By Rob Tate
SportCast Media
Kind of like that old Alabama hit song….Magnolia was in a hurry to get things done Thursday night.
They rushed and rushed. And life was fun.
After falling flat against Klein Cain last week where it scored a season-low seven points, Magnolia scored on its first three drives six nights later, took a massive lead into halftime and blew out Klein Forest 45-14 at Klein Memorial Stadium.
“We played a really good football team in Klein Cain and they had some really good football players,” Magnolia senior offensive lineman Anthony Wells said. “We learned from our mistakes. It was a short week with three days of really good practices. We executed the way we can and put up 45 points.”
The Bulldogs (4-2, 3-1), who entered the week in fourth place in District 15-6A, remain in the playoff hunt. Klein Forest (2-5, 1-4), which entered the week in a tie for seventh place, has dropped four straight games, something it also did last season.
“The best thing you can do from a loss is to rebound from it,” Magnolia coach Craig Martin said. “Learn the things that you need to learn from it, which we did. Turn the page on it and get ready for the next one.”
Magnolia, which is now 3-0 on the road this season, scored three times from the ground game in the first quarter.
Sophomore Cash Ferrell capped an eight-play drive with a 2-yard rushing score to start the game.
“It was really important,” Wells said of setting the tone against Klein Forest. “They had a really athletic front. We could have lost very early with how athletic they are. But it was really important to get that momentum quick and kind of ruin their spirit.”
After a Golden Eagles three-and-out, Magnolia marched nine plays as senior Colin Leahey scored from 11 yards out.
The Bulldogs weren’t bored at all on offense and decided they wanted the ball a little longer. Jordan Enyart recovered an onside kick with a sliding smother of the ball. That set up a seven-play drive capped by Leahey with a 6-yard score.
Leahey is up to 12 rushing scores on the year and at 800 yards even rushing.
“It’s really cool to block for two Division I running backs,” Well said. “A lot of people don’t get that opportunity with Hunter Andrews (last year) and Colin Leahey. They very much have similarities in the way they can move. It’s honor to block for those type of guys.”
In the second quarter, Ferrell hooked up with Carson Smith for a 9-yard score at the 8:44 mark.
Gavin Gonzales punished the ball for a 45-yard field goal with 3:43 left before halftime to set the 31-0 lead at the break.
Magnolia totaled 254 yards at the break while having a good time rushing for 200. Last week, the Bulldogs totaled just 217 yards against Klein Cain.
Klein Forest, which came up shy 27-26 last week to Tomball Memorial, was held to 17 first-half yards.
“What I will say about Klein Forest is that they have some really talented athletes and they are a dangerous football team,” Martin said. “I was proud of the way that we kind of limited their skill players making plays and their quarterback making plays early. Being able to get a comfortable lead there certainly helped.”
The offensive starters sat the second half as third string running back Abraham Ervin stole the show with touchdown runs of 1 and 22 yards, respectively, in the second half.
Klein Forest broke up the shutout with a pick six return by Byron Worthy in the third quarter and quarterback James Robinson had a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore Chase Lowery totaled 39 passing yards and rushed for 23. Ferrell finished with 56 yards rushing and Ervin had 63 on 15 second-half totes.
Six different receivers had receptions.
Magnolia totaled 333 yards of offense when all was said and done.
In the fourth quarter, Hudson Enyart blocked a punt.
Martin was proud of how his team not only responded from last week’s loss, but an abnormal week of preparation for the next game.
“It was kind of a funny week for us,” Martin said. “I was really proud of our kids’ preparation. Being on fall break, playing on a Thursday. Our kids did a really good job of staying present and in the moment. We had three really good days of work and the performance tonight showed.”
The Bulldogs have a huge game next Friday at home with Klein Collins, the fifth place team coming into this week and a team the Tigers have met a couple times in recent years during non-district.
“A lot of football left to be played in this district,” Martin said. “A lot of things can still happen. We just tried to focus this week to get back to 1-0.”
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