Carter-Riverside snaps drought against Trimble Tech for first win of the season
Although Fort Worth Carter-Riverside and Fort Worth Trimble Tech haven’t met on the football field every season, the Eagles did snap a drought Thursday night at Scarborough-Handley Field.
Quarterback Zackary Cooper threw three touchdowns, two to Jaylen Trester and Carter-Riverside beat the Bulldogs, 34-12, for its first win in the series since 2010.
It was also Riverside’s first win this season after losing to Dallas Sunset (26-20) and FW Polytechnic (19-12).
“Me and Zack have worked a lot at practice. I look at myself as his favorite receiver. I’m always open when needed and I’m always going to be open,” Trester said. “We had two hard losses, but we came back in practice and worked harder, better, faster and stronger. This win just gives us momentum for next week and the week after.”
The Eagles beat the Bulldogs, 21-20, 11 years ago.
“Fort Worth is a family and a lot of these kids know each other all over town. They’ve been playing with each other for four, five, six years,” Carter-Riverside coach Philip Murray said. “We’re a 4A school playing above our weight so to get a win against kids we know and a team that’s historically been a big fit for us, it’s something of a stepping stool.”
Trimble Tech (0-3) made the first statement.
On the third play from scrimmage, Trimble Tech’s Josh Daniel intercepted a Carter-Riverside pass and the Bulldogs converted the turnover into points.
Quarterback Devon Johnson scored on a 1-yard QB sneak with 7:36 left in the first quarter. The play was set up with Johnson’s 14-yard throw to Eddie Rodriguez to the 1.
However, Tech’s two-point try was no good for a 6-0 lead.
Tech came into the night having scored six points through its first two games, losses to Dallas Bishop Dunne and Seagoville.
After its blunder, Carter-Riverside (1-2) responded on its second drive, gaining 58 yards on nine plays. On fourth-and-goal from the 3, Sequoia Robinson took the hand-off from Cooper and after a great second effort, he found the end zone with 1:53 to play in the period.
The extra point was good and the Eagles led 7-6.
Carter-Riverside upped its lead to 14-6 only 30 seconds later. Trester recovered a Tech fumble and Robinson scored his second TD run, from 15 yards.
Tech had its best drive of the night going 63 yards on 10 plays, capped off with a Demario Colter touchdown - the unconventional way.
Johnson called his own number on a second-down run and fumbled at the 5. The ball bounced into the end zone and Colter picked it up easily with no defenders around, making the score 14-12 with under eight minutes left in the second quarter.
Cooper threw three touchdowns to increase the Riverside advantage to 34-12.
Cooper heaved up a pass to Braden Kunz, who beat his defender for the catch, broke a tackle and scored on a 48-yard touchdown with 4:54 left in the second quarter.
“Falling down [the first two weeks] like that and coming back to win the third game is the best feeling,” Cooper said. “I hope we grow as a family and develop as a team.”
The Eagles forced another Tech turnover and four plays later, Cooper hit Trester on a 10-yard pass for a 28-12 lead with 3:08 left in the frame. The Eagles took that score into intermission.
Cooper and Trester connected for a second time, on a 26-yard pass and catch, with 5:55 left in the third.
“First thought was my coaches favorite words...next play. Think about the next play and you’ll always be ready,” said Cooper about his early interception. “Jaylen is a tall man, he can dunk so I just throw it up to him and he can get it. I’m confident in him.”
Trester and Kunz combined for seven catches for 137 yards and three TDs. Robinson rushed nine times for 80 yards and two scores. Carter-Riverside held Tech to 102 yards of total offense.
This story was originally published September 9, 2021 at 9:37 PM.
