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C.E. King running back Keith Willis (4) gets around Crosby defensive back Kae Wrobleski (16) during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
Crosby quarterback Cyrin Myles looks to pass during the first half of a high school football game against C.E. King Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
C.E. King running back Jermaine Fransaw (25) grabs the facemask of Crosby defensive back Camryn Henry, left, as Fransaw makes his touchdown run during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
Crosby's Levi Fontenot, left, takes a handoff from Cyrin Myles, right, during the first half of a high school football game against C.E. King Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
Crosby wide receiver Kade Eudy, top, only touches the missed reception under pressure from C.E. King defensive back Lavonte Johnson, left, during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
C.E. King head coach George Young talks with his players during the first half of a high school football game against Crosby Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
Crosby wide receiver looks around as he is all alone as he crosses the goal line to score against C.E. King during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
Crosby head coach Jerry Prieto urges his players on during the first half of a high school football game against C.E. King Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
Crosby running back Levi Fontenot, left, is tackled by C.E. King defenders during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
Crosby student fans clap together blocks of wood as they cheer their team during the first half of a high school football game against C.E. King Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
Crosby players, from left, David Ards, Cyrin Myles, Kade Eudy and Levi Langley check plays on their armbands during the first half of a high school football game against C.E. King Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
C.E. King quarterback Denim Johnson (3) looks for a hole under pressure from Crosby defenders Kade Wrobleski (16) and Karson Larkin (6) during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
C.E. King receiver Rae'G Dailey (17) is caught by Crosby linebacker Jonah Griffin (27) during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
C.E. King quarterback Denim Johnson, middle, takes a snap for a handoff between Keith Willis, left, and Jermaine Fransaw, right, during the first half of a high school football game against Crosby Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
Crosby receiver Luke Smith loses a kick return for a turnover to C.E. King during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
Crosby quarterback Cyrin Myles, top left, looks for a place to go under pressure from C.E. King linebacker Bryce Morton, right, during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
An official signals a touchdown as C.E. King's Elias Dejean (5) and Duaine Harris (11) celebrate Dejean's touchdown as Crosby's David Jordan (15) looks on during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
Crosby defensive lineman Luis Juarez, left, collides with C.E. King quarterback Denim Johnson, right, on the tackle of Johnsont during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
C.E. King running back Elias Dejean, left, looks back at Crosby's David Jordan (15) as he makes his touchdown run during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
C.E. King defensive back T.J. Williams, top, celebrates over Crosby quarterback Cyrin Myles, bottom, after sacking him during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
C.E. King quarterback Denim Johnson, middle, passes over Crosby's Jordan Matthew (8) and Kade Wrobleski (16) during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
Crosby tight end David Ards (22) is tackled by C.E. King defenders Will Hicks, top, and T.J. Williams, right, during the first half of a high school football game Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 in Crosby, TX.
C.E. King left no doubt on Friday night at Cougar Stadium.
The Panthers routed No. 6 Crosby (Class 5A Division I) 63-7 in a nondistrict game in the season opener. George Young won his first game as a head coach.
“It feels good to get a win for the program,” Young said. “We just try to get better every year and just try to keep moving forward. We started off slow and then cranked it up and played physical football and that’s something that we take pride in.”
Crosby had the first lead of the game after senior quarterback Cyrin Myles threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Luke Smith and the Cougars went up 7-0 with 5:14 left in the first quarter.
Those seven points would be the only points for Crosby. Several starters were pulled after the third quarter from both teams.
“They just physically beat us tonight,” Crosby coach Jerry Prieto said. “They’re a really good team and they decided to man us up on defense and bring a lot of pressure on defense. They executed well tonight, and we didn’t. There’s nothing really else to do than to go watch film and correct our mistakes.”
C.E. King tied the game after senior quarterback Denim Johnson threw a 73-yard TD pass to Elias Dejean with 1:14 left in the first quarter. Dejean caught a 10-yard slant and then broke loose down the sideline for the touchdown.
Johnson was making his first career varsity start at quarterback for the Panthers.
The Cougars fumbled the kickoff after Dejean’s TD and running back Keith Willis scored on a 1-yard run to put the Panthers up 14-0 with 20 seconds left in the second quarter.
Willis went down the sideline for an 85-yard TD run to give the Panthers a 21-7 lead with 9:15 left in the second quarter.
C.E. King’s Jermaine Fransaw was tackled at the line and seemed to be down by the Crosby defense, but the little running back broke out of tackles and went 64 yards for the TD to give the Panthers a 28-7 lead with 7:17 left in the second quarter.
Crosby tried a 28-yard field goal with 1:41 left in the second quarter, but it was no good.
C.E. King went into the locker room at halftime with a 28-7 lead.
The Panthers’ defensive line caused havoc all night and forced Myles into some tough situations.
Texas commit Dylan Spencer led the defensive line along with Kam’ron Bizor, Jo’Laison Landry and Javon Hartsfield.
“Our whole defense is pretty special,” Young said. “We have stuff to clean up but we’re heading in the right direction. We have a lot to do on both sides of the ball.”
The Panthers started their opening drive with Willis scoring an 81-yard TD run to put C.E King up 35-7 with 9:31 left in the third quarter.
Willis finished the game with 12 carries for 208 yards and three touchdowns.
Crosby punted on its second possession of the third quarter, but the C.E. King special teams forced an awkward punt and Rae’G Bailey picked the ball up and returned it for a 43-yard TD as the Panthers took a commanding 42-7 with 7:56 left in the third quarter.
C.E. King’s William Hicks came up with an interception and returned it 63 yards to the 6-yard line.
Fransaw scored on a 1-yard run to give C.E. King a 49-7 lead with 5:25 left in the third quarter.
It will be a short week for Crosby as the Cougars will host Fort Bend Marshall at 7 p.m. Thursday in a nondistrict game.
“I think we’re going to have to find ways to be successful when people are in the trenches physically bigger than us like they were,” Prieto said. “We’re going to have to find ways as a coaching staff to put our guys in position when we play people like this. If we’re going to win some playoff games, we’re going to see teams like this.”
C.E King will make the trip up to Allen next week to take on the Eagles.
Allen lost to St. John Bosco 52-14 on Friday night to open the season.
This will be the first time C.E. King will make the drive up 45 North to take on Allen.
Marcus Gutierrez is a sports/news writer for the Observer Newspapers and The News Advocate, which he has worked since Sept. 2018. Before joining the Houston Chronicle Marcus worked at the Texarkana Gazette in East Texas and at the Victoria Advocate as a sports writer.
He graduated from the University of Houston and received his B.A. in Journalism. Marcus was a part of the Victoria Advocate's coverage of Hurricane Harvey that received numerous awards. He was born and raised in Southwest Houston and is glad to be working in his hometown paper.