Longhorns denied

As exciting an offensive show as Caprock and Midland Christian put on Thursday night at Dick Bivins Stadium, it came down to which team took advantage of the breaks at the end.

And while the Longhorns did that early with 17 first-half points off turnovers, the Mustangs did it late.

Caprock took a 10-point lead in the third quarter, but thanks to a muffed punt and a potential touchdown pass which was fumbled out of the end zone, Midland Christian made the trip back home happy. The Mustangs took the lead for good on a 27-yard scoring pass from Bryant Burleson to Zak Davis on a fade route for a 35-31 victory.

That capped a night of big offensive plays and seven turnovers by the teams combined, so it seemed appropriate that the team which scored last won.

"When you score four touchdowns you should win," said Cparock coach Seth Parr, whose 3-2 Longhorns haven't scored fewer than 23 points in any game this season. "We just came up short. Both teams had their kids give a great effort."

Caprock took a 31-21 lead in the third quarter, driving 69 yards on 10 plays after recovering Midland Christian's third lost fumble. Jamar Johnson, who caught two touchdown passes and ran for two scores, capped the drive by catching a 9-yard scoring pass from Gerardo Ruiz.

On Midland Christian's ensuing possession, the Longhorns forced the Mustangs (4-1) to punt for the first time, but Caprock muffed the return and Midland Christian covered the ball at Caprock's 19-yard line. Five plays later, on a fourth-and-goal, Burleson hit Davis for a 7-yard score to cut it to 31-28, a harbinger of bad things to come for Caprock.

While Midland Christian's meat-grinder running attack gashed Caprock for 319 yards, it was a pair of passes in the second half which won it for the Mustangs.

"We already knew we could throw the football," MCS coach Greg McClendon said. "There wasn't any doubt about that."

Caprock's biggest miscue, though, came early in the fourth quarter when Jimmy Maldonado took a short pass from Ruiz, raced up the middle and appeared headed for a 58-yard touchdown. But Maldonado was stripped from behind by Christian Whigham, as the ball rolled out of the end zone for a touchback.

After Burleson's touchdown throw to Davis with 3:33 left, the Longhorns had a chance to generate a winning drive. They moved to the MC 35, but on fourth-and-four, Johnson, who had 160 yards on 21 carries, was stuffed for a 2-yard loss by Chandler Rogers, effectively ending the game.

As disappointing as the loss was, it was a far cry from last year's 61-33 loss to the Mustangs in Midland.

"We know now we can hang with these teams," Parr said. "I think we're a good football team."

Those who were expecting an offensive shootout similar to last season weren't disappointed. Caprock led 24-21 at halftime, even though the Mustangs had outgained the Longhorns by almost 100 yards.

The Mustangs immediately set the tone by taking the opening kickoff and marching 80 yards on 10 plays, mostly on the ground. Si Ratliff rumbled in from 31 yards out to make it 7-0. Caprock answered back only three plays later as Ruiz hit Johnson with a beautiful 71-yard scoring pass to tie it 7-7.

M,. Christian 14 7 7 7 - 35

Caprock 14 10 7 0 - 31

MCS _ Si Ratliff 31 run (Josh Willis kick)

Caprock _ Jamar Johnson 71 pass from Gerardo Ruiz (Addison McCaulie kick)

Caprock _ Johnson 23 run (McCaulie kick)

MCS _ Hunter Redman 13 run (Willis kick)

Caprock _ Johnson 3 run (McCaulie kick)

Caprock _ McCaulie FG 33

MCS _ Redman 15 run (Willis kick)

Caprock _ Johnson 9 pass from Ruiz (McCaulie kick)

MCS _ Zak Davis 7 pass from Bryant Burleson (Willis kick)

MCS _ Davis 27 pass from Burleson (Willis kick)

Mid. Chr. Caprock

First Downs 20 14

Rushing 319 150

Passing 104 230

Total yards 423 380

C-A-I 8-16-1 19-28-1

Punts 2-40.0 3-35.3

Fumbles-lost 4-3 3-2

Penalties 5-37 5-45

Individual Statistics

Rushing - MCS: Redman 27-157, Ratliff 15-118, Christian Whigham 2-46, Burleson 9-(-2). Caprock: Johnson 21-160, Ruiz 2-(-10).

Passing - MCS: Burleson 8-16-1-104. Caprock: Ruiz 19-28-1-230.

Receiving - MCS: Ratliff 2-22, Whigham 1-12, Richard Miller 1-10, Davis 3-55, Redman 1-5. Caprock: Gerardo Arevalo 4-16, Jimmy Maldonado 2-59, Johnson 6-110, Darrian Summers 2-14, Oscar Najera 1-14, Andrew Cantu 1-6, Andrew Hernandez 1-4, Tobias Milton 2-7.