HOUSTON – Memorial head football coach Brian Morgan described having to play a Saturday afternoon game as “awkward,” given that team meetings began at 8 a.m.

Morgan, however, noted that the change in routine didn’t affect the Titans’ performance in a 76-0 victory at Houston Wisdom at J.K. Butler Stadium.

“Our guys came out and executed today,” Morgan said. “It’s easy not to be focused in a game like this.”

The Titans (4-5, 3-3) snapped a three-game losing streak in their final road game of the regular season.

Saturday’s game was Senior Day for the Generals (0-9, 0-6), who had more players on the field (11) than on the sidelines (nine).

The competitive imbalance allowed Morgan to play several players who split time between varsity and junior varsity this season, including sophomore Adrian Hayward, who rushed for a career-high (and game-high) 142 yards and three touchdowns on just five carries.

The Titans led 55-0 at halftime, and with a running clock in the second half, they ran just two offensive plays in the second half – a fumble and a 92-yard Hayward touchdown run, respectively.

Kason Williams rushed for a pair of first half touchdowns for the Titans.

Memorial improved to 3-1 when playing in Harris County this season, including 2-0 at Butler Stadium. The Titans earned a 35-0 non-district win over Houston Madison on Sept. 6.

On the weekend of Nov. 15, Memorial will challenge 5A Division I state runner-up Shadow Creek in the bi-district round of the UIL 5A Playoffs.

The game changed when …

Jah’mar Sanders completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to receiver Tavian Gipson. It gave the Titans a double-digit lead with 4:33 in the first quarter that they wouldn’t relinquish.

And it was the first of two Sanders-to-Gipson touchdown connections. Sanders completed his first five attempts and finished 6 of 7 for 120 yards and three touchdowns. Gipson caught four passes for 75 yards and also returned the opening kickoff of the second half 60 yards for his third touchdown of the game.

The game ball goes to …

Sophomore Jaylon Guilbeau, who scored on a pick-six in the second quarter, and then intercepted a pass on the very next drive.

“He is a really good player with a bright future,” Titans head coach Brian Morgan said.

Up next …

The Titans will close out the regular season at home vs. Houston Austin at 7 p.m. on Friday night.

“Austin will play hard, and they have a quarterback who plays both ways,” Morgan said. “Playing on Saturday cuts out a day of preparation for us.”

— By Michael Sudhalter, Special to The News

 

Titans 76, Generals 0

Memorial      20       35       14       7          —        76

Wisdom         0          0          0          0          —        0

First quarter

Memorial – Kason Williams 4 yard run (Neal Kick), 7:35

Memorial – Tavian Gipson 22 yard pass from Jah’mar Sanders (Neal kick), 4:33

Memorial – Gipson 6 yard pass from Sanders (PAT failed), 2:43

Second quarter

Memorial – Williams 2 yard run (Neal kick), 10:44

Memorial – Tyrence Augusta 37 yard pass from Sanders (Neal kick), 9:51

Memorial – Adrian Hayward 45 yard run (Neal kick), 6:45

Memorial – Jaylon Guilbeau 32 yard interception return (Neal kick), 5:22

Memorial – Hayward 3 yard run (Neal kick), 0:05

Third quarter

Memorial – Gipson 60 yard kickoff return (Neal kick), 11:20

Memorial – Colton Mitchell 65 yard punt return (Neal kick), 5:30

Fourth quarter

Memorial – Hayward 92 yard run (Neal kick), 7:05

 

                                  Mem—Wis

First downs               16—1

Rushes-yards           16-218—12-(-22)

Passing yards          117—12

Total yards               335—(-10)

Comp-Att-Int           7-8-0—2-16-2

Fumbles-lost            1-1—0-0

Penalties-yards       5-40—4-35

 

Individual statistics

RUSHING – Memorial: Hayward 5-142, Sanders 3-30, Williams 5-24, Augusta 2-16, Milton 1-6. Wisdom: Jolivette 4-1, Tanvir 3-1, Alvarado 1-0, Birhaswirwa 3-(-4), Domingeaux 3-(-20)

PASSING – Memorial: Sanders 6-7, 120; Milton 1-1, (-3). Wisdom: Domingeaux 2-10, 12, Tanvir 0-6, 0.

RECEIVING – Memorial: Gipson 4-75, Augusta 3-42, Wisdom: Tanvir 2-12