Jimerson, Pimpton have big nights as North Crowley beats Weatherford to stay perfect
North Crowley remained undefeated this season, but it wasn’t easy as the Panthers survived a furious comeback by Weatherford to collect a 47-27 District 3-6A victory Friday at Kangaroo Stadium.
The win helped the Panthers (7-0, 3-0), No. 23 in the Class 6A state rankings, remain perfect for the season heading into a home game next Friday against Hurst L.D. Bell.
It continues to be the best start in program history.
Panthers’ quarterback Chris Jimerson had a big night completing 21 of 31 passes for 231 yards and a pair of scores. 3-star Vanderbilt commit Ka’Morreun Pimpton was Jimerson’s favorite target on the night.
The senior grabbed seven passes for 157 yards including scores of 18 and 15 yards.
Panthers’ running back Cornelius Warren rushed for 95 yards on 15 carries and scored on runs of 1, 1 and 2 yards. DeJuan Lacey also had a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs.
Trailing 25-7 at halftime, Weatherford (5-2, 2-2) went to work behind the play of quarterback C.J. Thornton, running back JoJo Polk, and receiver Melvin Polk.
Thornton threw for 216 yards and a score. JoJo Polk ran for a pair of scores and Melvin Polk nabbed six passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. The Kangaroos outscored North Crowley 20-7 to cut the Panthers’ lead to 32-27 with 7:49 to play on JoJo Polk’s second touchdown run.
Weatherford scored on its first two possessions of the second half as Mich’Keal Melancon scored on a 1-yard run and Thornton followed with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Melvin Polk.
North Crowley countered with a 2-yard run by Warren to take a 32-20 lead with 13 seconds left in the third quarter. After JoJo Polk’s 4-yard run sliced the Panthers’ lead to 32-17, North Crowley’s defense stiffened making a pair of stops on fourth down.
The Panthers’ offense took advantage of its defense’s play to score a pair of touchdowns to put the game away. Pimpton caught a 15-yard scoring pass from Jimerson then Warren found the end zone from a yard out.
In the first half, the Panthers’ special teams set up the offense with great field position twice with blocked punts, that led to touchdowns. Both blocks led to 1-yard scores by Lacy.