WIMBERLEY — Wimberley knew it would have the chance to make big plays in the passing game Friday, it was just a matter of executing.
It’s safe to say the Texans might have even exceeded their own expectations.
Sophomore quarterback Cash McCollum threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns and Wimberley produced nine plays of at least 30 yards as it rolled up nearly 600 yards of offense during a 45-21 win over Lampasas at Texans Stadium.
“We watched a bunch of film, knew they were going to send pressure, but our offensive line did a great job and gave me a bunch of time to let my receivers make plays,” said McCollum, who at one point completed eight passes in a row and has the potential to be one of Central Texas’ star quarterbacks the next two years. “All my teammates were building me up for the game and that made me confident going in. This is a great win because last week we didn’t play our best and this week we shut down a pretty good team.”
With the Badgers playing an aggressive, blitzing defense that puts eight defenders in the box and leaves its corners on an island, the Texans knew they’d be pushing the ball down field in the air most of the night.
McCollum completed six passes of at least 35 yards, including touchdowns passes of 45, 58 and 98 yards.
“We knew what they were going to play defensively and you have to challenge them and win those battles on the outside,” Wimberley coach Doug Warren said. “We did that and were able to continually do that. I’m proud of the kids for battling, making some tough catches and of our quarterback for putting the ball right on the money.”
On defense, the Texans gave up chunks of yardage and a couple of long touchdowns in the first half, but they also made two interceptions and for the most part contained the Badgers after halftime. Following two third-quarter scores that pushed its lead to 38-14, the game for all intents and purposes was over and marked a nice bounceback for Wimberley from last week’s 21-3 loss to Cuero.
“We know that our nondistrict games are what prepare us for championship playoff games,” Warren said. “We play really good teams — like Lampasas — in nondistrict and I’m proud of our kids for raising their level. I think we took another step tonight — and to me that’s the growth of our team.”
More:Wimberley, hit with turnovers and penalties, falls to Cuero
Lampasas (1-2) opened the scoring with a 76-yard pass from Dylan Sanchez to Nate Borchardt on the game’s third play from scrimmage.
Wimberley (2-1) answered with McCollum’s 58-yard bomb to Dylan Kincaid, then took the lead later in the first quarter on Moses Wray’s 2-yard touchdown run.
Case Brister sprinted into the end zone from the 40 for Lampasas to tie the game at 14-14 midway through the second quarter, but McCollum’s 2-yard TD pass to Kincaid a short time later gave the Texans the lead for good.
McCollum’s scoring strikes to Juan Olmedo (45 yards) and Tru Couch (98 yards) in the third quarter put the game out of reach.
Brister — who ended with 136 yards on the ground — crossed the goal line from the 15 and Wray had a 51-yard TD jaunt to finish out the scoring in the fourth.
Sanchez threw for 259 yards and Borchardt ended with nine catches for 177 yards for the Badgers, who are still trying to find themselves after losing a talented senior class.
More:See which Austin-area high school football teams won in Week 2
“Wimberley came out with a great plan, executed it well and we didn’t,” Lampasas coach Troy Rogers said. “Turnovers and penalties will kill you and it’s hard to overcome those things. All you can do from games like this and opponents like this is get better from it. We’ll watch film, and hopefully we’re better next week.”
Couch had 133 yards receiving and Olmedo hauled in six passes for 85 yards to lead the Texans receivers.
Wray ended with 84 yards rushing.