Frisco picks up home win as brothers each score a TD
FRISCO, Texas - After witnessing his younger brother score a touchdown earlier in Thursday’s game, Frisco tailback Kam Pendergraph knew he needed one of his own.
Pendergraph did just that in the fourth quarter, delivering the finishing touches for a memorable night for him and his brother, Lauryn Pendergraph, in the Raccoons’ 30-7 win against Sherman in District 5A-6 Division I action at Toyota Stadium.
Lauryn Pendergraph, a defensive end, helped turn the game around by intercepting an intended shovel pass and returning it 61 yards for a second-quarter TD, giving Frisco (5-1, 4-0) a 16-7 lead.
Kam Pendergraph had the Raccoons’ final TD, a 5-yard dash into the end zone on the opening play of the fourth quarter, the first time the brothers scored a touchdown in the same game.
“It was real cool, with me scoring first and it motivated him to do what he did,” Lauryn Pendergraph said. “But I don’t get those opportunities as much and I’m taking that to heart and it’s real cool and special.”
Kam remarked he was equally thrilled to see his brother cross the goal line.
“Crazy, crazy experience,” Kam said. “To see that, that made me happy to see him score. … I was just so happy for him.”
Both brothers are juniors, but they’re not twins. Kam is the oldest of the two by two years, but was held back in grade school due to a speech impediment.
MAKING THE READ
Frisco was up, 9-7, near the midway point of the second quarter, but Sherman (2-3, 1-2) was driving in Raccoon territory.
Bearcat quarterback Caleb Orr then attempted a shovel pass. However, Lauryn Pendergraph quickly stepped in front of the receiver and picked off the pass in mid-air. He dashed untouched in the end zone, completing the 61-yard pick-six that gave Frisco a two-score advantage.
“I saw the quarterback trying to throw it, so I figured I would try to rush and come (after the QB), and as soon as I saw the ball released, I caught it and ran it,” Lauryn said.
Frisco coach Jeff Harbert wasn’t totally surprised to see his defensive end return an interception untouched.
“It’s funny, I was joking with our coaching staff (after the TD),” Harbert said. “I was like, I was glad our linebackers didn’t intercept it because they never would have made it, but our d-ends are some of the fastest guys we’ve got on the team, so we were lucky Lauryn got a hold of it because he’s got the wheels to finish it.”
Lauryn’s quickness was something Harbert had in mind when he moved Lauryn to end from safety going into the season.
“Last year, his sophomore year, he was playing safety and he was splitting time with another kid on the (junior varsity) and we had an injury and we had to put him at d-end,” Harbert said. “We were like, ‘Let’s put Lauryn at d-end and see what he can do.’
“He’s really athletic and he got out there and was just a natural at it; like he knows how to use his hands, he knows how to use leverage. … He’s tough to handle on the edge; he’s really fast and really athletic and he just makes life miserable on those tackles that are trying to block him.”
Frisco defensive lineman Lauryn Pendergraph (standing at left) listens to Raccoons' head coach Jeff Harbert following Frisco's 30-7 win against Sherman on Sept. 28, 2023.
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO…..
With the score still 16-7 in the third quarter, Frisco faced a third-and-goal from the Bearcat 4. Kam Pendergraph thought he was going to get the call.
It seemed to be the case, as quarterback Camren Gibson made a handoff motion. But at the last instant, Gibson faked the handoff and threw a play-action pass in the end zone to a wide-open Cole Rogers for a 23-7 Frisco lead.
“To be honest, I thought (Gibson) was going to hand the ball, but once I realized I wasn’t in my hands, I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to block,’” Kam said. “He threw it and it was a touchdown, so, hey, it was good. Good play.”
And then to start the fourth quarter, on another third-down situation, Kam did get the call, and was able to score the TD. It was part of a game-long motivation after seeing Lauryn score his.
“I felt like I had to get in. … I had to get one,” Kam said.
Kam ended up the leading rusher with 61 yards on 21 carries. Last season, he was named the district’s top offensive newcomer after rushing for nearly 450 yards and six TDs.
In the two games prior to Thursday, Kam scored two TDs apiece in wins against Frisco Centennial and Lebanon Trail.
“Kam’s had an awesome season; he’s done a great job and we knew he would,” Harbert said. “We were looking for something that could utilize his abilities and his talents; he’s kind of really good at being patient, sifting through there and finding little cracks and seams when you don’t think anything’s there.”
SEEKING OFFERS
The Pendergraph brothers are also teammates on Frisco’s basketball teams and they also run on the Raccoons’ track squad, though they’re not teammates on any relays.
But they’re hoping to continue their football career beyond high school. Thus far, though, they have yet to be contacted by any colleges.
“Not at the moment, but I’m waiting, I’m waiting,” Kam said.
NO DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN
Last season, Frisco started 6-1 but ended the regular season with three straight losses, and the Raccoons ended up missing the playoffs.
They’re hoping to avoid a similar fate this season after their 5-1 start. The Racoons finish the regular season by playing four crosstown rivals in Heritage, Reedy, Lone Star and Wakeland.
“We’ve already been bit by the injury bug this year,” Harbert said. “Last year, we really had to weather some games without a lot of our guys that were playing a lot and starting early in the season.
“Hopefully, we can stay healthy and get to that stretch run. It’s part of it, we’re playing Heritage and Wakeland and Reedy and Lone Star, and they’re very physical teams and they get after you, so it’s kind of part of it. You get beat up, but hopefully we can weather that storm and stay healthy.”
COMPLETE EFFORT
Harbert also liked how his team performed in all three phases in Thursday’s win.
Sophomore running back LJ Taylor had the team’s first score with a 26-yard run. After Sherman took a 7-6 lead, Frisco regained it for good early in the second quarter on Mason Stallons’ 42-yard field goal.
“It was awesome complementary football,” Harbert said. “All three phases were very solid; we converted on a field goal, the field position game was huge in punts and the defense came up with a turnover and got a pick-six there, so that’s huge.”
Photo of Frisco teammates and brothers Lauryn (left) and Kam Pendergraph
-- Buck Ringgold | buck@scorebooklive | @SBLiveTX
