Crowley football defeats Midland, wins area round game for first time since 1971
Senior quarterback Caleb Williams put on quite a first-half performance, and then the Crowley Eagles held on for a 26-21 victory over the Midland Bulldogs in the UIL 6A Division II Region 1 Area round matchup Saturday, Nov. 23, at Shotwell Stadium.
Crowley is heading to the regional semifinals for the first time since 1971.
Williams was a magician in the first two periods, when he ran for 165 yards on just nine carries and passed for 70 more and one TD, in staking Crowley to a 19-0 lead at intermission.
Sophomore Antayvious Ellis, who already has offers from major colleges including Oregon and Ohio State, made a spectacular 34-yard TD grab from Williams on the team’s second series for a quick 7-0 advantage. The drive, covering 66 yards in six plays, was set up by a Kameron Walker fumble recovery.
In the second period, after the Crowley defense stuffed Midland on a fourth-and-one at the Eagles four-yard line, Williams used 10 plays to go 96 yards, resulting in a Joseph Banks eight-yard TD scamper. The PAT was blocked.
Forcing a three-and-out defensively, Williams dazzled on a four-play 88-yard march, ripping off runs of 44 and 38 yards that resulted in a Jonathan Blake one-yard power TD run. The two-point conversion pass attempt failed.
“That was probably about as good a first half we have played, given the magnitude of the game,” said Crowley Head Coach Carlos Lynn, in his second season leading the program. “We wanted to get out ahead and make them having to chase us,” said Lynn, referencing the Midland run-oriented offense. “Get a lead and use the clock in our favor. Our coaching staff did an outstanding job in game-planning for Midland’s style of offense, which we don’t see during the regular season.”
Coach Lynn described the Midland team as “tough and gritty.” And they were just that as the Bulldogs mounted a second-half rally.
UTEP pledge Elijah McCoy scored on an eight-yard TD scamper coming out of the break for Midland, which seemed to get gain some momentum, forcing a Crowley punt. Reaching Crowley’s 36-yard line, the Eagles Mathias Martin came up with a game-changing play, scooping up a fumble and returning it 60 yards for a score to extend the lead to 26-7.
Midland quarterback Stroman Bridges, an Army commit, rallied his team, tossing a pair of TDs -- a 48-yard strike to Ayden Castillo late in the third period, and a 14-yarder to Cornell Hunt with 3:42 left in the game, to cut Crowley’s lead to 26-21.
Crowley was able to recover the ensuing onside kickoff attempt and return it to the Midland 39. Picking up one first down, and with Midland having just one time out left, the Eagles were able to run out the clock and celebrate heading to the Regional round for just the second time in program history.
Coach Lynn sited turnovers as a big key in the win. “We came up with two big turnovers defensively,” said Lynn. “And we made a big fourth-down stop in the first quarter. Our offense had zero turnovers. Win the turnover battle and you usually win games.”
Williams, eclipsing the 100-yard rushing plateau for the eighth time this season, finished with a game-high 212 rushing yards on 16 attempts, earning high praise from his head coach.
“Caleb just has a knack of extending plays,” said Lynn. “Such a great player.”
“We came in and executed our game plan,” said Williams, who noted that the Midland defense was spread out when he dropped back to pass, and holes just opened up. “I took advantage of that,” said Williams, a three-year starter who is elated to be moving on the next round. “Special. This is what we have worked for.”
Crowley has now equaled its deepest playoff run in program history.
Crowley racked up 326 yards rushing with Williams leading the way.
Crowley (8-4) advances to the 6A Division II Region 1 semifinal, facing Denton Guyer (9-3) next week with details forthcoming. Guyer upended Richardson Pearce, 45-28, to reach the Regional round.