Fort Worth Western Hills pulls away from Castleberry in second half for district win

The Western Hills Cougars came into Thursday’s game at Scarborough-Handley Field against the River Oaks Castleberry Lions determined to keep their spot in district to continue their quest for the playoffs.

It was a massive show of offensive skills in the first quarter when six touchdowns were scored between the two teams, but ultimately Western Hills pulled out the 50-35 victory.

Castleberry wide receiver Cayden Perez made the first touchdown of the night with 8:29 left in the first quarter. Perez also made a successful two-point conversion which brought the score to 8-0.

That touchdown was quickly followed by one for the Cougars’ Tyreke Lewis. Lewis ran 80 yards just 18 seconds later and the score was 8-6. The third touchdown of the first quarter was scored by Castleberry (1-6, 1-3 District 6-4A D1) quarterback Demetrius Valadez at the 5:17 mark to make it 15-6.

Cougar (5-2, 3-1) quarterback Keyon Butler ran 50-yards and scored the fourth touchdown of the first quarter and after Butler’s two-point conversion, the score was 15-14.

The touchdowns just kept coming as Butler threw the ball 20-yards to halfback Adrian Pina in the end zone. Pina’s touchdown late in the first quarter brought the score to 20-15 in favor of Western Hills.

The sixth and final touchdown of the first quarter was made by the Lions when Valadez ran it in from the 26-yard line. Castleberry led 21-20 with 28 seconds left on the clock.

Butler ran six yards and scored a touchdown for Western Hills midway through the second quarter. The two-point conversion was successful by wide receiver Gavyn Harris which brought the score to 28-21.

“I couldn’t do it without the team,” Butler said “Without them, it wouldn’t be possible.”

Valadez scored his third touchdown of the night with 3:51 left in the second quarter and after Diego Torres’ extra point, the score was tied 28-28. But with just eight seconds left before half, wide receiver Armani Perry-Brown scored a touchdown for Western Hills and the Cougars led 36-28 at intermission.

“We’re excited where we are, we have three games left of the season,” Western Hills head coach Blake Moilan said. “We’re not thinking of playoffs yet but our mind is set on the three next games.”

During the second half, Cougar wide receiver Aaron Martin recovered a fumble and took it all the way to the end zone to score a touchdown that upped the lead to 42-28 early in the third.

Western Hills kept adding to the score boardn as Butler threw the ball 18 yards to Lewis who scored the next touchdown with 5:23 left in the third quarter and after another conversion, it was 50-28.

Torres scored a touchdown for Castleberry with 16 seconds left in the game.