Brian Hogan adds three TDs on ground, as 12 rushers combine for 367 yards
By Ryan Metz
Correspondent
Early in the fourth quarter with Cedar Park holding a commanding lead, the Marble Falls quarterback lofted a deep pass over the middle of the field. Safety Zach Espinosa and cornerback Grayson Cotham converged on the ball without an offensive player within five yards. Both players had different reasons – and both legitimate – to intercept the ball. It would have been Espinosa’s third interception of the night, while Cotham was vying for his first career pick.
The ball was fought for by the teammates and dropped.
Ultimately, it didn’t matter. Cotham got another chance later in the quarter and came down with his first career interception, while Espinosa put more than his stamp on Cedar Park’s 52-0 shutout of Marble Falls at John Gupton Stadium on Friday night.
“There is nothing wrong with a little friend firefight for a ball,” said Espinosa, who returned his first pick 40-yards for a score with 3:43 in the first quarter. “If it would have been between me and a receiver I would have been even more mad. Grayson wanted to get his first pick, and I can’t blame him. I would have done the same thing.
“We like to call ourselves “the ball hawks” out there. Whenever a ball goes up we want to compete for it. Tonight was one of those nights that we came up on top and executed.”
The “ball hawks” finished with five interceptions.
Cedar Park’s (7-1, 4-0 District 25-4A) defense limited Marble Falls (4-3,1-2) to 102 yards and seven first downs, while converting one of 11 third downs. Christopher McCalla and Travis Reim combined for the other two interceptions.
Brian Hogan led the rushing attack with 136 yards on the ground, as 12 ball carriers piled up 367 yards on 44 carries (8.3 ypc). Hogan scored touchdowns on the ground on three of the team’s first four drives in the first half, making it 28-0 at the break.
Alex Curl added a 12-yard touchdown reception from Hogan on Cedar Park’s first drive in the third quarter. Dean Collier and Michael Bernardo finished the scoring with two rushing touchdowns in the middle of the third quarter. The Timberwolves overcame four turnovers.
“I’m pleased at the tempo we played at tonight,” said Cedar Park coach Chris Ross, whose team secured a playoff spot with the win. “I thought our kids played extremely hard. We came into the game and wanted to tempo them. We wanted to play at a level of intensity and speed that they couldn’t keep up with, and to a degree we felt like we did.
“The hardest part of our schedule is in front of us, not behind us. These guys understand what’s in front of them.”
Hogan was pleased with the offense, but wanted to praise his teammates on the defensive side.
“We only go up against our defense once a week on Tuesdays to get a little competition,” he said. “They’re a great defense. One of the best in the state, and our defensive line is great; hey came off the ball and really put pressure on the quarterback.”
The leader of the defense, Espinosa – a Rice commit – is trying to get his team to play its best ball of the season.
“It seems like we’re getting better and better each week,” he said. “This week we really preached getting the shutout and executing. I’m progressing and trying to fine-tune during the course of the season, as well.”
While the offense has taken many of the headlines – and deservedly so with their rushing attack – Ross knows his team is better because of the Espinosa.
“His leadership, as well as his ability to play the game makes us a complete football team on the defensive side,” Ross said. “He has been doing that all season long. Zach’s a winner all the time.”
Published in the Cedar Park Citizen on Oct. 20, 2011.
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