In a battle of top-ranked undefeated teams, No. 1 Argyle handles No. 2 Waco La Vega
Argyle and Waco La Vega have built up quite the rivalry over the past three seasons with the fifth installment taking place Friday night between the top two teams in Class 4A Division I.
Meeting for the third time in regular-season action - with the other two in the playoffs - Argyle put its high-powered offense up against La Vega’s stingy defense.
Offense - and Argyle’s defense - prevailed as the Eagles beat the Pirates at home, 35-7. It extended the program’s home winning streak to 40 games.
The No. 1 Eagles (4-0) have won the last three regular-season meetings while the No. 2 Pirates (3-1) have knocked Argyle out of the playoffs the past two times.
“We had a great week of preparation. I think there was an emotional lull from Celina and I saw a whole different mindset,” Argyle coach Todd Rodgers said. “I was looking forward to this game and they responded well. We beat a good football team.”
The Eagles drove to the LV 14, but quarterback C.J. Rogers threw his first interception of the season, in the end zone to Ja’Von Iglehart. But the Pirates couldn’t have started any worse on offense when it fumbled its first two snaps from scrimmage. Argyle jumped on the second miscue at the LV 10.
Facing fourth-and-goal at the 2, Rogers hit Cash Walker for the touchdown and 7-0 lead with 7:01 in the first quarter.
Then both teams traded a pair of interceptions.
On the sixth play of La Vega’s ensuing drive, Jett Copeland caught an under thrown pass for the Argyle interception, but four plays later, the Eagles gave it right back when Iglehart made his second pick of the night near his own goal line.
It was Argyle’s defense that shined all night, forcing a three-and-out on the next possession and the Eagles went to work on offense with a 8-play, 65-yard scoring drive.
Rogers hit Hayden Stewart for a 16-yard gain on third-and-11 and Braden Baker capped the drive with a 1-yard plunge to give the Eagles a 14-0 edge on the first play of the second quarter.
After Argyle forced the third of three straight punts, it took just one play for the Eagles to extend their lead to 21-0 when Rogers hit Walker in stride for a 42-yard score with 4:36 left before intermission.
“We have had a great path of preparation with Decatur, Celina and Pleasant Grove so our team has been tested physically and I think they responded really well,” Rodgers said.
The Pirates didn’t go to the lockers empty handed as they answered with a 9-play, 75-yard TD drive, which was capped off by a 27-yard TD pass from Jordan Rogers to Jai’Brian Bouye with 35 seconds on the clock. Rogers kept the drive alive when he rushed for seven yards on a fourth-and-6 at the Argyle 39.
Argyle led 28-7 with Knox Scoggins’ 17-yard run up the middle to cap off a 6-play, 43-yard drive with 8:16 to go in the third. Rogers connected with Grant Chaney for a 13-yard TD, Chaney’s first career TD, and 35-7 lead at the 4:44 mark of the period.
The Eagles forced the Pirates to four second-half punts, seven overall, and held La Vega to 211 yards of total offense. Argyle gained 313 yards while rushing for 217 on 46 carries. Baker led the way with 17 carries and 78 yards while Scoggins added 65 yards on 10 carries. Rogers chipped in 52 yards rushing and threw for 96 yards and three TDs.
“[Baker and Scoggins] are tough kids. They practice hard everyday,” Rodgers said.
La Vega returns to DFW to play Fort Worth All Saints Sept. 25 in the Saints’ season opener. Argyle has a bye in Week 5 and will host Melissa in its district opener and homecoming Oct. 2.
This story was originally published September 18, 2020 at 10:33 PM.
