GRAPE CREEK, TX — The Texas Leadership Charter Academy snagged its first win of the season in a down and dirty defensive battle in Grape Creek Friday night.
The first eight possessions of the game ended with two fumbles, an interception, and five punts. The defenses were swarming to the ball, and neither team could move into scoring position.
The first sign of offensive life for Grape Creek came in the second quarter. Powerful fullback Isaiah Briones almost single handedly carried Grape Creek into the red zone with big chunk runs up the middle.
TLCA stole the momentum though on an interception at the eight yard line for the first of several red zone stands for both teams.
Grape Creek’s defense held strong on the ensuing possession and got the ball back for its offense.
The only points of the first half came halfway through the second quarter for Grape Creek. Quarterback Jorge Rodriguez found newly crowned homecoming king Kairo De La Torre along the right sideline for a beautiful 45 yard touchdown. They attempted a two-point conversion, but TLCA snuffed it out to keep the score 6-0 with 4:29 remaining in the half.
Each team had another chance to score before the break, but the defenses would not budge.
TLCA received the kickoff to start the third quarter, and the halftime adjustments were easy to see. They came out with back to back direct snaps to running back Seth Levesque. The junior moved them from their own 33 to Grape Creek’s 44. The drive stalled, however, and Levesque booted the punt into the end zone for a touchback.
It looked as if Grape Creek would take a two-possession lead on the next drive. Rodriguez picked up 18 on second down, and Briones followed it up with a 22 yarder. They fed the big fella again, and he broke free up the middle for a 40 yard rushing score.
The excitement of the home crowd disappeared when the run was called back for a holding penalty. On the next play, Isaiah Oviedo nearly snagged his second interception of the night on a play action pass down the middle, but it fell incomplete.
Two plays went by before Crape Greek tried that pass play again. This time, Levesque carefully brought it in for the pick at the five yard line.
The TLCA Eagles took advantage of the turnover with their best offensive drive of the game.
Quarterback Sterling Harding picked up 8 on the ground on second down and then handed it off to junior Eddie Carranco on a 20 yard reverse play. Levesque then ran for 13, and Harding earned 5 more.
Another Carranco run and all of a sudden TLCA was on the Grape Creek 40. Grape Creek called a timeout to regroup and had TLCA on the ropes with a 3 and 17.
TLCA responded and gave the ball for the first time to wide receiver Ivan Oviedo on a reverse. Oviedo picked up 16 of the 17 and made it a very short 4th and 1. Harding picked up more than he needed on a QB sneak to keep the drive alive.
Two plays later, TLCA had the ball with a 1st and 10 from the 17.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Harding targeted a double covered Levesque in the end zone. The pass fell incomplete, but two flags came flying in to give the Eagles a first down at the GC two.
TLCA tried four times to punch it in, but the Grape Creek defense would not allow it.
The turnover on downs gave GC the ball back at its own 5 with 9:32 to play up 6-0.
On first down, Daunte Sykes flew into the backfield to make a 2 yard tackle for loss. The next play, the defense pinned its ears back and forced a fumble. TLCA senior JR Wilson fell on the ball in the end zone to tie the game up.
Wilson also caught the conversion attempt on a rollout pass from Harding. TLCA led 8-6.
“The defense was awesome tonight,” TLCA Head Coach Brent Rider said after the game. “Really the one play. They were awesome. Offense struggled and thank God they scored that touchdown for us. They came to play tonight.”
The teams wound the clock down and traded four punts until GC had one last shot with 1:29 remaining.
GC started at its 31 and Rodriguez immediately found Ben Armendariz for a 48 yard gain. The home team couldn’t manage anything else afterwards. Three incompletions and a false start made it 4th and 15.
Rodriguez launched the ball up to the endzone, but it fell harmlessly to the ground.
TLCA kneeled it out for its first win of the season.
“Its a little bit of a relief and excitement,” Rider added. “We’ve struggled this year, and it’s good to get the win. I’m proud of the way the kids stuck together and fought.”
“Our goal tonight was to play for 48 minutes. We hadn’t done that all year. We put a half together here and there. We put some plays together. I can’t be more proud of the kids and the way they fought tonight”
TLCA is 1-5 and returns home to face Cisco next week. Grape Creek is also 1-5 and hits the road to play Ballinger.
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