By Jim Irish
Photos by Jim Irish
Bastrop committed five turnovers but still walloped Connally 67-21 in a District 11-5A Division II contest at Memorial Stadium on Friday.
Go figure.
"Don’t ask how we put the ball on the ground five times and still scored 67 points,” Bastrop head coach Jake Griedl said.
Bastrop entered new territory with a 3-0 district record (4-2 overall) and is tied with Liberty Hill in first place. Bastrop hasn’t reached the state playoffs since 2021.
"Winning is hard,” Griedl said. “It doesn’t matter who you play. You’re dealing with high school kids. There are high emotions, low emotions.
"Tonight was awesome to go 3-0 in district. The kids answered the bell."
-- Bastrop head coach Jake Griedl
"Tonight was awesome to go 3-0 in district. Our kids answered the bell.”
The defense often doesn’t receive the credit it deserves. If Bastrop’s offense hadn’t committed five turnovers, Connally (2-4, 1-2) would have scored only one touchdown in the contest.
"Our defense played outstanding,” Griedl said. “They gave up one earned touchdown on a consecutive play series.”
Linebackers’ Joey Hernandez and Wyatt Marshall contributed 11 and 10 tackles, respectively.
"Our defense played outstanding. They gave up one earned touchdown on a consecutive play series."
-- Griedl
Ramonz Adams and Bryan Pauley each nabbed an interception.
Defensive tackle Tiki Hola, a Division I prospect, had only two tackles, but he was often double and triple teamed. Hola recovered a fumble after a strip sack by Austin Molina.
The Bastrop offense opened up after a 13-6 lead in the first quarter. Running back LaDainian Merino scored on a 4-yard blast in the first. With less than two minutes in the second quarter, Nielsen found tight end Brent Carter for a 14-yard touchdown.
Nielsen, a sophomore displaying a quicker release on his passes, hit wide receiver Jaelyn Gratten in the left corner of the end zone.
Connally Andersen on its next possession on a long pass from quarterback Braden Pleasant to Aidin Smart for a 71-yard score to close the score to 19-14.
Bastrop replied immediately on a 58-yard strike from Nielsen to Adams.
Later in the second quarter, Nielsen faked a handoff to Merino to the right and then scooted in the end zone from the left.
Bastrop wasn’t finished in the first half. Carter took a short pass and extended it for a 60-yard score, his second of the contest. He had a breakout game with five receptions for 160 yards.
"Funny story about Brent,” Griedl said. “He came into my office earlier this week and said, “Coach, how can I get more involved?”
"Could you just keep working? The ball's going to find you."
-- Griedl speaking to Brent Carter
Griedl responded, "We don’t tell the quarterback whom to throw the ball to. I promise you this, my man. Could you just keep working? The ball’s going to find you.”
The ball found Carter, who had his best game of the season.
The Bears added two more touchdowns in the fourth with the substitutes on the field.
Merino received a kickoff, remained in the hash marks as blockers carried out their assignments, and zipped for a 90-yard score.
Quintaelyn Joyner, who had entered for Nielsen, rolled left on a pass, found an opening, and dashed by defenders for a 72-yard score. After the score, he was penalized for excessive celebration.
Nielsen completed 15-of-21 for 362 yards and six touchdowns. He suffered one interception on the first series of the game.
Adams, who plays both sides of the ball and returns punts, caught four passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns. At the start of the season, he was designated to play only at defensive back.
"He’s a really talented player,” Griedl said about Adams, a Texas Tech commit. "He gives us another weapon.”
Bastrop travels to Navarro (3-3, 1-2) next Friday for a 7:30 p.m. start.
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