Monday, October 24, 2016

2016 Week 8 - Cedar Park vs Pflugerville Connally

My video from this adventure:





I went to John Gupton Stadium in Leander, Texas to see the Cedar Park Timberwolves face off against the Pflugerville Connally Cougars in a battle for first place in district 19-5A.  We are well familiar with Carl Abseck’s Timbervolves team, winners of their last 23 games.  Jason Cecil coaches the Cougars.  He is in his second year at Connally and leads a team with a perfect 7-0 season record.  The Cougars are averaging over 36 points per game, while the Timberwolves are yielding only 7.5 points per game.  After this game, there are only two games left in the regular season.  These teams are playing for district bragging rights and play-off seeding.  Can Connally score enough points to hang with Cedar Park?  Can the Timberwolves extend their win streak to 24 games and claim sole possession of first place in their district? 

But first, I need some barbecue. . .

The Barbecue

Where do I want to go for barbecue?  I have already been to the two places listed by the google that I wanted to eat at in Cedar Park (J&J last year, Big Cat BBQ earlier this year).  So I thought I would experiment and try out a new place.  I am very glad that I did.



Mikey Perez opened M-Train Barbecue about two weeks ago.  His trailer is located in the lot behind Kellee’s Place at 2500 East 6th Street in Austin.  This is the lot when John Mueller Meat Company once served great barbecue.  According to Texas Monthly magazine, John was cooking the books in addition to cooking barbecue and his business was seized by the tax man.  Ooops. . .

Mikey used to work for John and has well learned the craft of smoking meat.  His moist brisket was tender and delicious.  It had a great bark and a deep smoky flavor.  His pork ribs were also great, very tender and tasty. 


















M-Train is currently a one man operation.  Mikey tends the fire, handles the pit, prepares each order, and works the cash register.  I had the pleasure of talking with him.  He is a very friendly and humble young man.  I told him that being at Mueller’s old location, he needs to work on his snarl.  While he may have learned some cooking techniques from John, the snarl is one thing he has moved beyond. 

Mikey has already done well in some local BBQ competitions and his cooking will only get better as he gains more experience.  It is already excellent.  Just how good it is going to get in the future?  I can’t wait to find out.

Mikey Perez of M-Train BBQ

I give M-Train BBQ my highest rating: two Hook ‘Ems!



The Game








It was a beautiful night in Leander, temperature in the low 70s and not a cloud in the sky.  Connally received the opening kick-off.  They must have been nervous to start the game, committing two false start penalties before they ever ran a play.  The Cougars could not pick up a first down and had to punt.

Cedar Park started their first drive on their 29 yard line and quickly moved past midfield.  Quarterback Mak Sexton found Daniel Rosenthal open on a slant pattern for a big first down.  On fourth and 8, Sexton once again connected with Rosenthal for first and goal.  Tyler Lavine did the rest.  He took a pitch from Sexton and scored from 6 yards out to make it 7-0.

Tyler Lavine scores on pitch from Mak Sexton


On their next possession, Connally quarterback Robert Patterson was sacked on third down, forcing the Cougars to punt.  The Timberwolves started from their own 36.  A swing pass to Haden Craig picked up 14 yards.  Then it was back to the Tyler Lavine show.  He had runs of 14 and 26 yards to move the chains.  On third and 4 deep in the Cougar red zone, Sexton passed to Lavine in the flat and he scored from 5 yards out to push the score to 14-0.

Lavine runs for 26 yards


Lavine scores on pass from Sexton





























The Cougars could not move against the swarming T’wolves defense.  Patterson was constantly pressured and/or sacked by the Timberwolves.  When he could get off a pass, the defense was all over the receiver for minimal yardage. 

Early in the second quarter, Cedar Park began a drive from their 35.  They picked up some first downs, but the drive stalled and they were forced to punt.  The Cougar return man muffed the punt (touched it, but never gained possession) and the Timberwolves recovered on the Connally 7 yard line.  Sexton found Daniel Rosenthal in the corner of the end zone and the touchdown made the score 21-0. Cedar Park would score twice more to take a 35-0 lead into half time.

Quarterback Robert Patterson pressured by Timberwolves defense


The Timberwolves received the kick-off to start the third quarter.  Their return man fumbled the ball when hit and the Cougars returned it to the Cedar Park 23.  Needing five yards on fourth down, Patterson threw a dart to Michajah Moffett for a first down on the 12.  But the Cougars would get no closer.  After a one yard run on second down, Patterson’s third down pass was overthrown and his pass on fourth down was dropped. 

Cedar Park took over on downs on their own 11, then proceeded to march down field.   A trio of running backs (Tyler Lavine, Haden Craig, Omar Alzer) ripped off big chunks of yardage against the exhausted Cougars defense.  Lavine crashed through the Connally defense and carried the ball to the one.  Craig took a direct snap from center and scampered untouched into the end zone.  The Timberwolves went 89 yards for the touchdown without a single pass play.  The score made it 42-0.
Time for the third and fourth string players to see action.  Omar Alzer got the final points for Cedar Park on a five yard run.  That made the final score 49-0.



The Timberwolves entered the game ranked #2 in Texas 5A football, the Cougars were #13.  In this the teams’ first meeting, Cedar Park posted their fifth shutout of the season.  They held the Cougars to only 75 yards in total offense.  This contest was over when the Timberwolve players got off the bus before the game.

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