In Battle of 23-6A Heavyweights Summer Creek Proves They Belong
- Marc Henry
- Oct 6
- 3 min read
By Darren Hendricks
Friday nights in Texas are never just about football. They’re about pride, community, and the kind of battles that define programs for years.
Atascocita entered with history on its side, having won seven of the last nine meetings with Summer Creek, including a nail-biter in 2024. But this wasn’t about history. This was about a Summer Creek team with a chip on its shoulder and the belief that this was the night to flip the script.
From the opening kick, the energy made it clear: this wasn’t going to be another lopsided chapter in the rivalry. Both sidelines were alive, both teams were ready, and neither looked interested in blinking first.
First Half: Summer Creek Strikes First
Summer Creek wasted no time showing they belonged.
Benny Easter, one of the Bulldogs’ most dangerous weapons, set the tone with a 27-yard touchdown grab. From there, he was unstoppable, stretching the field, finding soft spots, and punishing Atascocita’s secondary. By halftime, Easter had already piled up over 150 yards and three scores.
Not to be outdone, Atascocita running back C.J. Toney delivered fireworks of his own. On his first carry of the game, he exploded for a 60-yard touchdown sprint that shook the stadium. Quarterback Cardae Mack kept the momentum alive, dropping a 35-yard strike into the end zone that had the Eagles sideline buzzing.
Atascocita pushed back defensively. Defensive standout Jason Johnson knifed into the backfield for a drive-killing tackle and swatted away a third-down pass.
But Summer Creek’s offense kept rolling. Running back Braylon Causey, quiet early, powered in for a 20-yard touchdown. On the other side of the ball, Rayvon Sauls and Sameer Richards set the tone defensively, with Richards stonewalling a goal-line push by Atascocita at the one.
Atascocita finally answered with a 32-yard field goal, but the half closed with another dagger.
Summer Creek quarterback Noah Spinks dropped a perfect back-shoulder throw to Easter, who pulled it in for his third touchdown.
Summer Creek jogged to the locker room with a 24–21 lead and all the momentum.
Second Half: Atascocita Adjusts
When play resumed, the Atascocita Eagles made several adjustments. They shifted Jason Johnson outside, leaned on two-way standout Yul Everline, and closed off some of the running lanes that Summer Creek had taken advantage of in the first half.
The adjustments slowed the Bulldogs but didn’t silence standout wide receiver Easter, who continued to make contested grabs against tight coverage.
Atascocita’s defense found a spark when Samir Richards intercepted a Spinks pass to halt a promising drive. Cornerback Amari Banks came up with a red-zone stop on Easter that kept Summer Creek from widening the gap.
The Eagles then landed their biggest punch, when Brian Manuel went up top, soaring over a defender to haul in a highlight-reel touchdown. Suddenly, Atascocita had the lead in the fourth quarter.
But Summer Creek refused to fold. Easter answered again, this time with his fourth touchdown of the night, helping the Bulldogs regain a 31–28 advantage with time ticking away in the fourth quarter.
Atascocita’s star, C.J. Toney, wasn’t finished. He slipped through traffic for another touchdown run, flipping the scoreboard back in the Eagles’ favor at 35–31.
What had begun as a statement game had turned into a slugfest with two heavyweights trading haymakers with the clock ticking down.
The Defining Drive
With under a minute remaining, all eyes turned to quarterback Noah Spinks.
The junior had been sharp all evening, with a few miscues mixed in, but this was his moment. Calm in the pocket, he delivered a dart down the sideline to Trent Thomas. Then he hit Tre Brown across the middle to move the chains again.
Each play cranked the tension higher. The clock bled away, the crowd stood on its feet, and the air grew heavy with the weight of the rivalry.
With six seconds left, the Bulldogs leaned on their finisher. Braylon Causey took the handoff, lowered his pads, and muscled his way across the goal line.
Touchdown Summer Creek!! Ballgame!!
Summer Creek 38
Atascocita 35.
The Takeaway
This wasn’t about keeping it close. This wasn’t about proving they could go toe to toe with Atascocita.
This was about Summer Creek planting their flag.
Benny Easter was unstoppable, finishing with over 200 yards and four touchdowns.
Noah Spinks showed poise and leadership when it mattered most.
The defense bent but stood tall in the biggest moments of the night.
Atascocita remains a powerhouse. But on this night, Summer Creek didn’t just join the conversation of Houston area teams to watch. They proved they deserve a seat at the table in 23-6A and they’re not giving up their seat.
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