Summit opens district play with win over Burleson

By Bob Kowalski

Mansfield Record

Summit notched its first victory of the season in its district opener with a 35-10 win over Burleson on Friday night at Vernon Newsom Stadium.

The Jaguars (1-2, 1-0 District 3-5A Division II) controlled field position throughout the game, and took advantage to score twice in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead over the Elks (1-3, 0-2).

Summit’s second drive of its homecoming game began on Burleson’s 35-yard line after a short punt. Six plays later, quarterback Demarus Bird passed to Zaeden Smith for a 27-yard score and 7-0 lead with 5:51 to play in the first quarter.

Another three-and-out by Burleson deep in their own territory led to a Summit drive that started at the Elks’ 30-yard line. Bird hit Smith for 22 yards, then Daudu Imogbolaha scored on a 7-yard run for a 14-0 lead after Diego Apodaca’s point-after kick.

Burleson got on the board with 7 minutes left in the half with a 22-yard field goal by Gavin Kiene, cutting the lead to 14-3.

Summit wasn’t done with scoring in the first half, though, cashing in on a 4-yard TD run by Bird for a 21-3 lead, which they took into the locker room. That was set up by a 29-yard pass from Bird to Smith from Burleson’s 33-yard line.

Burleson put together a crisp scoring drive to open the second half. Quarterback Andrew Sparks started the drive with a 12-yard run to reach midfield, then three plays later passed to Jaden Hernandez, who got behind the defense on the sideline for the 50-yard scoring reception to pull Burleson within 21-10 with 1 ½ minutes gone in the second half.

Summit kept its next drive alive with a successful fake punt on fourth-and-seven from its own 35-yard line, but later an interception by Burleson’s Lynden Kilgore stopped the drive at midfield.

The teams traded possessions until Summit struck again with 7 ½ minutes left in the game. Adarion Nettles carried on 5 of 6 plays, including a 22-yard run during which he shed several tacklers and spun ahead for extra yardage. He capped that drive with a 3-yard TD run to put the Jaguars up 28-10.

Summit closed out the scoring with just over 2 ½ minutes left in the game when Bird swept nine yards for a score. Apodaca’s successful point-after kick left him 5-for-5 on the night and sealed the scoring at 35-10.

Elsewhere Friday night, Lake Ridge (1-3) fell at North Forney, 49-24; Legacy (0-4) was defeated by Rockwall Heath; and Timberview (1-3, 0-2 3-5A DII) was shut out at Colleyville Heritage, 10-0. On Thursday night, Mansfield (4-0) defeated Waco Midway, 29-15.

Next week, Legacy faces North Crowley at 7 p.m. Friday at Crowley ISD Stadium; Mansfield meets Fort Worth Boswell at 7 p.m. Friday at Pioneer Stadium; Summit plays Grapevine at 7 p.m. Friday at Mustang-Panther Stadium; and Timberview hosts Everman at 7 p.m. Friday at Newsom Stadium for its homecoming. Lake Ridge is off.

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