Stingy La Vega defense turns back Springtown; heads to title game for 2nd straight year
Waco La Vega took advantage of six Springtown turnovers, two returned for scores, as the Pirates downed the Porcupines 27-14 in a Class 4A Division I semifinal Friday night at Midlothian ISD Stadium.
La Vega (14-1), the defending state champion in 4A DI, advances to its fifth state title game and will face No. 2 Carthage (15-0) at 11 a.m. Friday at AT&T Stadium. The Pirates also won state in 2015.
The Pirates opened the game with a bang when Kansas State commit Demarrquese Hayes picked up a Springtown fumble on the first play from scrimmage at the 2-yard line. Hayes waltzed in for a score, and La Vega led 7-0 with 10 seconds off the clock.
Springtown (13-2), ranked No. 7 in the final Dave Campbell’s 4A DI state poll, had No. 3 La Vega off balance for most of the game. The Porcupines outgained the Pirates 340-277 in total yardage and 22-8 in first downs, but they couldn’t overcome the turnovers and big plays.
The Porcupines, in the semis for the first time since 1995, pinned La Vega at the Pirates’ 1 after a 47-yard punt by Brendan Hall on Springtown’s ensuing series. But four plays later, La Vega running back Jar’Quae Walton plowed into the line, then emerged and outraced the secondary 83 yards to pay dirt.
“When I was running, some dude was on me, but I was thinking go get a touchdown,” said Walton, who led La Vega with 140 yards rushing on 11 carries. “I was picking up my knees and thinking, ‘Don’t get caught.’
“That defense was more stout than we thought it would be. They showed a couple different things we didn’t see on film, so we had to switch some things up.”
Down 14-0 with 8:48 left in the first quarter, Springtown’s offense and running back Cameron Rickett got to work.
The Porcupines went 83 yards in 10 plays, capped off with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Camden Chesney to Rickett on fourth and 6. Rickett carried seven times on the drive for 32 yards to cut the lead to 14-7 with 3:53 left in the opening quarter.
Rickett led all rushers with 166 yards on 32 carries.
Springtown forced a Pirate punt and after a 24-yard return by Aaron Foster, the Porcupines were driving again.
Springtown had just picked up a first down at the La Vega 29 when linebacker Jordan Rogers stepped in front of a Chesney pass and returned it 77 yards for a score and a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter.
“It gave us a lift,” said La Vega head coach Don Hyde of the defensive touchdowns. “On the other side of the ball, we didn’t do well tonight, and when you do that, you’re going to be in trouble.
“I told the kids we’re going to have to play a lot better than that, or we’re going to get embarrassed next week on national television.”
Springtown got the ball back three more times in the first half, but two turnovers and a punt halted drives.
La Vega extended its lead to 27-7 to open the third quarter when Elisha Cummings darted 46 yards for a score.
But Springtown answered again.
Rickett ripped off 30 yards to start the drive, and Chesney hit Foster for a 24-yard gain down to the La Vega 10.
After a penalty, Rickett ran it in from the 5 to cut the lead to 27-14 with 7:42 left in the third quarter.
The Springtown defense kept La Vega’s high powered offense at bay the rest of the way, but the Pirates’ defense made plays when they needed it most and when Springtown’s offense couldn’t.
The Porcupines forced three punts but had ensuing drives end in a punt, another Rogers’ interception and a fumble recovered by Anthony Burns. All three plays were on the Pirates’ end of the field.
“We did some things right at times, and we stunk it up other times,” said Hyde, whose team had 13 penalties for 125 yards, but no turnovers. “Our goal all year long was win a state championship. We have the opportunity, so we’re extremely excited about that.”
This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 11:20 PM.