It’s been a tough October sandwich for the Humble Wildcats, but Halloween night left a much more satisfying taste in their mouths.
With a shorter amount of preparation time due a Saturday afternoon game last week, the Wildcats easily took care of business, 35-7, over winless Goose Creek Memorial Thursday night at Stallworth Stadium.
Humble (5-4, 2-4) had previously dropped three straight District 23-6A games coming in and hadn’t won since an impressive showing on October 5 against Channelview on homecoming night.
GCM scored on the final drive of the night to break up the shutout against Humble’s backups. Seven points allowed tied a season-low (Klein Forest in Week 2).
“We flew around defensively,” Humble coach Robert Murphy said. “We left some points up on the board there in the first half offensively. I feel like as far as the schedule we’ve had, I like how our kids bounced back this week. (Linebacker) Juan Lolesio was back so that was a big juice for our defense. He’s our leader. We look differently defensively when he’s on the field.”
The Wildcats surpassed last year’s win total in Murphy’s second season leading the Wildcats.
“What people don’t understand is winning at any level is difficult,” Murphy said. “Any given night, you can come out and lay an egg. So we’re excited about getting back above .500 and giving ourselves a chance to end the year 6-4. It’s one more win for me as a head coach, so I’m pumped up about it.”
A big reason for the fifth win of the year was senior quarterback Tristian Bernard, who went 13-for-24 for 199 yards and four touchdowns.
“Get better every week,” Bernard said of getting the fifth win of the season. “That’s what Coach Murphy said. Trust the process and put our faith in God. That’s all we know.”
Goose Creek Memorial (0-9, 0-6), meanwhile, has lost 17 straight games dating back to Week 2 last season against Bellaire. The Patriots played their closest game of the season last week in a 27-21 loss to Channelview.
Humble led 28-0 at halftime, including three touchdowns in the final 3:38 of the second quarter.
Bernard had a heckuva start with three touchdown passes in the first half.
He first hit three-way junior Marcus Bourda on a 13-yard pass with 1:21 left in the first quarter.
Stanley Deams then caught a 5-yard pass with 3:38 left in the second quarter.
After a quick three-and-out and a bad punt, McArthur Baker III reached the end zone on a direct-snap 10-yard score.
The Patriots punted again on the ensuing drive. Bourda returned it to the GCM 40, plus a 15-yard facemask penalty set the Wildcats up at the 25.
Bernard threw a brilliant pass down the middle of the end zone where Jayden Heaton made a tough catch and took a big hit to secure the touchdown with 29 seconds before halftime.
Bernard added his final touchdown strike of the night when he hit Baker for 29 yards and a score in the third quarter.
“It just feels good to throw the ball,” Bernard said. “My O-line gave me some time. That’s all I be asking for. I told them we are going to IHOP this week. We’re ready to go.”
Four touchdown passes was a season-high for Bernard and he also had a big 24-yard run in the first quarter. He finished with 33 yards on the ground and rested in the fourth quarter.
“It’s good to let him unleash a little bit and step in there with some confidence,” Murphy said. “He took a big hit one of those touchdown passes. It was good to see him stick in there in his senior year. It was good to see him light it up a little bit.”
Baker finished with 82 receiving yards and 62 rushing. Heaton totaled 49 receiving yards and Bourda had 44.
“I was also excited for our receivers and the offensive line,” Murphy said. “They gave (Bernard) time to be able to deliver the ball. That was good for us.”
Until a late long pass by GCM quarterback Ricco Rcihards and an 8-yard touchdown run by him with over a minute left in the game, the Humble defense had a solid night.
Boruda and Johnny Smith each had interceptions in the third quarter and the defense in total allowed just 41 yards until the final drive happened against the backups.
“We’re feeling good,” Bernard said. “We put in practice all week, working hard. We came out here and showed out on the field.”
Humble has an outshot at playoff spot entering Week 11. If there’s a three-way tie between Humble, Kignwood (the Wildcats’ next opponent at 1 p.m. next Saturday) or C.E. King, a point differential tiebreaker will determine the final playoff spot.
“Kingwood is up next week,” Bernard said. “That’s where our focus is.”
Humble senior quarterback Tristian Bernard (1) threw for 199 yards and four touchdown passes in the Wildcats’ win at Goose Creek Memorial October 31, 2024. (Chris Zorzi/SportCast Media)
