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Eagles take district title
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| Rosehill Christian celebrated its TAPPS Six-man District 5, Division I championship on Thursday after beating Bryan Allen Academy, 21-12. |
By Jack Marrion
The Rosehill Christian football team waited for the lightning to pass, then slid and slopped through four quarters in steady, sometimes heavy, rain. The weather proved tame compared to the task of putting away Bryan Allen Academy.
For the Eagles, it was undoubtedly worth the effort.
Rosehill put the finishing touches on the best regular season in recent memory with a 21-12 victory Thursday, improving its record to 8-2 and claiming the TAPPS Six-man District 5, Division I championship.
The Eagles earned a first round bye for the playoffs and will begin play in the regional round the second week of November.
With the puddles and mud providing a unique football setting, Rosehill and Allen Academy scuffled until the final minute Thursday before the Eagles made one last stand.
“Anytime you play for something that special you hope it’s going to be a worthy contest,” Eagles coach Len Shelby said. “Bryan Allen Academy, man, they played us tough, they battled us hard. It looked like they were getting momentum at times but our kids would jump up and do what they needed to do.”
The game featured power football at its best. With neither team able to pass or, at times, hold onto the ball, blocking and tackling made the difference. Fittingly it was the Eagles’ defense that ultimately decided it.
The Rams (7-3) cut a 15-point deficit to nine early in the fourth quarter and had three chances to pull within one score. But sophomore Ian Ramirez recovered a fumble to end one drive and Matt Howard made a fourth down stop to stuff another.
Allen Academy took over on its own 26-yard line with 2:20 remaining after a Rosehill fumble. But a key tackle by Shane Mylius set up a 4th-and-6 at the 35. Ramirez made the stop with 47 seconds left to seal victory.
“I love those situations,” said Ramirez, who had crucial fourth down tackles in the first half as well. “I live for those situations. There’s pressure, but that’s what we like.”
Offensively the Eagles relied on the strong running of senior Chase Oliver, who scored all three Rosehill touchdowns and amassed 333 yards on 24 carries. Oliver’s running style fit the conditions, as he followed blockers, made one cut and sped away for scores of 43, 48 and 50 yards.
“The rain and water just made it 10 times better,” he said. “That was the most fun game I’ve ever played.”
Oliver said it was an especially satisfying win for the Eagles, who lost at Allen Academy during last season’s finale and missed the playoffs. Rosehill led the entire way Thursday, as two Oliver runs produced a 14-0 first quarter lead.
Gary Flemings scored both of Allen Academy’s touchdowns to keep his team in the game. But Tomball’s defense consistently chased down the Rams’ ball carriers, allowing 104 yards on 38 carries and stopping them three times inside the 30.
“We did a lot of studying what they do,” Ramirez said. “We had a good idea what we were going to see and we prepared well.”
Rosehill will continue its remarkable season, looking forward to possible rematches with Bulverde Bracken Christian or Austin Hill Country Christian in the playoffs. Both teams defeated the Eagles by less than 10 points during the regular season.
No matter the result, Rosehill already has a trophy in hand and the fulfillment of reversing a disappointing 2008 season.
“I’m so proud of our guys,” said Shelby, also crediting his coaching staff. “They’ve been stepping up all year long. They play with a lot of character and a lot of class.”
For the Eagles, it was undoubtedly worth the effort.
Rosehill put the finishing touches on the best regular season in recent memory with a 21-12 victory Thursday, improving its record to 8-2 and claiming the TAPPS Six-man District 5, Division I championship.
The Eagles earned a first round bye for the playoffs and will begin play in the regional round the second week of November.
With the puddles and mud providing a unique football setting, Rosehill and Allen Academy scuffled until the final minute Thursday before the Eagles made one last stand.
“Anytime you play for something that special you hope it’s going to be a worthy contest,” Eagles coach Len Shelby said. “Bryan Allen Academy, man, they played us tough, they battled us hard. It looked like they were getting momentum at times but our kids would jump up and do what they needed to do.”
The game featured power football at its best. With neither team able to pass or, at times, hold onto the ball, blocking and tackling made the difference. Fittingly it was the Eagles’ defense that ultimately decided it.
The Rams (7-3) cut a 15-point deficit to nine early in the fourth quarter and had three chances to pull within one score. But sophomore Ian Ramirez recovered a fumble to end one drive and Matt Howard made a fourth down stop to stuff another.
Allen Academy took over on its own 26-yard line with 2:20 remaining after a Rosehill fumble. But a key tackle by Shane Mylius set up a 4th-and-6 at the 35. Ramirez made the stop with 47 seconds left to seal victory.
“I love those situations,” said Ramirez, who had crucial fourth down tackles in the first half as well. “I live for those situations. There’s pressure, but that’s what we like.”
Offensively the Eagles relied on the strong running of senior Chase Oliver, who scored all three Rosehill touchdowns and amassed 333 yards on 24 carries. Oliver’s running style fit the conditions, as he followed blockers, made one cut and sped away for scores of 43, 48 and 50 yards.
“The rain and water just made it 10 times better,” he said. “That was the most fun game I’ve ever played.”
Oliver said it was an especially satisfying win for the Eagles, who lost at Allen Academy during last season’s finale and missed the playoffs. Rosehill led the entire way Thursday, as two Oliver runs produced a 14-0 first quarter lead.
Gary Flemings scored both of Allen Academy’s touchdowns to keep his team in the game. But Tomball’s defense consistently chased down the Rams’ ball carriers, allowing 104 yards on 38 carries and stopping them three times inside the 30.
“We did a lot of studying what they do,” Ramirez said. “We had a good idea what we were going to see and we prepared well.”
Rosehill will continue its remarkable season, looking forward to possible rematches with Bulverde Bracken Christian or Austin Hill Country Christian in the playoffs. Both teams defeated the Eagles by less than 10 points during the regular season.
No matter the result, Rosehill already has a trophy in hand and the fulfillment of reversing a disappointing 2008 season.
“I’m so proud of our guys,” said Shelby, also crediting his coaching staff. “They’ve been stepping up all year long. They play with a lot of character and a lot of class.”
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