Hyles was 3-of-3 for 47 yards and Nigel Hasty had four carries for 26 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown run that made it 35-0.
North Garland was able to get on the scoreboard late in the third quarter on a 20-yard touchdown run by George Perry to close to within 35-6.
Aspen Hulme booted a 46-yard field goal for the Eagles in the fourth quarter and the Raiders tacked on one final score when Chad Wesley scored on an 8-yard run and then threw a pass to Rodarius Mosley for the two-point conversion.
The Eagles have now completed the first two parts of their three-step march back to the playoffs. The final step is the biggest, as they will head back to Homer B. Johnson Stadium next Friday to meet upstart Lakeview, which has designs on ending a playoff drought that started in 1995.
“ It’s (confidence) slowly building,” Hardin said. “We know where we need to be next week. Lakeview is going to be a great challenge, they have some great players and it ought to be a great game.”
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