PLANO:  The Varsity Football team hosted Midland Christian on Friday night for the annual homecoming game.  JPII last played Midland Christian in 2015 and were defeated handily by the Mustangs, 55-6.  The Cardinals were able to flip the script on Friday, outplaying their TAPPS neighbors to the west 24-13.  

Both teams traded drives and punts in the first quarter and were scoreless after the first twelve minutes.  The Cards caught a break early in the second quarter when junior LB Jackson Barry and sophomore DB Braxton Myers combined to force a MCS fumble which was scooped up by senior DB Trey Spann.  Five plays later JPII found the endzone, as senior RB Grant Robinson and the offensive line punched it in from six yards out.  The Mustangs would not go down easy, busting a 90 yard run for the tying score.  A 29 yard screen to senior WR Myles Parker (3 rec, 45 yards) helped set up a second rushing touchdown for Robinson, who muscled his way in from five yards out to give JPII the lead with less than a minute remaining in the half.  

On their second possession of the second half, the Cardinals added to their lead after Robinson cruised into the endzone for his third score of the game on a 37 yard run, breaking multiple tackles en route to six.  The JPII defense would hold strong, giving the offense the ball back after forcing another punt.  Junior QB Chase Washington (10-16, 136 yards) connected with sophomore WR Kyle Parker (2 rec, 36 yards) for a 33 yard strike, as Parker eluded a handful of Mustang defenders on the way to his first touchdown of the season.  Midland would respond with a rushing score of their own with less than three minutes remaining, but it would prove to be too little too late for the visitors.  

In all, JPII held Midland to 252 total yards, limiting the Mustangs to 91 yards passing and 161 yards on the ground while forcing 7 punts.  The Cardinal offense was efficient again on Friday night, riding the offensive line and their rushing attack spearheaded by Robinson, who finished with 134 yards on 21 carries and three touchdowns.  Junior WR Tyler Bailey provided a spark on offense, rushing four times for 28 yards while also adding one reception for eight yards.  Freshman RB Kavion Grady took advantage of a tired Mustang defense in the fourth quarter, racking up 23 yards on six touches, while sophomore WR Hunter Summers had a pair of huge first-down catches, totaling 44 yards.  The Cardinals finished with 344 yards of total offense, including 208 on the ground and 136 through the air.  

The Cardinals now must turn their focus to a rematch of last years TAPPS 6A State Championship game as Parish Episcopal visits for senior night here at JPII.