Yoemen take Connally to final seconds
The Cameron Yoemen almost came back from a 19-point halftime deficit to defeat the Connally Cadets on Friday night at Yoe Field, but instead lost a heartbreaker 45-40 in the last seconds of the game.
Cameron’s Braylan Drake threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns, but Waco Connally outlasted the Yoemen on Friday in non-district play. The Yoemen to move to 2-1 on the season with the loss.
Trayjen Wilcox caught 11 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown for Cameron, while Charlie Mayer caught three passes for 20 yards and two more scores. Armando Reyes led the Yoemen in rushing with 46 yards and a TD on 10 carries.
Connally’s Keifer Sibley broke loose for a touchdown run of more than 50 yards less than a minute into the game. McDonald followed with the two-point conversion and an 8-0 initial advantage.
After Yoe answered with a TD drive that sliced the lead to 8-6, Connally’s Kobe Black logged a play in his special teams highlight reel. Black returned the ensuing kickoff more than 70 yards. Once again, Connally tacked on the two-pointer and made the score 16-6.
After a penalty backed up the Cadets offense to their own 6-yard line, McDonald took advantage and ran away from the Yoe defense for a 94-yard touchdown.
Sibley tacked on a one-yard touchdown early in the second quarter and Connally converted its fourth two-pointer for a 32-13 margin with 9:42 left in the second quarter.
Both teams would add another touchdown before halftime to make it 39-20 at the break.
The Yoemen came out on fire in the second half and scored 20 unanswered points and took a late fourth quarter lead 40-39.
Yoe running back Tavares Crittendon ran 11 yards for a touchdown with 2:02 left in the fourth quarter.
Connally stopped the Yoemen’s two-point-conversion attempt, then backup quarterback Jarrett Shepherd took over with starter Jelani McDonald watching from the sideline.
Shepherd and the Connally offense started their final drive at their own 38-yard line with 1:58 remaining. Cadets running back Kiefer Sibley got the game-winning march started with a 14-yard run into Yoe territory.
Sibley finished the march himself with a 17-yard game-winning touchdown run up the middle with 26 seconds left on the clock.
The Yoemen offense moved into position for Drake to throw to the end zone as time expired, but the pass fell incomplete to end the game.
Drake had a terrific game, throwing for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Tavares Crittendon rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown, and Armando Reyes had 46 rushing yards and a touchdown. Trayjen Wilcox could not be stopped, catching 11 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown.
The Yoemen head on the road to battle the Bellville Brahmas on Friday, Sept. 16. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. All tickets are $7 at the gate, no ticket presales.