SOUTHLAKE — At some point, a team has to go for a game-changing play to take control of a game.
It usually doesn’t happen less than five minutes into the first quarter like it did in Cedar Hill’s 48-35 win over Denton Ryan on Saturdy afternoon at Southlake’s Dragon Stadium.
After scoring on its opening drive, Cedar Hill successfully recovered an onside kick and promptly scored again, leaving Denton Ryan down 14-0 before it touched the ball in the Class 5A, Division II area round matchup.
“We had worked (on the onside kick) all week long,” Cedar Hill coach Joey McGuire said. “I knew (Denton Ryan coach Joey Florence) was going to have some stuff up his sleeve, which he did. So I figured we needed to get to a 14- to 21-point lead to try to win this game.”
Cedar Hill never relinquished the lead, moving on to play Arlington in a Region I semifinal at Mansfield on Saturday.
But it wasn’t without a struggle.
Denton Ryan stayed in the game for much of the first half, pulling within seven twice. But, a muffed kickoff return after Cedar Hill made the score 28-14, gave Cedar Hill the ball back on the Ryan 14.
It took two plays for Cedar Hill quarterback Damion Hobbs to find receiver Quincy Adeboyejo for a 13-yard touchdown — the pair’s third scoring connection of the game.
“Today was the day,” Hobbs said. “Last week, (receiver) Brandon (Harris) got the ball a lot, this week was Quincy’s time to shine. He stepped up when he needed to.”
Trailing 48-35, Ryan got the ball back with just under two minutes left in the game, but couldn’t manage a first down.
Follow Michael Florek on Twitter at @michaelflorek