Rockwall Rides Strong Running Game + Stingy Defense to 40-0 Shutout of Tyler Lee

TYLER -- The Rockwall Yellowjackets used a powerful running game and a stingy defense to defeat the Tyler Lee Red Raiders, 40-0, in District 12-5A action at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium Friday night.

Running backs Chris Warren and Zach Berryman combined for 248 yards and three touchdowns, while the Rockwall defense held Tyler Lee to 209 total yards in the shutout.

Rockwall (3-5, 2-2) started strong, going eight plays on its first drive, culminating in quarterback Dylan Chapman's 8-yard touchdown run at 4:46 in the first quarter, giving the Yellowjackets an early 6-0 lead. The extra point was missed by kicker Tyler Bonner, but he made up for it with two field goals in the second quarter, a 21-yard kick at the 5:47 mark, and a 43-yard kick to end the first half.

It was Warren's turn to start the second quarter, as he barreled in from 9 yards out at the 10:55 mark, punctuating a 10-play drive and a giving the Yellowjackets a 13-0 advantage. The 6-2, 230-pound sophomore finished with 143 yards on 22 carries and two scores.

"We knew we wanted to run the ball, so that worked out well for us," Rockwall coach Scott Smith said. "We also knew anytime you come to Tyler, you better be ready to play. Coach (Darrell) Piske does a great job with those guys."

Rockwall wasted little time in the second half as Berryman went 53 yards to paydirt on the third play of the drive, giving the Yellowjackets a comfortable 26-0 cushion. On the ensuing kickoff, Lee return man Davier Harris fumbled at the 34-yard line, giving Rockwall the ball back. Yellowjackets running back Xavier Castille punched it in from 1-yard out six plays later, and it was 33-0 Rockwall.

It was indicative of the night for the Red Raiders (1-6, 0-3), who had 10 penalties for 125 yards, turned the ball over twice (interception, fumble) and couldn't muster any type of momentum.

"When things like this are going on in your life, that's when you find out what kind of person you are," Piske said. "I'm going to come in, go to work and figure out what we can do to get better. You just have to show up every day and get after it. If you do that, and show some class and character, good things will happen to you."

The game got worse for Lee early in the fourth quarter when quarterback Raleigh Poster was intercepted by Rockwall safety Sean Hardenbrook. On the previous play, Lee tailback LaTerrence Simmons took a handoff 31 yards to the 2-yard line. But two straight illegal-substitution penalties pushed Lee back 10 yards. Poster was hit throwing towards the end zone on the next play, as Hardenbrook stepped in front of the pass and went 99 yards to the end zone.

The play was called back for an illegal block, giving Rockwall the ball at the 41-yard line, while Poster was injured and did not return for the rest of the game.

Three plays later, Warren scored an 18-yard touchdown run on his final carry of the game with 8:24 left in the fourth quarter. Seconds after the score, a fight broke out on the field with two players being ejected, one from Lee and one from Rockwall.

Lee running back Marcus White was the lone bright spot for the Red Raiders, finishing with 114 yards on 13 carries.

District 12-5A action continues next Friday when Tyler Lee travels to Mesquite, while Rockwall is idle.