ECMS eighth-graders end season with George games

L-N Photo 8th Grade Red Football Members of El Campo's Eighth-grade Red Team included (font, l-r) Clint Gold, Camden Green, Deandre Pratt, Josh Bishop, Chris Espinoza, Cory Supak, Ryas Perez, (second, l-r) Jim Sappington, Quinten Kubala, Adrian Piloto, Gregory Rod, Tanner Schoener, Cullen Schoener, Kyle Moreno, Clay Glaze, (third, l-r) Jesse Galvan, Ryan Bartosh, Travis Gray, Landon Drapela, Dillon Ferrel, Ryan Rena, Niko Yanis, Matthew Schoener, (back, l-r) Slade Schiurring, Eric Williams, Bryan Sparks, Michael Hawkins and Devin Parks.

El Campo Middle School's eighth-grade football teams finished their season Nov. 6 with a pair of difficult games with George Junior High.

Both teams played well, but lost to George in an exciting end to the year.

8th Grade Red

Devin Parks came through with El Campo's first score of the game on a 36-yard touchdown run, but the Ricebirds missed on the following extra point.

George also scored a touchdown in the first quarter to keep the game tied 6-6 after one quarter of play.

Cullen Schoener connected with Parks for El Campo's second score of the game. Schoener found Parks open for a pass that turned into an 85- yard touchdown play. The extra point missed, but El Campo had a 12-6 lead that lasted until halftime.

Parks ran into the end zone in the third quarter to extend his team's lead. The running back covered 43 yards quickly for the score. The extra point missed, but El Campo had an 18-6 lead in the third quarter.

George answered with a touchdown to cut El Campo's lead to 18-12 and in the fourth quarter, 20 points turned the Ricebirds' lead into a loss.

The 'Birds did manage one final score in the fourth quarter on a bit of a trick play.

Parks took a pitch and started to run, but stopped quickly. He caught the defense off guard with a pass to Bryan Spark that went for 37 yards and a touchdown.

George finished the night with a 32-24 win.

Parks led the Ricebirds in rushing with 138 yards on 11 carries and DeAndre Pratt ran for 7 yards on 4 carries.

Schoener was the leading passer with 4 completions on 6 attempts for 108 yards.

Parks led the team in receiving with a catch for 85 yards while Sparks caught 1 pass for 37 and Pratt caught a pass for 23 yards.

Leading tacklers on the night were Eric Williams, Tanner Schoener, Josh Bishop, Dillon Ferrel and Sparks.

Ryan Reyna and Williams each blocked an extra-point kick, Cullen Schoener picked off 1 pass interception and Bishop and Sparks each recovered a fumble.

The Red team finished the season with a 6-3 record.

8th Grade White

George came away with a 25-8 win, but El Campo struck early and had the lead by the end of the first quarter.

The Ricebirds opened up the game with a 3-play, 70-yard drive.

Jacorric Malone gained 9 yards over the right side, then Derek Yackel completed a 61- yard pass to Castrong Richardson over the middle of the field for a touchdown. Malone kicked for the 2-point conversion and gave El Campo an 8-0 lead to start the game.

George rallied to score 25 consecutive points and defeat the Ricebirds.

Yackel led the offense with 65 yards passing.

Richardson gained 40 yards on the ground and was also the leading receiver with 61 yards receiving. Bartolo Salgado rushed for 20 yards.

Davontey Simmons led the defense with 5 tackles while

Andrew Solis made 4 tackles on the night.

The White team finished the year with a 2-7 record.