KBVO Game of the Week: Liberty Hill rumbles by Pflugerville Connally 73-35

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Liberty Hill ran roughshod over Pflugerville Connally on Thursday at The Pfield, piling up the rushing yardage in a 73-35 win to open District 11-5A2 play.

The Cougars led 21-14 early in the second quarter, but the Panthers leaned on their Slot-T rushing attack and broke big play after big play to outscore Connally 59-14 after that.

The Panthers had 12 drives, resulting in 10 10 touchdowns, while the other two ended in fumbles. Liberty Hill fumbled on the Connally 2-yard line in the first quarter, or else they could have put 80 points on the board.

In the first quarter, it looked like both teams were going to light up the scoreboard. Connally quarterback Jase Watkins hit Jonah Garcia for a 62-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and then he added two short touchdown runs later in the half.

Liberty Hill answered Connally’s first big play with one of their own, a 60-yard run by Bryce Byrn, and then he added another score from 12 yards out after the Panthers recovered an onside kick attempt by the Cougars.

Following Watkins’ touchdown runs, the Panthers’ punishing running attack took over. Preston Benefield, Dylan Belinga and Jack Pitchford all scored for Liberty Hill in the blowout win.

Watkins hit Rashaan Franklin for a 79-yard touchdown pass in the second half, but by then, it was too little, too late for the Cougars.

Liberty Hill (2-2, 1-0) hosts Navarro in district play on Sept. 25. Connally (2-2, 0-1) is at Crockett on Sept. 26.

Game highlights