Stony Point battles their way to a win over a tough and determined McNeil team
ROUND ROCK - A highly ranked Stony Point Tigers team brought their undefeated record into a Friday night match up with McNeil and found themselves in a unexpected battle with the 2-4 Mavericks. It wasn’t the blowout many expected but the Tigers took care of business coming away with a 21-14 win.
The Tigers are ranked as high as fourth in some polls and even as high as No.12 in a national poll. They were without quarterback Aaryn Sharp who was out with an injury. He usually splits time with Gus Barrera leading the Tigers offense but on this night it was all up to Barrera who got the job done as he rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another.
McNeil looked to put some early pressure on the Tigers and did just that when they surprised the Tigers using a nifty flea flicker on the first play of the night. Cole Smith handed off to Adrian Smith who then turned and lateraled the ball back to Cole. Cole then launched a pass to Cooper Lewis who sprinted down field for a 46-yard gain to the Stony Point 6-yard line. Moments later Smith finished off the drive with a 6-yard run to put McNeil up 7-0.
Stony Point bounced right back and marched down field on an 80-yard drive that was finished off by a Barrera 25-yard run to even the score up at 7-7.
Both defenses dominated the rest of the first half until just before the half when McNeil took the lead once again. With five seconds to go in the first half Cole Smith connected with Tracy Mitchell on a 41-yard pass. Mitchell managed to break a tackle and outrun the Tiger defense all the way to the end zone for a 14-7 McNeil lead.
Stony Point came out in the third quarter and rolled down field to tie the game up as Barrera scored on a 6-yard run to knot the game up at 14-14.
The Tigers kicked off and managed to keep the Mavericks from mounting much of a return and as a result McNeil would have to start from their own 1-yard line. Stony Point’s defense held and forced the Mavericks to punt which resulted in the Tigers getting good field position.
Stony Point took full advantage and marched inside the McNeil 20-yard line and that is when Barrera connected with Stephen Williams for a Tiger touchdown and a 21-14 lead.
The Tigers defense held off the Mavericks the rest of the way to keep their undefeated season alive as they moved their record out to 7-0. McNeil fell to 2-5 on the year.
Cole Smith had 188 yards passing going 13-of-25 for the Mavericks. He also had 24 yard rushing on 12 carries. Teammate Adrian Smith had 20 carries for 63 yards and one touchdown.
Stony Point quarterback Gus Barrera Jr. finished the night 10-of-15 for 134 yards with a touchdown. He also had two rushing touchdowns as he carried for 22-yards on 10 carries. Gerard Shillow led the Tigers in receiving with four catches for 86 yards.
