NO LATE TD NEEDED | Sabine drops 42 on Harmony, moves to 2-0
By JEREMY NEWLIN
LIBERTY CITY – Two games, two wins for the Sabine High School Cardinals, and the good news: this week, there were no late heroics needed.
A week after a shootout at Spring Hill where the teams combined for just under one hundred points, Sabine dropped almost half a hundred on Harmony, a 42-7 win here at James Bamberg Stadium on campus on a beautiful fall night.
Next week, coach Cody Gilbert and the Cardinals (2-0) will visit New Diana (2-0).
Harmony had their chances early.
Sabine won the toss and elected to kick off. After an initial 10-yard gain by Harmony quarterback Jordan Escalante, the Cardinal defense held and forced a punt.
On the punt, the ball was knocked free, and into the hands of Eagles’ Cody Pritchett. This fumble gave the Eagles great field position. A couple of short runs was followed by a 13-yard pass reception from Escalante to Reece Ellison.
With a first and goal, the Cardinal defense forced a fourth down and a field goal try by the Eagles. The kick was wide left, and the game remained scoreless.
Sabine’s offense finally got on the field and quarterback Colt Sparks went to work. A 5-yard run by Sparks was sandwiched between two pass completions to Jeremiah Flanagan and Lincoln Royce. The Eagle defense held as the Cardinals crossed midfield and forced a punt. Cooper Pickett, the Eagles’ running back, slithered through for a 38-yard gain.
The defense held and facing fourth down, Escalante had the ball stripped and Myles Bradley recovered for the Cardinals, virtually ending the first quarter.
The Cardinals went to work to start the second. On the second play from scrimmage, Sparks found Bryce Pobuda for a 44-yard touchdown. Jovany Jaimes’ extra point put the Cardinals up 7-0.
Harmony continued to pound the ball on the ground, with Pickett getting the bulk of the carries, but Sabine’s defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs.
Sparks, the reigning, defending Whataburger / ETBlitz.com Player of the Week and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 3A QB of the Week, went back to work in the air. He hit three straight completions, with the third finding Pobuda for a 40-yard score.
With a 14-point lead in Sabine’s favor, both teams traded possessions to end the half.
The Cardinals took the second-half kickoff at their own 10.
A nice 10-yard run by Sparks was followed by a fumble, with the Eagles recovering at their 1.
Two plays later, the Eagles found the end zone with Pickett plowing in.
With Angel Rios-Ramirez’ extra point, the Eagles cut the lead to 14-7.
Each team forced a four and out.
The next possession by the Cards saw Sparks gaining 19 on the ground, and then finding Pobuda for 17.
Sparks then went in for the score, a 7-yard run, and a 21-7 lead.
After both teams punted once again, the Eagles were back deep in their end.
Escalante went for the pass and Cardinals’ Chris Williams intercepted it for a pick-six, and a 28-7 lead to end the third quarter.
Sabine’s defense stepped it up in the fourth, but after Escalante found Sammar Jones for a 21-yard completion. This was all the defenses would allow, as Flanagan sacked Escalante on fourth down to give the ball back to the Sabine offense.
Cason Patterson plowed through the defensive line and rumbled 45 yards for the score and a 35-7 lead.
After a Harmony punt, Angel Gaona moved the chains with a 10-yard run, then Sparks found Pobuda for a 20 score and his third touchdown pass of the night. Jaimes’ extra point closed out the scoring (42-7).
The Cardinals were led by Sparks’ 204 passing yards and three touchdowns. He added 54 yards on the ground and a score.
Patterson had 49 yards rushing and a score. Pobuda led the Cardinals in receiving with 127 yards and the three scores. McNatt added 35 yards.
The defense was led by Zane Shearer, Flanagan and Williams.
The Eagles were led by Escalante with 95 yards passing, and 60 yards on the ground. Pickett had 80 yards and a score, and Ellison hauled in 49 yards receiving.