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Bears outpaced in playoff push but retain offensive core
Randle’s run-heavy offense Saturday night proved too much for Bastrop, ending the Bears’ football season with a difficult 83-20 playoff loss.
The Lions piled up 471 rushing yards and seven touchdowns Nov. 29. Their relentless attack was led by junior all-purpose standout Landen Williams-Callis, who finished with 326 yards on the ground and reached the endzone six times.
Bastrop put up a fight in the opening quarter. Junior quarterback Weston Nielsen connected with senior tight end Brent Carter on a 45yard touchdown to even out Randle’s first seven points — but the momentum swing was brief.
The Lions were quick to regain the advantage with a 90-yard kickoff return and Bastrop’s offense found difficulty sustaining drives throughout the night.
The Bears offensive line faced constant pressure, forcing Nielsen into hurried throws and repeated third-and-long situations. Those disruptions helped Randle build a 28-7 lead early in the second quarter, and the Lions widened the gap from there.
The scoreboard read 49-7 late in the second quarter when the Bears showed life again. Nielsen hit junior wide receiver Zac Wilkinson for a 43-yard touchdown, but a missed extra point left Bastrop trailing by 36.
The Lions added another score before halftime to extend the lead to 55-13. The second half brought more of the same, as Randle outscored Bastrop 28-7.
The Bears closed their output in the fourth, when Carter hauled in his second touchdown of the game — a 15-yard pass from backup quarterback Bryce Cosgrove.
Despite the hard loss, the Bears capped one of their strongest seasons in recent history. Bastrop finished 11-1 overall and 7-1 in district play, advancing to the third round of the playoffs.
The postseason run featured a dominant 62-0 win over Burbank in the bi-district round and a 69-42 shootout victory over Waco University in area competition.
The roster still has reason for optimism, though.
Nielsen, who threw for more than 3,000 yards and 46 touchdowns this season, returns next fall as one of the district’s top quarterbacks. He will be joined by key receiving threats Dallas Crensenzo and Wilkinson, giving the Bears a strong offensive core as they aim to build on this year’s success.
