Head coach Carlos Lynn leads Crowley Eagles to dominant victory over Mansfield Legacy
For the first time since 2019, the Crowley Eagles have started the season with two wins.
Newly hired head coach Carlos Lynn coached his team to a 29-3 victory over Mansfield Legacy on Thursday night at CISD Stadium. The Eagles soared past the Broncos from start to finish.
Lynn said Crowley football rode the waves of the special teams and the defense. He said the offense never got in a true rhythm, although they showed signs of life in the first half.
“Offensively, we were all over the place,” Lynn said. “We have to make sure we establish something and then move forward.”
Crowley lost 34-22 to Legacy in 2022. Under the leadership of Lynn, the Eagles are flying to new heights.
When Lynn took over as head coach, he emphasized the importance of having fun. It’s translating to the field.
“They work hard,” Lynn said. “We tax them, but at the end of the day it’s still football. If we’re having fun and we get after it, we’re going to be in good shape.”
Crowley starts strong
It would’ve been hard to draw up a better start for Crowley football in this one.
The defense forced a quick three and out during Legacy’s first drive of the contest. The Broncos were playing without starting quarterback Roman Steele, who exited with an injury in the fourth quarter of week one.
Junior Tamondre Bowie capitalized on the success of the defense, blocking the punt and setting his team up nicely at the opposition’s 39-yard line.
The Eagles proceeded to have an eight play drive that was capped off by a 18-yard passing touchdown. Crowley quarterback Caleb Williams connected with Derrick Tasby to open the scoring.
After Legacy got the ball back, they quickly lost it. On third and long, cornerback Brandon Ford snagged an interception.
With the ball back, Crowley was gifted an extra chance by defensive back Landyn Cleveland, the Star-Telegram’s No. 1 defensive back to watch. He was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Three plays later, running back Caleb Pope scored a 37-yard rushing touchdown on a QB option with 4:34 remaining in the first quarter.
Eagles keep flying
Matters got worse for Legacy. The Broncos failed to cleanly catch a kick and junior Ja’Corian White scooped it up and easily scored; the Eagles followed it up with a two-point conversion, a run by Tasby.
After yet another three and out from Legacy, the Eagles scored again. This time, it was an 18-yard touchdown from Williams to wide receiver Curtis Johnson.
The Broncos had a promising 15 play drive, but it ended with a missed field goal by kicker Jeremiah Kieffer. They got the ball right back, however, with an interception by Kyree Robertson.
Legacy’s special teams redeemed itself with a 22-yard field goal to close the first half. This was the last time either team would score.
Both defenses shine
Lynn said the Eagles’ poor offensive performance in the second half was because they struggled to establish the run game. The Bronco defense took advantage of their lack of versatility.
“We’ve got to fix that,” Lynn said.
The Eagles’ excellent defense continued its phenomenal performance in the second half, keeping the Broncos off the scoreboard.
Lynn said tackling and getting to the football powered the defense.
“They do an outstanding job,” Lynn said. “We didn’t give up big plays. They made them earn every inch of the field. That’s good defense.”
Strong performances
When asked what the Eagles need to improve on for next week’s road contest against Mansfield Summit, Lynn said “everything.”
“We have to put our best foot forward,” Lynn said. “If we do that, we’ll be alright.”
Williams finished with 125 yards in the air, completing 18 of 25 passes passses. He also added 41 yards on his legs.
“He did a great job of managing the offense and making plays when he had to make plays,” Lynn said.
Pope was the focal point of the ground game and tallied 70 yards on eight carries and a touchdown. Johnson and Tasby each scored a touchdown and had 45 and 41 yards, respectively.
Wide receiver Jacque Overton made his presence known in the second half, picking up 30 receiving yards.
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