FRISCO—Despite the fact that Toyota Stadium construction had been halted for the evening, the Lone Star and Centennial football teams were slated to deliver lumber.
This is hardly the first case of the week for District 5-5A Division I, as these teams entered Week 4 with only one loss between them.
The Rangers, who entered the game ranked second in Class 5A Division I, pulled away after 48 minutes, winning 41-0.
Senior receiver Ryder Mix led the way for Lone Star, finishing the game with five catches for 103 yards and three touchdowns.
“I think when I’m given the opportunity, I try to do everything I can with it,” Mix remarked. “Nothing beats a nice team victory. It’s all fun and games, but winning as a team matters more. When we come to Sunday, it’s 0-0 again.”
Trey Wright, a sophomore quarterback, worked the ball to Mix and completed the game with 22 touches for 233 yards and five touchdowns.
Lone Star (4-0, 2-0) was out of first gear when they took the field. Junior Karece Hoyt had a three-yard reception and a five-yard dash before Wright moved the chains with nine yards on the ground.
Centennial (2-2, 0-2) senior outside linebacker Jeremiah Smith recorded a sack before an incompletion forced fourth-and-11. Wright moved the chains with a 17-yard rush before juking and adding another seven to give Lone Star a 6-0 lead with 7:58 remaining in the first quarter.
An unsatisfactory punt returned the ball to the Rangers at the Titans’ 32-yard line. Three plays later, Wright hit Mix for his first of three touchdowns of the night, a 26-yard touchdown followed by a successful Wright two-point convert, making it 14-0 with 4:48 remaining in the first quarter.
Centennial went to fourth-and-2 near midfield, but Lone Star sophomore linebacker Kaleb Tasby broke up the play in the backfield, resulting in a 4 yard loss and giving the offense the ball again.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Tasby replied. “Just go out there and play football; it will always be entertaining. We believe we have the strongest defense we’ve had in years; it’s genuinely exceptional.”
Wright capitalized, later finding one of his taller targets, 6-foot-4 junior receiver Zach Forbish, for a 26-yard touchdown to increase the advantage to 21-0 two minutes into the second quarter.
A three-and-out gave Lone Star the ball at midfield, where Wright connected with Mix for another touchdown of 46 yards on a bubble screen that he moved back inside and up the field, breaking multiple tackles to make it 27-0 Rangers with 7:53 left in the second quarter.
Lone Star junior safety Bryce Hayes-Roberts intercepted Centennial’s following drive, and the Wright-to-Mix connection found the end zone once more, sealing another scoring drive with a 3-yard touchdown with 3:30 left in the first half that would hold until halftime.
Senior running back Aaron Kolen Jr. capped the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run only seconds into the fourth quarter, giving the team a 41-0 advantage. He ended the game with 11 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown.
“Another district win,” stated Lone Star head coach Jeff Rayburn. “Having a 2-0 district record is ideal. Does not guarantee anything, but it puts you in a good position. We handled things properly tonight. I have certain things to work on and improve, but that is the most exciting part.”
Lone Star will face Heritage next Thursday at 7 p.m. at The Ford Center at The Star. Centennial will try to get back in the win column against Sherman at Kuykendall Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m.
