Photo courtesy of Tish Lee/L4 Media Company
By Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
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BURLESON— Since the Brock Eagles football team launched in 2014 they have consistently been a staple of playoff football. Since their very first season the Eagles(11-0) have not only made the postseason, but they have won the Bi-District match in all twelve seasons.
Thursday night in Johnson County, Brock strolled into Burleson ISD Stadium and cruised to a 49-0 victory over Fort Worth Dunbar. They now await the winner of Lubbock Estacado and Fort Stockton to be played tomorrow at the Mustang Bowl in Andrews.
“We’re always talking about that relentless pursuit of perfection,” head coach Billy Mathis said after the game. “The boys played hard and played great. Dunbar’s a good team, man. They play fast and play physical. I was proud of how our boys responded.”
Brock took control early and never relinquished it, taking the opening drive 57 yards when Holt Frazier connected with his favorite receiver Colt Matlock from 13 yards out to open up the scoring.
Frazier completed 21 of his 30 pass attempts for 258 yards and three touchdowns, with Matlock accounting for 11 of those completions, 150 yards and two touchdowns.
The defense then went right to work, forcing a quick three-and-out to get the ball back with good field position. The Eagle offense then drove to the Wildcat 13 yard line but stalled on fourth and short.
“It’s like we always say ‘If you get punched in the mouth, you gotta punch back,’” Mathis commented on Dunbar’s physicality. “It was a slugfest there for a while and I knew it would be. I watched them play Glen Rose and they got after them. I knew they were going to be a tough team.”
However, another three-and-out from the Brock defense set up the next score when Bryer McDonald scored his first score of the night from five yards out.
McDonald finished his night rushing for 126 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns.
On the ensuing drive, Dunbar could not even get to three-and-out as Wade Doherty picked off Wildcat quarterback Marcus McDade at the 25 yard line. On the very next play, Frazier found a diving Braeden Ray on the fade pattern to give Brock a 21-0 cushion after one quarter of play.
The second quarter went by quickly as both teams continued to run the ball and the clock continued to run. Dunbar finally had a drive going but they were unable to convert on a fourth down at the Brock 42 yard line.
The Eagles looked like they were going to take advantage, but their next two drives failed to result in points. Finally, with just six seconds left in the first half, Frazier and Matlock connected again on the corner route from 17 yards out, bringing the halftime score to 28-0.
After the defense came up with a stop to open the second half, Brock went on a long 13-play drive that was capped off by a 13-yard scoring run by McDonald that ended up being the only score of the third quarter.
McDonald opened the fourth quarter with his third rushing touchdown of the night. Then after a quick three-and-out from the defense, backup quarterback Traycen Thompson kept it himself and punched it in from five yards out, bringing the final score to 49-0.
“It’s good when you can get the backups in because it means you’re winning,” Mathis mentioned. “I was proud of them and happy for them, yeah it was good.”
