HS football playoffs: Oilers rout Cy Creek, play Katy next

Pearland Defensive end Samuel Ukwuachu, right, slams Cy Creek quarterback Chuck Keeton to the ground./Thomas B. Shea for the Chronicle.

The Oiler defense converted two first half turnovers into touchdowns, and star running back Dustin Garrison added three of his own as Pearland rolled over the Cy- Creek Cougars, 54-7 Saturday at Stallworth Stadium.

They advance to face undefeated Katy (13-0) next Saturday in the 5A regional final at Rice Stadium. The Tigers were a 32-27 winner over North Shore.

The Oilers (13-0) scored early and often. They led 21-0 after one quarter and 40-0 at halftime. The Cougars (904) didn't score until there was four seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Garrison carried 14 times for 64 yards and junior Jackie Robinson 14 times for 78 yards for Pearland, whose rushing offense proved less impressive for once than its rushing defense.

Cy-Creek running back Devan Demas, who ran for 472 yards in his last two games alone, proved a non-factor before leaving early with an injury. And quarterback Chuckie Keeton, who passed for more than 2,300 yards and ran for nearly 1,000 more this season, managed just 119 by air and 52 on the ground. He also threw two interceptions.

Garrison opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run on the Oilers' first possession, then quarterback Trey Anderson (11 of 14, 188 yards) made it 14-0, tossing a 63-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Garner with 1:31 remaining in the first quarter.

Cy-Creek subsequent possession proved disastrous. PHS noseguard Chris Alexander picked up a Demas fumble and ran it 40 yards in for a touchdown, and the route was on.

Myles Kanipes added three catches for 87 yards and a touchdown for Pearland.