Yoe puts foot on gas in second half to coast by Academy

Whether it was the first big cold front of the year or Academy’s defense, Cameron’s offense had only crossed the goal line once in the first half of Friday’s road 10-3A tilt.  

Things started to heat up when the Yoemen came out of the locker room for the second half as 27 unanswered points went up on the board to keep the playoff hopes alive in a 41-0 shutout victory.  

“In the first half we were a little sloppy,” said Yoe coach Tommy Brashear.  Not to take anything away from Academy because they have a good defense that is stout up front.  They did a good job stopping the run all the night and we knew that was going to be difficult.  

Academy’s top scoring threat came with just one second remaining in the game.  The Bees were denied from the Yoe 7, which coincidentally was the theme the entire night.  Academy (3-5/1-3), which averaged just 3.7 yards per carry on the night, never could sustain drives and punted 7 times in the game.  In fact, the Yoe defense put up more points than Bees’ offense on this night.  

In the first, Academy quarterback Ryan White had rolled right on third down.  As he prepared to throw the ball it came lose and Cameron LB Nico Vargas there was to catch it in stride for the 23-yard score.  

“It fell right into my hands and I didn’t think it was going to,” said Vargas on the unique play that put Cameron up 7-0.  “I just happened to get it and scored on it.”

Vargas also added on the first offensive score for Cameron, busting through the middle of the line for a 25-yard score to push the lead to 14-0 at the half.  

The Yoemen (3-6/2-3) did have other scoring opportunities in the first 24 minutes, including a 30-yard field goal in addition to a drive starting at the Bee 2-yard line.  Both ended with no points.  

“We got there on the goal line and we had two busted blocking assignments and that killed us,” said Brashear.  “Those are mistakes that we cannot be making, especially this time of the year.  If we would have run the play correctly, we would have had something there and had a touchdown.”

The offense did not misfire in the second half as a familiar pair - QB Zack Andress and WR Iverson Westbrook - connected for three consecutive scores to put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter.  

The second score came on what was a quick pass to Westbrook on a play known as “Crawfish”.  It’s a play where two other receivers picked up blocks, allowing Westbrook to show off his moves and speed in open space.

“It depends on outside receivers and if they get a block or not,” said Westbrook on the 76-yard score.  “They did a great job blocking and I told them all game, good block, great block.  At the end of the day I would not have scored without them.”

In the fourth many backups got a chance to enter the game, including quarterback Anthony Layne, who also starts on the defensive line.

The junior showed off his speed and vision by scoring on a 40-yard run up the middle.   

The win improves Cameron to 8-0 all-time versus the Bumblebees.  This was also the second consecutive shutout in the series as the Yoemen now have a 103-0 scoring advantage the past two seasons.  

More importantly, this win could prove to be the spark needed as the games become more and more important down the stretch of the season.

“We are very focused, said Westbrook.  “We are not there yet with the mental focus, but we are getting there.  I hope and pray by the time the playoffs get here we are going to be right in all factors and areas.”

Cameron now has one game remaining on the schedule as Troy comes to Cameron next week for senior night.  It may be the last game for the seniors on Yoe Field, but for Brashear and his players, the plan is make sure it’s not the last game of the 2017 season.  

“It’s at home and it’s the last game for the seniors, so I think we are going to come out ready to go,” Brashear said.  “This group has been real focused the last two weeks in practice, so I’m really looking forward to next week.  We have to win.”

Scoring

1st Quarter

Cameron: LB Nico Vargas 23-yard fumble return - Adrian Lewis kick - 7-0 Yoe - 6:41

2nd Quarter

Cameron: Nico Vargas 25-yard run - Lewis kick - 14-0 Yoe - 11:42

3rd Quarter

Cameron: Zack Andress 24-yard pass to Iverson Westbrook - kick failed - 20-0 Yoe - 6:58

Cameron: Andress 76-yard pass to Westbrook - Lewis kick - 27-0 Yoe - 4:10

4th Quarter

Cameron: Andress 41-yard pass to Westbrook - Ulices Cardona kick - 34-0 Yoe - 8:26

Cameron: Anthony Layne 40-yard run - Cardona kick - 41-0 Yoe - 6:30

Stats

Cameron

First Downs: 20

Rushing: 36-234

Passing: 14-28-0, 250 yards

Punts: 2-44

Fumbles/Fumbles Lost: 1-0

Penalties: 4-38

Rushing: Nic Vargas, 9-75; D.J. Fripp, 10-46; Zack Andress, 9-43; Anthony Layne, 1-40

Passing: Zack Andress, 13-27-0, 250 yards

Receiving: Iverson Westbrook, 7-198 yards; Kadrian Hammond; 3-38; Ki’Zirrius Holt, 2-15

Academy

First Downs: 11

Rushing: 42-157

Passing: 2-15-0, 18 yards

Punts: 7-27.2

Penalties: 5-33

Rushing: Jordan Carter, 21-99; Jake Nichols, 9-56

Passing: Rian White, 2-15-0, 18 yards

Receiving: Britt Mauldin, 1-16