Melissa beats China Spring in battle of top-ranked Texas high school football teams
CHINA SPRING, TEXAS — A much-anticipated showdown among state powers didn't quite live up to the hype.
However, Class 5A Division II No. 1-ranked Melissa lived up to the billing as one of the state's best teams by hammering two-time defending Class 4A champion China Springs, 63-33 on Friday night.
China Spring entered the week as the No. 9 ranked team in the state and Melissa is No. 20 in the SBLive Texas Power 25 after a strong opening weekend win over Argyle.
That may look different next week after the showing by Melissa.
The Cardinals (2-0) pretty much dominated most facets of the game and took command early by scoring 21 points in the first quarter and were rarely stopped by the Cougars' defense.
Melissa quarterback Trever Ham was nearly perfect passing, going 25 for 30 for 375 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Karson Maynard caught 10 of those passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns.
“He had a hell of a game,” Maynard said. “After that first touchdown, you see it in his face. He doesn’t stop from there.”
The Cougars (1-1) forced the Cardinals to adjust after punting on the first drive.
Melissa then scored on eight of the next possessions.
Ham hit Maynard in stride for a 46-yard to start the scoring - a 28-0 barrage to start.
The Cardinals got a quick start when China Spring fumbled the kickoff. Three plays later, Ham threw a 27-yard pass to Maynard, who outjumped his defender and made a one-handed catch. China Spring was offside on the play, which made it a free play, essentially.
“He just manages the game really well,” Melissa coach Matt Nally said of his quarterback. “Last week, playing Argyle, he only threw it 12 times. I don’t know how many tonight, but he did well. The thing people don’t understand about this offense, the coordinator makes suggestions and Trever calls it. He has a pre-snap, and a post-snap and manages the game well. He does an unbelievable job and has a high football IQ.”
Last year, China Spring won this showdown, 42-41, with a touchdown in the final minute.
The Cougars got a solid game from quarterback Cash McCollum, who threw for four touchdowns and ran for another.
The North Texas pledge threw for 290 yards and two of his touchdown passes went to Cameron Campos. Dean Hannah had one score and a team-high 109 yards receiving on eight catches.
