Bastrop back in business after nine starters return from injury
By Jim Irish
Photos by Bella Rice
Bastrop had scored no touchdowns in three consecutive losses and only three points on a field goal by Andres Carbajal.
Injuries to 10 starters will create that nightmare scenario.
On Friday at Memorial Stadium, nine of the ten starters, including star quarterback Weston Nielsen, returned to administer a 70-0 beatdown against outgunned District 12-5A opponent Crockett. Only linebacker Isaiah Arnold was missing.
“It was really nice to score touchdowns again,” Bastrop head coach Jake Griedl said jokingly. “It’s really nice to not put our defense in awful positions.”
In the first half, Bastrop (2-4 overall, 1-0 in district) threw the ball on almost every play. Griedl said Crockett played six athletes near the line of scrimmage.
“We could either force the run or take advantage of what they were giving us (pass),” he said. “That’s where Weston is so good, which is placing the ball, and we have some receivers who are explosive. (We) throw it three yards and go get 30.”
"It was really nice to score touchdowns again. It's really nice to not put our defense in awful positions."
-- Bastrop head coach Jake Griedl
Nielsen, who has verbally committed to Arizona State, showed no effects after missing four games with an injury. On the opening play of the game, he dropped back, but the ball was tipped out of his hands by running back Isaiah Regalado. Nielsen retrieved it and dashed 24 yards.
After that, he showed his ability to accurately find his receivers, mostly on short routes, completing 15 of 18 passes for 266 yards and six touchdowns. It was a clean performance, with no interceptions and no sacks.
“We got all of our injured guys back,” Nielsen said. “I told the guys that we have to lock in and start district off strong.”
"I told the guys that we have to lock in and district off strong."
-- Bastrop quarterback Weston Nielsen
He said he was “really frustrated” missing four games but used the time “to work on the mental side of the game with Coach Griedl.”
Dallas Crescenzo, a Tulane commit and Nielsen’s favorite target, displayed his burst of speed after catching seven passes for 136 yards and touchdowns of 48 and 14 yards. He even scored on a reverse of 14 yards.
Zac Wilkinson, who also returned to action, caught a touchdown of 13 yards in the back of the end zone in the second quarter. After the score, he sprinted to the cheerleaders, grabbed two pompoms from the ground and threw his arms in the air. He finished with three receptions for 52 yards.
Diego Rangel, another sure-handed receiver, caught touchdowns of 50 and 25 yards and ended with three receptions for 81 yards.
Caleb Dowell, a newcomer, had two receptions, including a touchdown of three yards.
On the ground, quick Jahmani Watkins scored on runs of 27 and 6 yards to finish with six carries for 70 yards. Regalado scored on a 24-yard run and totaled 47 yards on three carries.
“It was encouraging,” Griedl said. “Tonight was about us playing clean football, getting ready for a big game next weekend.
“I think we’re a really good football team. I think when we watch film, there’ll be things we’re really happy with from tonight and some things we know we’ve got to clean up.”
"Tonight was about us playing clean football, getting ready for a big game next weekend."
-- Griedl about next game against Pflugerville
The coaches agreed to allow the clock to run without stoppage the entire second half.
Crockett (2-4, 0-1) finished with only one first down.
Bastrop will play host to Pflugerville (3-3, 1-0) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday to decide the district title. Bastrop and Pflugerville are, by far, the strongest teams in the district.
“They have a running quarterback,” Griedl said about Caleb Gaston. “They're gonna be a spread triple option. We gotta make sure we’re reading our keys this week and see what that looks like on film. That way, we’re ready. It’s about getting a little better each week.”
Jim Irish is a freelance writer in Bastrop, Texas
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