COLLEGE STATION - Since losing to Aledo in the program's first-ever trip to the UIL State Football Championships a year ago, Fort Bend Marshall has been on a mission to get back.
Mission accomplished.
Devon Achane rushed for 152 yards and three scores, caught another one for a score, Malik Hornsby passed for 289 yards and two scores and rushed for 102 yards and two scores, the defense forced four first-half turnovers and Fort Bend Marshall cruised past Boerne Champions 55-21 in the 5A Division II State Semifinal on Saturday at Texas A&M's Kyle Field.
"It's an amazing feeling, this has been our goal since week one," Achane said. "Our goal was to get back to state. We're there, so we'll go back to practice. We've been looking forward to this all year. We have unfinished business, same as when we played Manvel. Just go watch film, fix the little mistakes from last year and try to win."
VYPE Video: @MarshallBuffs RB @ffvmousvon_ had another big game. He rushed for 153 yards and 3 TDs and had 5 receptions for 75 yards and a TD #txhsfb @coachjameswill @FMB_Helm @FMB_Helm @whoodie_warren @LABOME_VII @FrankMi09950581 @ikmalvo70 @MHS_Buffs pic.twitter.com/BmZWgvIehB
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) December 15, 2019
Fort Bend Marshall (14-1) advances to the 5A Division II State Championship game for a second-straight season, where it will get a rematch with Aledo, who beat Lubbock-Cooper, 28-21, on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 21 inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
"We're not done, we're not satisfied," Fort Bend Marshall coach James Williams said. "These guys still have that goal. We got there, now we have to finish when we're there. We're excited for them. They deserve it and unfinished business."
The opening five minutes set the tone of this one.
Boerne Champion quarterback Luke Boyers was intercepted on two of the Chargers first three drives, with his second being taken back 28 yards by Christian Jackson for a score, pushing the lead to 13-0 with 8:44 remaining in the first quarter.
Jackson had the first interception of Boyers as well, finishing the game with a pair of interceptions and a blocked punt.
"My coaches told me to be patient and read my keys and read the play," Jackson said. "All week he was stressing to me, just be explosive to the ball and be violent everywhere I go. I told him I was going to get him two and the defensive line got it for me. They got the quarterback reading the wrong option and I got the ball going to the house."
On the very next drive, Chargers' running back Tamari Jenkins fumbled the ball and Quincy Blair recovered it for the Buffs. Three plays later, Achane stride into the end zone from 24 yards out, making it 20-0 with 7:30 left.
For Bend Marshall poured it on the rest of the first half - Achane rushing in from 84 yards and one yard, add in Hornsby's 54 yard scramble and 51 yard touchdown pass to Ja'vion Matthews - outscoring the Chargers 28-7 in the remaining 19:30 until halftime, to lead 48-7 at the break.
"It feels good to be one of the final two teams in Texas to be going back and playing in the state championship again," Hornsby said. "It's a great feeling to have."
VYPE Postgame: @MarshallBuffs QB @1MalikH1 after passing for 289 yards; 2 TDs and rushing for 102 and 2 TDs in 55-21 win. #txhsfb @ffvmousvon_ @coachjameswill @FMB_Helm @FMB_Helm @whoodie_warren @LABOME_VII @FrankMi09950581 @ikmalvo70 @MHS_Buffs pic.twitter.com/6pZliCmnpK
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) December 15, 2019
Achane finished the first half with 10 carries for 144 yards and three scores, which pushed the senior Texas A&M-commit over the 2,000 yard mark for the season.
Boerne Champion answered in the third quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Boyers, who finished 14 of 31 for 173 yards and one touchdown and two interceptions - to Connor Lee, and scored late in the fourth quarter but fell 55-21.
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