CELINA — The Pilot Point Bearcats took advantage of stellar play from quarterback Seth Tilley and receivers Tyler McNairy and Austin Balderas, to paste the Melissa Cardinals, 36-6, in the finals of the 7-on-7 Celina State Qualifier held Saturday at Old Celina Park.
In spite of the loss, Melissa, as well as Pilot Point, both qualified for the state tournament at Texas A&M University in College Station on July 9-10.
The Cardinals qualified with a semifinal win over Quinlan Boles, 40-12, while the Bearcats had to come back from an early 14-0 deficit to defeat the Aubrey Chaparrals, 39-27.
While satisfied with his overall performance, Tilley gave all the credit to his receivers for their play in the tournament.
“I threw three picks in our first game this morning, but didn't have one the rest of the day,” he said. “Austin and Tyler made me look good out there by making some great catches.”
McNairy was the quarterback's favorite target in both the semis and the final, making numerous catches that appeared to be well out of his reach.
“Tyler's improvement from last year to this year is amazing,” said Tilley. “I'm really looking forward to playing with him this fall.”
In true deprecating fashion, McNairy returned the favor, giving all the credit to his teammates and his quarterback.
“I think I played pretty well, but everybody played well,” he said, “and Tyler put the ball where he had to for me to make the catch.”
In the final, Balderas was the catalyst for the win with an interception return for a touchdown on Melissa's opening possession, and a leaping grab of a perfectly thrown Tilley pass in the corner of the end zone that put the Bearcats in control, 24-0, at the half.
He had no explanation for the way he played in the final.
“I was just lucky,” he said.
Receivers Collin Noe and freshman, Ryan Hagenbusher, accounted for the Bearcats’ other two touchdowns in the half after Melissa turned the ball over on downs on three straight drives.
Balderas and Tilley pulled double duty in the game at safety, and both were part of a stifling pass defense that held Melissa scoreless until its final possession of the game.
Cardinal quarterback Aaron Bush had a particularly rough first half, throwing the early interception to Balderas, and then was unable to pick up a first down until Melissa's final possession of the half.
Finally moving the ball down the field, Melissa was threatening to score and get back in the ballgame, but ran out of time on Pilot Point's goal line before they could punch it in.
The second half was more of the same for the Cardinals, as they turned the ball over on downs once again on their first drive, and Tilley picked off a tipped pass in the end zone on their second.
Pilot Point returned the favor, giving the ball right back to Melissa on two successive drives, before Balderas caught a beautifully-thrown Tilley pass deep on the left side of the field to put the Bearcats up 30-0.
Reserve quarterback Aaron Buckingham relieved Tilley and promptly led the Bearcats to their last score of the game, another touchdown catch by Balderas to put them up 36-0.
The Cardinals got a meaningless touchdown late for the final tally.
