Keller Timber Creek plows through Keller Central to claim final playoff spot

All Keller Timber Creek needed to do was take care of business on Friday night at Keller ISD Stadium.

And take care of business they did.

The Falcons were methodical in a 47-6 dismantling of Keller Central to claim the final playoff spot in District 4-6A. Timber Creek (4-6 overall, 3-4 district) pulled itself into a three-way tie with Keller Fossil Ridge and Haslet Eaton, but will advance with the best point differential (+8) of the three schools.

With the 15-point cap, Fossil Ridge finished with 0 points and Eaton was minus-8.

The Falcons will face North Crowley (10-0), No. 19 in the state in Class 6A, in the first round of the playoffs at 7 p.m. on Friday at the new Crowley ISD Stadium.

The game was, dare to say, boring as Timber Creek controlled play on both sides of the ball.

“That makes me feel good,” said Timber Creek coach Marshall Williams whose team was only penalized three times for 25 yards and did not have a turnover. “We played solid in all three phases of the game. At some point they have to buy in to that and they did. This was as clean of a game as we’ve played all year.”

Following a punt by Central (1-9, 1-6) to open the game, Timber Creek took little time to grab the lead. On the Falcons second snap quarterback Lior Mendji hit Chukwudozie Ezukanma for 50 yards down to the Chargers’ three yard line.

Emmanuel James ran it in from there to give Timber Creek a 7-0 lead with 9:45 left in the first quarter.

Central moved the ball early behind quarterback Landon Smith and running back Draylon Galloway, but the Chargers could only muster two first-half field goals by Max Miranda. The first, from 28 yards, cut the lead to 7-3 with 3:53 left in the first quarter.

The Falcons answered right away with Mendji hitting five of six pass attempts on the next possession. The fifth completion went for 26 yards to Maddox Allbritton down to the Central three. Mendji carried it in from there himself three plays later to go up 14-3 with 38 ticks left in the first.

“We just came out fast and everybody started playing together,” said Mendji, who was a remarkable 20 of 22 passing for 278 yards. We had a good week of practice the whole week and we just came out comfortable. We hit them in the mouth first and you can see the result.”

Miranda made it 14-6 with a 38-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, but it was all Timber Creek after that. The Falcons defense forced five punts and took the ball away on downs once the rest of the way to stymie the Chargers’ attack.

Following the second Central field goal, Allbritton, No. 58 in the Star-Telegram ranking of Top 100 area players, returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the Central 19. Ezukanma took a front pitch/pass from Mendji on a jet sweep on the next play to up the lead to 21-6.

“We had a nice game plan for the week and we came in knowing that we had to execute it and we did a great job,” said Ezukanma who finished with eight receptions for 147 yards. “It feels great and getting to celebrate with my team...it was just a wonderful victory.”

The Falcons scored on the last play before the intermission when Allbritton took a hand off on a reverse, then tossed a five-yard scoring pass to Jahrid Hughes for a 27-6 lead at the half.

Timber Creek dominated the second half. Central was held to 22 total yards running 13 plays and picking up one first down.

James, who rushed for 52 yards on 14 carries, added a one-yard TD run in the third quarter. Ezukanma opened the fourth quarter catching a 10-yard out pattern from Mendji, then shaking a defender before racing for a 53-yard score to give the Falcons a 41-6.

Timber Creek fumbled twice, but recovered the ball both times. The second one was fumbled and picked up by backup quarterback Anderson Lewis who proceeded to run right up the middle for 60 yards and a touchdown to close out the scoring with 7:38 left in the game.

“North Crowley is a talented team, but I feel like us together as a team can play with anybody,” said Mendji. “We’re not afraid of anybody and we’ll be ready for them.”