Longhorns’ sneak attack vanquishes Spring Valley

Legacy football coach Dave Snyder planned on leaning heavily on his running game on Friday night against Spring Valley.

But the Longhorns made the most out of a pair of big passes.

Devin Wiedemann completed just two passes, but both went for touchdowns, as No. 2 Legacy beat the visiting Grizzlies 31-14 in the Sunset Region quarterfinals.

The Longhorns (11-0) host Cimarron-Memorial (8-2) in the semifinals at 7 p.m. next Friday.

"We didn't throw a whole lot tonight," Snyder said. "My game plan was to pound the football."

Wiedemann hit wide receiver Marcus McCollum with a 39-yard touchdown pass with 4:23 to go in the first half to break a 7-7 tie.

He hooked up with McCollum on a 49-yard touchdown pass with 5:50 to play to put the Longhorns up 24-14.

McCollum had two catches all season before Friday.

"It felt good," McCollum said of catching the touchdown passes. "Usually I'm not, like, the star."

McCollum also played a key role on defense at free safety, coming up with one of Legacy's three interceptions.

"Marcus has played well all year," Snyder said. "I've always known he could play football. He's a special athlete, but he's really come to play this year, and he's stepped in some games that make a difference."

Legacy was driving early in the third quarter when running back Deshae Edwards coughed up the ball, and Spring Valley defensive tackle Travon Davis recovered with 9:44 to go in the quarter.

Seven plays later Grizzlies running back Taj Allen scored on a 20-yard run, and Sanjin Jagrovic's extra point tied the game at 14 with six minutes left in the third quarter.

"We started moving the ball there in the second half and we fumbled, and that breaks your back a little bit," Snyder said.

Spring Valley (6-5) didn't have the momentum for long, however. On the first play of the Grizzlies' next possession, they attempted a reverse, and wideout Brandon Lopez fumbled. Legacy recovered at the Spring Valley 9.

Though the Grizzlies kept Legacy from scoring a touchdown, Andres Ortiz hit a 22-yard field goal to make it 17-14 with 1:56 to go in the third quarter, and the Longhorns again were in control.

"They got a little fired up when they got the ball, and then when they turned the ball over, it gave them a lull, and we took over on the ground," Snyder said.

After McCollum's second touchdown catch, the Longhorns added a 47-yard TD run by Martell Crockett with 2:30 to play to finish the scoring.

Legacy finished with 261 rushing yards, led by Edwards, who had 143 yards on 27 carries.

"We just kept pounding," Snyder said. "We do what we do in the Northwest (League), we just pound the football and wear people down in the end."

Contact Prep Sports Editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587.