Trophy Club Nelson clinches playoff appearance with dominant victory over Keller Central

There’s something different about playing for clenching a playoff berth. There’s a different energy from the players as the goal of making the playoffs is within reach.

From the opening moments of the game, it was all about what No. 13-state ranked Trophy Club Nelson wanted to do to ensure it did its part this week in getting there, rolling to a 56-10 win over Keller Central on Thursday night at Keller ISD Athletic Complex.

On the second play of the game, Tom Von Grote uncorked a looping pass over the top to Ezra Malamura for a 65-yard touchdown to put Nelson (8-0, 5-0 District 4-6A) on the board quickly.

That was a sign of things to come in just the first quarter alone as quick scores and defensive stops were the theme of the first half.

Nelson forced a punt in which David Kabongo returned the ball to the Central (0-8, 0-5) three. The first play from scrimmage, Tucker James scored his first of three touchdowns in the frame.

To pour salt into the wound, Nelson then recovered a surprise onside that led to a 44-yard James touchdown.

Within a blink of an eye – actually 3:25 of game action – Nelson built a 21-0 lead but wasn’t done there.

When the clock struck 00:00 after the first quarter, Nelson led 35-0 and all but had a playoff spot in the bag.

“We started fast, but we had a few rough spots here and there,” head coach Travis Pride said. “We just got to continue to work on being a disciplined football team and executing – trying to find a way to get better.”

In his half of action, James finished with seven carries for 82 yards and three scores. Leo Almanza only had two catches in his half of work for 100 yards – both going for scores.

Von Grote finished his night completing seven of his 11 passes for 263 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 97-yard bomb to Almanza to make the score 42-0.

“The quarterback trusted me, the corner was pressed on me, [Von Grote] threw it up and I got it,” Almanza said of the score.

Almanza wasn’t done in the half as he intercepted a Landon Smith pass and returned it for a score to make the score 49-0.

Almanza, who picked up an offer from Utah earlier in the day, said the gameplan in a game like Thursday night was to “get better at fundamentals.”

Nelson nearly got another defensive touchdown as Jonathan Kabeya blocked a field goal with seconds remaining in the half and returned it 89 yards for what looked like another score, but the Bobcats were called for an unsportsmanlike penalty to keep things at 49-0 going into the break.

With a playoff spot wrapped up, next on the line is a district title. It’s something the program has never been able to achieve and very much on the minds of the coaches and players as Nelson has to go through Southlake Carroll, which beat Nelson in the same scenario last year.

“Our second goal of the year is to win a district championship,” Pride said. “That happens to be Southlake we have to go through, which will be fun. The kids will be ready to go.”