FOOTBALL: Cavaliers fall short 21-0 in season opener

SHENANDOAH, Texas — The College Park football team opened their season with a hard defeat against Pasadena Memorial.

After a weather delay, the Cavaliers opened the game with some big defensive plays and held off the Mavericks, but a fumble on College Park recovered by Pasadena Memorial gave them the leverage they needed for a five-yard touchdown pass later in the first quarter. A slow-moving second quarter featured several yards gained for the Cavaliers by senior running back Tucker Woody, but multiple penalties kept them from advancing. The half ended with the Mavericks leading 7-0.

“The defense played well, but the offense—we put them in a bind. They can’t stay out there all that time. We’ve got to do better,” College Park head coach, Richard Carson, said. “We’ve got to eliminate penalties, and we’ve got to eliminate turnovers. When you have those things, you get in no rhythm. In any level of football, you can’t survive those things.”

Woody opened the third quarter with a 23-yard gain but fumbled the ball. Pasadena Memorial recovered in Cavalier territory. Another fumble by the Cavaliers was recovered by the Mavericks just a few short minutes later. An attempted field goal for Pasadena Memorial was no good. Cavalier defense continued to hold off the Mavericks and kept the score at 7-0 at the end of the third quarter.

With 10:46 left in the game, Pasadena Memorial scored their second touchdown of the night. The extra point was good, bringing the score to 14-0, Mavericks. Later, a short punt out of bounds in favor of Pasadena Memorial would allow them to score another touchdown. Toward the end of the final quarter, a field goal attempt by the Mavericks was blocked by College Park. The final score was 21 Pasadena Memorial, 0 College Park.

“We’ve got to play better. We’ve got to hang onto the football. We’ve got to block better on the perimeter, and we’ve got to get in shape,” Carson said. “I’ve never had a team that’s cramped up like we cramped up tonight. We’ve got to fix that.”

College Park will face the Klein High School Bearcats Friday, September 2 at Klein Memorial Stadium.