Big plays lead the Broncos past the Texans 25-6

By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press

Touchdown runs of 34, 56, 79 ad 29 yards accounted for the four scores that led the Broncos to their 25-6 revenge win over the Texans in the early game of the Toy Bowl Championship doubleheader.
The Broncos finished atop the division last year before getting stopped in the title game by a surging Texans team that peaked at the right time after a 2-7 regular season record.
“It’s a wonderful thing,” said Broncos head coach Jonathan Fernandez. “They got to the championship last year but it just wasn’t our year. These guys fought hard this year and they played their tails off every single game. I can’t be more proud of the young men for what they’ve done.”
The Broncos also suffered their only loss of the regular season at the hands of the Texans before winning the most important game of their season on Thursday to claim the Copperas Cove Youth Football League Division I title.
“There were some coaching errors that cost us that game.” Fernandez said about their regular season loss. “It wasn’t on the kids. It’s definitely hurts to watch them take a loss

 whether it’s the regular season or a championship game but they were focused and they were hungry. They knew that game was a fluke and they knew they were the better team on that field. They came out tonight and proved that.” 
The Broncos dominated early action to build a 19-0 halftime lead.
A first-quarter 34-yard touchdown run by quarterback Caidon Golden got the Broncos’ scoring started before running back Marcus Brown added touchdown runs of 56 and 79 yards in the second quarter for the 19-0 Bronco lead.
After a negative play pushed the Broncos backwards from their own eight-yard line to the two, runs of 23 and nine yards run by Golden and a defensive holding call moved the Broncos near midfield and Brown finished the drive with the first of two long touchdown runs in the quarter.
Another stalled Texans drive gave the ball back to the Broncos at their own 20. Two plays later, Brown breaks free for the 79-yard score and the 19-0 lead after the extra-point run by Golden.
A defensive stand by the Broncos on 4th and 7 at Texans 29-yard line set up the final score by Brown on a 29-yard touchdown run and a 25-0 lead with 3:09 left in the game.
The Texans broke the shutout with an eight-play, 45-yard drive capped by a two-yard touchdown run by JoJo Donell for the final score of 25-6.
Fernandez is proud of the team win but even more proud of the team itself. It’s not about winning and losing but preparing these kids for the future.
“My coaching staff was picked for solely that reason,” he said. “I’m not a win at all costs coach. I understand that you’re going to lose some games and win some games, but it’s the fundamentals of teaching these young kids how to overcome adversity and pick themselves up after they’re knocked down. That’s the main focus we’ve had all year long. You’re going to get knocked on the ground. How you respond is what defines you as a young man and that’s what’s going to define you as an adult.” 
Brown led the Broncos’ offense with 10 carries for 215 yards and three scores while Golden added 93 yards and a score on 11 carries.
Brown also led the defense with six tackles while Golden added five.
Donell led the Texans with nine carries for 47 yards and a touchdown while Billy White Jr added 10 carries for 29 yards.
Kaleb Howie and Donell led the Texans’ defense with five tackles each.
Fernandez is also proud to be a part of the Toy Bowl itself and what it does for underprivileged youth in the community.
The Toy Bowl provides toys for families in need through the Blue Santa program.
“That’s a blessing,” said Fernandez. “That’s a great thing that Parks and Rec does. It really shows that they care about the community. There are a lot of kids that don’t have the opportunity to do this and their families aren’t financially set to give them a good Christmas. 
“This is a great thing and I’m really grateful to be a part of it.”