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The Bastrop Bears varsity football team outlasted the Prestonwood Christian Lions in a high-scoring battle, winning 70-55 on Friday, Sept. 12.
Junior quarterback Weston Nielsen powered the Bears’ explosive offense, throwing for 549 yards and seven touchdowns with two interceptions.
Bastrop set the tone early, racing to a 28-7 lead after the first quarter. The Bears extended their advantage to 35-7 midway through the second quarter on a 30-yard rushing touchdown. Prestonwood Christian answered with a 15-yard scoring run, but Nielsen quickly restored the four-score cushion with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Zac Wilkinson, putting Bastrop ahead 42-14. Wilkinson finished with 48 receiving yards and one touchdown.
The Lions closed the first half with a pick-six, trimming the deficit to 42-21 after Nielsen’s first interception of the night.
Bastrop struck again early in the third quarter as Nielsen connected with junior wide receiver Dallas Crescenzo for a 57-yard touchdown to make it 49-21. Prestonwood countered with a long scoring drive, cutting the lead to 49-28. Crescenzo finished with a game-high 214 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The Lions continued to chip away, narrowing the gap to 49-35 on a 58yard touchdown pass. Nielsen responded with a 69-yard strike to senior utility player Gary Jefferson, pushing the lead back to 56-35. Jefferson recorded 140 total yards and three touchdowns.
Prestonwood mounted one last surge, scoring twice to pull within 56-48, but the Bears sealed the victory with late touchdowns from Nielsen and Jefferson to secure the 70-55 win.
The Bears’ offense is now averaging nearly 60 points per game in its first three contests of the season. Bastrop improved to 3-0 and will enter district play as the defending champions, hosting Crockett on Friday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
