Football: Tompkins 50, Cinco Ranch 45

Falcons win third straight game, topple Cougars in pivotal contest with big District 19-6A playoff implications

It’s no coincidence that two of Tompkins’ top three offensive performances of the season have come in the last two games, just as the offensive line has returned to full health.

Thursday, in a pivotal game against Cinco Ranch with huge playoff implications, the Falcons rode the offensive line and a surging run game to victory.

After Cinco Ranch scored to cut its deficit to five points with 4:11 left, Tompkins drove out the rest of the clock, going 60 yards over seven plays, gaining four first downs, to kneel out a 50-45 win at Legacy Stadium. The Falcons did not attempt a pass on any of those seven plays.

Tompkins, inspired by last year’s 38-28 loss to the Cougars, improved to 3-2 in 19-6A (4-3 overall) and tightened its hold on the fourth and final playoff spot in district with three games left.

Cinco Ranch is 2-4 in 19-6A (2-6 overall) and falls 1 ½ games back of Tompkins. The Cougars have two games left in their season.

Tompkins’ win could also hold potential significance for No. 13 state-ranked Katy, which will now likely fall on the Division I side of the Class 6A postseason bracket come next month, barring any surprises, because of the Falcons.

Tompkins’ offensive line returned two starters during last week’s win over Morton Ranch. The Falcons piled up 245 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries.

Thursday, Tompkins totaled 289 yards and five touchdowns on 42 carries. The vast majority of that production via sophomore running back Ethan Meadows, who had 237 yards and four touchdowns on 35 carries.

Meadows scored on runs of 14, 6, 19 and 2 yards, respectively.

Tompkins has won three consecutive games to revive what appeared to be a dormant season. Over those wins, the Falcons are averaging 46.7 points per game and 279 yards rushing. Fifty-six percent of their total yardage is coming on the ground.

The left side of the Falcons’ line missed considerable time early in the season. It was a young group as it was entering the campaign, accounting for some growing pains as players mixed and matched to fill in the open spots.

Junior guard Nicholas Loftis and senior tackle Erben Birkhoff returned from injury against Morton Ranch.

Along with junior center David Bryson, senior right guard Deacon Parrish and junior right tackle JP Culotta, the line is finally at full strength.

Tompkins led 28-6 in the second quarter. But Cinco Ranch’s offense, ranked No. 4 in 19-6A and a rare pass-happy unit in the district, stormed back behind impressive efforts from senior quarterback Charlie Adamoli, senior receiver Scott Eckel and sophomore running back Brayden Gonzalez.

The Cougars trailed just 36-30 going into the fourth quarter.

When junior running back Marcus Gadlin III ran it in from a yard out with 4:11 left, Cinco Ranch trailed 50-45, the closest it had been since a 7-6 deficit with 4:05 left in the first quarter.

But the Cougars’ offense would not touch the ball again. As was the case all game, the Cougars had issues stopping Tompkins, particularly on the ground.

The Falcons went to a heavy alignment—seven linemen—for a lot of the second half to sustain its ground game. It did the same for its final drive behind big runs from senior quarterback Justin Thierheimer and Meadows.

Tompkins had 462 total yards to Cinco Ranch’s 413. The Falcons scored touchdowns on seven of nine possessions, not including the final drive when they kneeled out the clock.

Tompkins averaged eight yards per play. Cinco Ranch, meanwhile, had its season embodied in one game—an electric, prolific offense, but a consistently spotty defense susceptible to big-time plays on the ground.

Meadows talked about his performance and the team’s big win afterward. A box score and game summary follows down the page.

TOMPKINS 50, CINCO RANCH 45

SCORING:

First quarter

OTHS: Justin Thierheimer 39 run (Mauricio Vazquez kick good), 6:13

CRHS: Scott Eckel 40 catch from Charlie Adamoli (Andrew Reagan kick missed), 4:05

Second quarter

OTHS: Carter Young 11 catch from Justin Thierheimer (Mauricio Vazquez kick good), 10:40

OTHS: Ethan Meadows 14 run (Mauricio Vazquez kick good), 8:20

OTHS: Ethan Meadows 6 run (Mauricio Vazquez kick good), 2:33

CRHS: Brayden Gonzalez 1 run (2-point conversion good), 0:15

Third quarter

OTHS: Ethan Meadows 19 run (2-point conversion good), 10:16

CRHS: Brayden Gonzalez 60 run (2-point conversion good), 9:22

CRHS: Drew Tureau 19 catch from Charlie Adamoli (2-point conversion good), 2:41

Fourth quarter

OTHS: James Mayes 11 catch from Justin Thierheimer (2-point conversion good), 11:18

CRHS: Scott Eckel 44 catch from Charlie Adamoli (2-point conversion good), 9:56

OTHS: Ethan Meadows 2 run (2-point conversion fail), 6:41

CRHS: Marcus Gadlin III 1 run (2-point conversion good), 4:17

Team Statistics

Yards rushing: OTHS 42-289, 5 TDs; CRHS 24-150, 3 TDs

Yards Passing: CRHS 263; OTHS 173

Total Yards: OTHS 462; CRHS 413

Passing: CRHS 18-34-1, 263 yards, 3 TDs; OTHS 11-16-0, 173 yards, 2 TDs

Turnovers: CRHS 1; OTHS 0

Penalty-Yards: OTHS 2-20; CRHS 1-15

Individual Statistics

Rushing – OTHS: Ethan Meadows 35-237, 4 TDs; Justin Thierheimer 5-48, TD; Robert Bernard 1-4; Adebisi Bello 1-1. CRHS: Brayden Gonzalez 12-108, 2 TDs; Marcus Gadlin III 9-48, TD; Charlie Adamoli 1-18; Jacob Chevez 1-5; Team 1-(-29).

Passing – CRHS: Charlie Adamoli 18-34-1, 263 yards, 3 TDs. OTHS: Justin Thierheimer 11-16-0, 173 yards, 2 TDs.

Receiving – CRHS: Scott Eckel 10-148, 2 TDs; Drew Tureau 5-53, TD; Matthew Courtois 2-46; Brayden Gonzalez 1-16. OTHS: KJ Madison 3-75; Adebisi Bello 5-69; Carter Young 2-18, TD; James Mayes 1-11, TD.