by Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek piled up 438 yards rushing on just 26 carries Friday night as the unbeaten Cougars rolled to a 62-6 victory over Arcadia in District 1-1A action.
Payton Harris rushed for 208 yards and four touchdowns on 14 carries, while quarterback Brett Bell added 108 yards and two scores on just four attempts as No. 9 ranked Cedar Creek improved to 8-0 overall and 2-0 in district play.
The win sets up a showdown with No. 4 Haynesville next Friday night.
The Cougars averaged almost 17 yards per rushing attempt while also scoring touchdowns on defense and special teams in the lopsided road victory against the winless Hornets (0-8).
Cedar Creek head coach Jacob Angevine said the win was another opportunity for his team to continue doing the things that have made the Cougars successful through the first eight weeks of the season.
“The biggest thing for us, especially knowing that we are the more dominant opponent, is getting that fast start, keeping our foot on the gas,” Angevine said. “And I think we did a better job of that tonight.
“We got to experiment with some new things that we’ve been wanting to work in a game, but we’ve got a big test next week. So I think it was a great opportunity for us to keep practicing the things that have made us good all year.”
Cedar Creek wasted little time taking control.
Bell raced 55 yards for a touchdown on the second snap of the game, and Harris followed with a 68-yard scoring run just four minutes later to give the Cougars a 14-0 advantage. The two continued their big-play production in the second quarter.
Bell scored on a 41-yard run just over a minute into the period before Harris broke loose for a 63-yard touchdown run to push the advantage to 28-0.
Arcadia got on the scoreboard with a 19-yard touchdown pass midway through the quarter, but Harris added a 4-yard scoring run with just 20 seconds remaining before halftime to send the Cougars into the locker room with a 35-6 lead.
Cedar Creek’s special teams got into the scoring act early in the third quarter when Micah Taylor returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown. Taylor nearly added a second punt return for a score, but the play was called back because of a penalty.
Harris added his fourth touchdown of the night on a 19-yard run in the fourth quarter before two of Cedar Creek’s younger players provided some late-game highlights.
Cooper Lee returned an interception 38 yards for a score and Cooper Greer broke loose for a 69-yard touchdown run, both coming in the fourth quarter. Angevine was particularly pleased to see the younger Cougars take advantage of their opportunities.
“Anytime you can get those guys valuable Friday night reps like that is awesome,” Angevine said. “And then having the big plays, that tells us as coaches that even though they’re young guys and don’t get many opportunities in the game on offense or defense, when they’re given those opportunities, they’re making the most of them.
“Cooper Greer has had a big JV season at that running back spot. So for him to cap off a big run like that, and then Cooper Lee being in the right place at the right time, it’s big time.”
Defensively, Asa Singleton and Hayden Durrett led the Cougars with six tackles apiece, while Trigger Woodard recorded two sacks. Aiden Haddox recovered a fumble as Cedar Creek limited the Hornets to just 40 yards rushing on 28 carries in the game.
Campbell Woodard connected on eight of nine extra-point attempts for the Cougars.
With the victory, Cedar Creek sets the stage for next week’s big district showdown on the road.
“Anytime you can dominate in all three phases of the game, you’re going to come home with a W at the end of it,” Angevine said. “I’m proud of our kids for doing so.”
