Yoemen get big win over McGregor on Homecoming
The Cameron Yoemen sent the Homecoming crowd home happy on Friday night with a solid win over the McGregor Bulldogs 56-27.
Cameron kicked the ball off to start the game. The Yoemen defense was strong and forced a three and out. Cameron started fast with an explosive 56-yard run by Braylan Drake (1). They would score on a 5-yard touchdown run by Kardarius Bradley (8) for a 7-0 lead. McGregor returned on offense and marched down the field, scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7. Cameron tried to respond on offense but couldn’t and was forced to punt. The Yoemen showed great special teams magic and pinned the Bulldogs at the 1-yard line on a great punt by Zach Evans (11). Cameron’s defense was solid and forced a punt. The first quarter ended with the score tied at 7.
Cameron tried to start out the second quarter strong on offense but couldn’t and was forced to punt. McGregor marched down the field, but faced a fourth and 6. They went for the conversion but Cameron came through with a big stop.
The Yoemen offense answered with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Drake to Kardarius Bradley for a 14-7 lead. The Yoemen offense quickly returned back to the field after a fumble by McGregor that was recovered by Cameron. The Yoemen took advantage of the fumble with a 29-yard touchdown run by Kardarius Bradley to increase their lead to 21-7. The Cameron defense stayed tough and forced a fourth and 12. McGregor went for the conversion and failed for a turnover on downs. Cameron went into halftime leading 21-7.
Cameron received the ball to start the second half. The offense started quickly with a 38-yard pass from Drake to Kardarius Bradley, which was soon followed with a 3-yard touchdown run by Kardarius Bradley to take a 28-7 lead. The Yoemen defense began to bend and allowed an 18-yard run. McGregor would score an 11-yard touchdown run to make the score 28-14. McGregor would keep the ball after recovering an onside kick.
The Bulldogs scored on a 10-yard touchdown run to close the gap to 28-21. Cameron responded on offense and marched down the field. They scored on a fantastic 7-yard touchdown run on an end around play by Kason Goolsby (3) to take a 35-21 lead, which would be the score at the end of the third quarter.
The Yoemen defense started the fourth quarter strong with a fumble recovered by Cameron. The Yoemen offense stormed down the field with a 23-yard catch by Xavier Gilmon (15), which was soon followed with a 40-yard run by Kardarius Bradley.
Cameron scored on a 4-yard touchdown run by Kardarius Bradley to take a 42-21 lead. The Yoemen defense held tough and forced a fourth and 4. McGregor went for the conversion and was unsuccessful for a turnover on downs. The Cameron offense answered with a 20-yard catch by Elijah Goodrum (14). Kardarius Bradley reached the end zone for the sixth time in the game with a 4-yard touchdown run for a 49-21 lead.
McGregor responded with a 25-yard touchdown run to make the score 49-27. McGregor tried another onside kick, but this time it failed and was recovered by Cameron. The Yoemen increased their lead with a 22-yard touchdown run by Byron Crittendon (4) to make the score 56-27, which would be the final score at the end of the game.
Braylan Drake had a great game, throwing for 202 yards and a touchdown along with rushing for 64 yards. Kardarius Bradley was unstoppable, rushing for 141 yards and a whopping five touchdowns along with catching three passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. The offense was going full throttle with 481 total yards with big help from the offensive line, who Coach Rick Rhoades praised.
“When we’re throwing the ball effectively and running the ball effectively, it’s because our offensive line is doing a great job,” Yoe Coach Rick Rhoades said. “Those guys (Ty Reyes at center, Landon Terry and Enrique Luna at the guards, and Colby Wilson and Mason Leifeste at the tackles) are doing a great job. That’s how we were able to throw the ball effectively and that’s how we were able to run the ball effectively.”
With this victory, Cameron has a record of 2-5 on the season and moves to 1-2 in district play.
Up next, the Yoemen travel to take on the Rockdale Tigers in the Battle of the Bell. The game will be on Friday and kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in Rockdale.