FORNEY — It seemed all it took for junior quarterback Cameron Ford and the Lions to get going was the clock.
Ford ran for two touchdowns and threw for another en route to a 34-10 Lions scrimmage win Friday against Dallas Jesuit during the 24-minute, live-quarters portion at North Forney High School. That was enough for head coach Ricklan Holmes to commit Ford as the starting quarterback for next week’s season opener against Mesquite Horn after an extended battle with fellow signal caller Isaiah Johnson.
“Cameron Ford made me more comfortable with him being the starting quarterback,” Holmes said. “Leading into today, I was still going to lead with Isaiah. But after today’s performance and watching last week in practice, he’s going to be our starting quarterback.”
Ford flourished in limited time — partially due to John Tyler’s explosiveness on offense.
Texas commitment Kitan Crawford got the party started with a 73-yard scoring run on the Lions’ first snap from scrimmage and Ford made the lead 21-0 less than six minutes into the live quarters on a 64-yard run and 8-yard pass to D’Jonte Henderson.
The Rangers, meanwhile, gave up an interception to Jermone Bowser Jr. and endured a turnover on downs as well as a three-and-out during the same span. The Class 6A program didn’t get on the board until connecting on a 35-yard field goal following a 30-yard touchdown run by JT’s Daveon Cummings to make the score 28-3 with 9:43 to play.
Ford scored from 52 yards out the final play of the scrimmage to give the scrimmage its final.
The live quarters were a significant departure from the controlled portion of the scrimmage — where the two teams ran a set number of plays regardless of the outcome of the preceding play.
The only noteworthy thing to happen for the Lions was a 3-yard touchdown run by Crawford to match a touchdown reception of more than 50 yards by Jesuit’s EJ Smith, the son of former Dallas Cowboy Emmitt Smith.
John Tyler held EJ Smith to 17 yards on four carries during the live quarters.
While the Lions host Mesquite Horn next Friday at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, the Rangers move on to visit Arlington High.
“We were kind of experimenting,” Holmes said. “Like I told my coaches ahead of the live scrimmage, ‘Let’s get back to the thing we’re used to doing and thrive.”