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CHINA SPRING — The Bastrop Bears varsity football team defeated the China Spring Cougars 48-34 on Friday, Sept. 5.
Bastrop senior utility player Gary Jefferson led the way with 180 rushing yards and a touchdown to go with an 80yard kick return for a score. He also added five receptions for 21 yards.
The Bears struck first with an 11-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Weston Nielsen to junior wide receiver Zachary Wilkinson, set up by a 34-yard completion to junior wide receiver Dallas Crescenzo.
China Spring answered quickly, scoring on consecutive drives to take a 13-7 lead. Bastrop responded when Nielsen connected with senior tight end Brent Carter on a 49-yard touchdown pass to make it 1413.
The Bears then hit a rough stretch as Nielsen threw three interceptions, and the Cougars capitalized with 13 unanswered points to build a 26-14 advantage.
An 80-yard kickoff return cut Bastrop’s deficit to 26-21, but China Spring pushed the lead back to double digits at 34-21.
Nielsen sparked the comeback with a 46-yard run on a designed quarterback keeper, leading to a 14-0 Bastrop run that gave the Bears a 35-34 lead in the fourth quarter.
The defense came up big down the stretch as a clutch pick-six from senior defensive back William White extended the lead to 42-34. Bastrop then sealed the win on a late scoring drive, highlighted by a 46-yard pass from Nielsen to Crescenzo, to make it 48-34.
Nielsen finished 14-of-22 passing for 224 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Crescenzo led the receiving corps with 94 yards and a touchdown.
The victory gave Bastrop revenge after falling to China Spring 27-24 last season. The Bears will return to action Friday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. when they host Prestonwood Christian at Bastrop High School.
