Classic high school football. Give the ball to your best player and let him go to work; that is what was put on show for the House Park crowd last Thursday night. The Knight’s best player happens to be David Houston, quarterback and defensive back who will have many feats of brilliance each and every game. This district-opening game against the Crockett Cougars was no different for Houston. 

The Cougars started the game off fast as lightning, needing only two plays to score from scrimmage, with their quarterback, Cameron Dickey running in a 39-yard score. On the other hand, the Knight’s offfense moved the ball down the field much more methodically with a mix of rushes and passes before Houston capped the drive off with a one yard rushing score. 

Unfortunately for the Knights, this was as good as the first quarter would get for the team, with the Cougars pouring on three more scores to end the quarter up 28-7. After a 75-yard rushing touchdown, pick six and 80-yard passing touchdown, all by Dickey, the rest of the game looked bleak for the Knigths. The Cougar’s Dickey wore number one on his jersey and obviously for a good reason, but for the rest of the game, Houston would show why he’s the better number one. 

With another slow and methodical drive, which included a fourth down conversion by Houston, the Knights closed the gap with a 10-yard passing touchdown to receiver JD Jordan. Kicker Dash Levy kept up his spectacular run of form after last week’s game-winning field goal by recovering his own onside kick with four minutes left in the half. Finishing out the first half, Houston found receiver Alexander Jourdan who powered his way into the endzone to cut the lead to 28-20 going into halftime. Thanks to some great offensive chain movement, redzone production and the onside kick recovery, the Cougars only had the ball for 28 seconds during the second quarter. 

The deficit the Knights faced going into the second quarter, and still faced going into half, was nothing new as the team trailed 20-7 at the halfway mark of last week’s game against Connally. “Coaches kept telling us we weren’t playing McCallum football,” Houston said. “Once the points started coming though, the feeling was we knew we could do that. It was then about keeping it up.”

Receiving the opening kick for the second half, the Knight offense picked up right where they left off, as Houston completed a fourth down throw to Thurston Roberts before running in a score from the five yard line. The score would be level seconds later with a two-point conversion completed to Jordan for a tied game of 28-28. Now level with Dickey on scores for the game, Houston matched him in all statistical categories with an interception on defense just a minute after tying it up. That turnover would prove to be fatal for the Cougars as Houston would run in another touchdown to give the Knights their first lead of the night and the Cougars would not gain another first down in the remaining 14 minutes of play. Instead, the Knight’s defense forced a failed fake punt and foiled two more fourth down attempts, giving Houston the opportunities to run in the sixth and seventh touchdowns of the night capping off a 49-28 Knight victory. Houston won the Austin American Statesman’s player of the week for his performance. 

Heading into their first matchup with the LBJ Jaguars since the 2019 season, when the now senior class were freshmen. The team is pumped and ready for the game, but first a bye week looms. “The extra time for practice and for everyone to heal up is great,” Jourdan said. That last game against the Jaguars in 2019 was a 56 point shutout win for LBJ, but disclaimer: It was sophomore quarterback’s Jaxon Rosales first district start as he filled in for an injured Cole Davis. Not only will the Knights be looking to avenge their last loss against the Jaguars, but also cement themselves as district title contenders for this season, as through one game they are (tied for) first.

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