Godley puts up 50, defense dominates against Waxahachie Life in season-opening rout
What began as a defensive struggle turned into a scorefest in the second half between Godley and Waxahachie Life with Godley getting the better end of it, 50-27, in Friday night’s season opener.
The two teams combined for 59 points after intermission.
While Life (0-1) was able to move the ball better in the second half, the Mustangs also committed the most errors fumbling the ball away five times. They also threw a late interception.
Godley (1-0) was able to turn two of the fumbles into touchdowns. The Wildcats had no turnovers.
Though he scored only one touchdown, Kolby Bartlett led the Wildcat charge, rushing 31 times for 201 yards. He left the game midway in the fourth quarter.
Bartlett’s teammate, quarterback Caden Burke, a senior, was 15 of 32 for 255 yards and three touchdowns.
Life trailed 15-3 at halftime, but threatened to make a game of it when the Mustangs took the third-quarter kickoff and promptly marched 67 yards in five plays with Elyjah Berry getting the last six yards. It pulled the Mustangs to within 15-10 after Kennedy Hartman’s extra point.
Moments later, after stopping Godley on fourth down, Life was on the move again. The Mustangs began moving the ball after a quarterback change late in first half with Justin Tims behind center. Tims began connecting on quick swing passes to his left to Chris Gillespie which the senior was able to convert into long gains and first downs down the left sideline.
Teammate Detyrian McCoy also contributed with a 31-yard reception near the opposite side to the 6 that led the Mustangs’ first touchdown by Berry a play later.
The Mustangs were at their 46-yard line though when disaster struck. Tims was sacked for a 22-yard loss by a blitzing Braden Barak and Daniel Porras scooped up the loose pigskin and returned it 15 yards to the 9. Three plays later, big Collin Black bulled his way up the middle for a 2-yard TD and a 22-10 Godley lead with 6:19 remaining in the third quarter.
It would be the first of two TDs by Black from the same distance.
In the first half, Isacc Paniagua would also sack the quarterback, strip him of the ball, and return it 11 yards for a Godley touchdown. It gave the Wildcats a 15-0 lead after a conversion run by Black midway in the second quarter.
Kaden Mayfield was the Mustang starting quarterback at the time, but he would return late in the third quarter to lead his team to a touchdown early in the fourth. Tims and Mayfield each threw for a touchdown.
Godley will travel to Mineral Wells on Sept. 4 while Life hosts Athens.
The contest was fairly well-attended under the coronavirus restrictions though there probably would have been more if not for the pandemic. Roughly half of the fans wore masks. They were cautioned by the announcer from time to time to observe social distancing and instructed to wear masks whenever they visited the concession stand.