EC clinches playoffs with Spartan blowout
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Multidirectional Attack El Campo's Landon Appling, in at quarterback, made a great play with his legs in the second quarter of El Campo's 41-14 win over Seven Lakes. Appling took the snap and ran left while glancing down field. With several Seven Lakes defenders around him, he cut back to midfield and saw an open field with plenty of room. Appling outran the Spartans on this 41-yard play to put the ball on the Seven Lakes 18-yard line and set up a touchdown by Anthony Terrell on the next play.

The Ricebirds showed just what an efficient offense and stingy defense can do Friday night when they hosted the Seven Lakes Spartans.

El Campo came away with a 41-14 win to clinch a spot in the playoffs for the second consecutive year in a game that was practically decided in the first half.

The Ricebirds had the ball six times in the first two quarters and scored on each possession.

The game started with Seven Lakes receiving the opening kick-off and driving the field for a touchdown. It was the only Spartan score of the first half.

Seven Lakes took an early 7-0 lead on a 35-yard passing play with 9:10 left in the first quarter.

El Campo answered quickly.

It took the Ricebirds five seconds to tie the game. On the first play after the kick-off, fullback Anthony Terrell burst up middle and saw open field as soon as he passed through the offensive line. Terrell made his first score of the night with a 52-yard touchdown. The extra point tied the game at 7-7.

El Campo held the Spartans to a punt in their next series and scored quickly again.

The first play of the drive, Terrell broke free for another long run. This one went for 47 yards and put the ball on Seven Lakes' 37-yard line.

A couple of plays later and Terrell made his second touchdown of the night. The fullback fought through several tackles for a 31-yard touchdown run to give El Campo a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Another Spartan punt led to El Campo's third score of the game.

It took the Ricebirds six plays for Terrell to score again, this time from 18 yards out. The score put the Ricebirds up 21-7.

El Campo forced the Spartans to punt again, but this time Seven Lake's defense held the Ricebirds with tough play near their own end zone.

The 'Birds drove down to Seven Lakes' 8-yard line, but the Spartan defense held strong to prevent a touchdown. Tyler Woods came in to kick a 28-yard field goal and boost El Campo's lead to 24-7 with 5:20 left in the first half.

The Spartans next drive ended in a turnover.

El Campo's Bryan Skow picked off a Spartan pass and returned it into the end zone. He was called back with holding on the play after the interception and the Ricebirds started their next drive on the Spartan 27-yard line.

Four plays later and it was Terrell in the end zone again, this time through the air. Landon Appling made El Campo's only completed pass for an 11-yard touchdown to Terrell.

Another Seven Lakes punt gave El Campo the ball back for the final score of the first half. The Ricebirds drove against the Spartan defense while time was running out and finished with a 36yard field goal by Woods. The kick put El Campo ahead 34-7 at the half.

The second featured only two more scores, both in the fourth quarter.

Both teams played strong ball in the third quarter. The first play of the fourth quarter ultimately led to another Ricebird touchdown.

El Campo set up for a punt and the Spartans would have taken over possession, but they were called for running into the kicker. Instead of a new series for Seven Lakes, the penalty gave the Ricebirds a first down and led to another score. Four plays later and Terrell had his fifth touchdown of the night. This one came on a 17-yard run to put El Campo ahead 41-7.

Seven Lakes made one more score on their next series, to cut El Campo's lead to 41-14, the eventual final score.