Mayde Creek’s defense has been exceptional to start this year.

The Rams defense didn’t allow anything in week one, helping the team earn a win over Fort Bend Travis (1-1), generating 10 points in the win, and in week two they were nearly just as good, forcing a turnover three fumbles and three turnovers on the night to help lead Mayde Creek 2-0) to a 14-12 win over Travis in the team’s final non-district matchup of the regular season.

“I think the biggest thing has just been our effort on defense early this year,” said junior linebacker Kosi Okpala. “Especially coming into this game, we knew we were facing a running quarterback and it would be a challenge, so we really embraced it. The strength of this defense is all of us can adapt and play how we need to against any team. No matter what the offense throws at us, we feel like we are a step ahead. We just have to keep getting better as well.”

The defense’s impact not only helped keep Austin off the board, but it allowed the offense to grow into the game after a slow start. After Austin scored on its first drive on a 44-yard run by David Bishop to go up 6-0, the Mayde Creek defense forced a fumble that the Rams recovered and then a turnover on downs on the next two drives and the Rams offense finally found its footing late in the half, going on a 74-yard drive and scoring on a 13-yard pass from Cole Jensen to Trey Williams that gave Mayde Creek a one-point lead going into the half.

The Rams forced a turnover on downs on Austin to start the second half and on Mayde Creek’s first play from scrimmage in the half Christian Bradford took a handoff and scored what would end up being the winning touchdown, racing 80 yards past the defense and putting Mayde Creek up by eight points.

“We had talked at halftime ow we need to embrace the physicality at halftime and how we were the faster more physical team if we just chose to be,” said senior quarterback Cole Jensen. “We knew that is how we could win this game was by being physical, so it was huge because it set the tone for the rest of the half and after that it just lifted the whole team up. We knew that we were going to fight and find a way to come out with the win.”

Austin answered back on its next drive, going 60 yards on its drive and scoring on a 14-yard run from Koen Herrmann, but the Rams defense came up big again and stopped the two-point conversion, keeping Mayde Creek up 14-12 in what would end up being the final score.

Mayde Creek had chances to extend its lead and dropped two passes in the endzone in the game on drives that ended up with no points, but the defense came up huge again down the stretch, causing a turnover on downs with just over two minutes left in the game, also stopping Austin’s final drive of the game in the final seconds to seal the win.

“It’s been huge to see the way these guys are learning how to win games,” said Mayde Creek head coach Mike Arogbonlo. “They’re finding ways to win, however that is. Last week we didn’t score a touchdown on offense, but we found a way to win. This week, we score two touchdowns on offense and you can see these guys starting to get it and grow together and pick things up. If we can get all three phases clicking the way I believe we can, this can be a really special group.”

The offense for Mayde Creek took a step forward in the game. They had 170 rushing yards and 110 passing yards and finished two drives while moving the ball well, but the team knows there is still a ways to go to reach their full potential.

“It’s a process and it can take a while on offense for a team to get down those intricacies, especially since I only got here in June,” Arogbonlo said. “You can see these guys though, they’re all getting on the same page and learning how things should run and what we can do. We executed a lot better tonight and I’m proud of those guys for that, but we still have some work to do. We’re driving the ball but once we get into district, we have to finish drives a bit better.”

It was a special moment for Arogbonlo as he went up against the team he coached for four years before leaving to become the quarterbacks coach at Duncanville last year. Austin players and coaches went up to him after the game and he shared moments with them and his family after.

But Arogbonlo’s focus is on the Creek. The Rams get Taylor next week in the first week of District 19-6A action in what might be a matchup of sheer strength and will between the teams. The one thing that the Rams know is that they will be ready for the challenge.

“We have to be even more physical than we have been,” Okpala said. “We know how tough Taylor is and we have to match that. We’re going to come out here and lock in every day in practice and keep working. We want to start out district hot and we have to be locked in if we want to do that.”

Mayde Creek 14, Fort Bend Austin 12

First quarter

A: David Bishop 44 run, 7:35

Second quarter

MC: Cole Jensen 13 pass to Trey Williams (Michael Garcia kick) 3:41

Third quarter

MC: Christian Bradford 80 run (Garcia kick) 7:02

A: Koen Herrmann 14 run, 4:37

Team stats

Individual Statistics

Rushing – Mayde Creek: Christian Bradford, 4-90-1; Ansel Carter, 10-45; Daylin Robinson 6-39; Michael Shifatu, 2-5; Cole Jensen, 5-16; Austin: David Bishop, 21-93-1; Koen Herrmann, 14-44-1;

Passing – Mayde Creek: Cole Jensen, 12-23-110-1-0; Austin: Koen Herrmann, 16-38-207-0-0;

Receiving – Mayde Creek: Daylin Robinson, 3-59; Trey Williams, 2-27-1; Chad Nelson, 7-22; Ansel Carter, 1-3; Austin: Mo Poko, 4-64; Michael Abboud, 2-52; Titas Anasti, 3-40; Chrishun Fitch, 3-31; David Bishop, 5-31;