Double loss for Golden Eagles
Highly touted quarterback may have torn ACL vs. CougarsBy SAM KHAN JR.
Copyright 2010
Houston ChronicleKATY — Win or lose, Klein Forest quarterback Matt Davis was going to play a critical role in Thursday night’s season opener against Cinco Ranch.
He did. But it was his second-half absence that meant the most.
After suffering a knee injury in the second quarter, the explosive dual-threat junior sat out the final two quarters and the Cougars capitalized en route to a 42-21 victory at Rhodes Stadium.
Davis, who has more than a dozen offers from Division I schools, was hit [deleted] a scoring drive late in the first half. After missing three plays, he returned to score the Golden Eagles’ final touchdown, tying the game at 21 with 22 seconds remaining in the half.
But when Davis emerged from the locker room for the second half, he was without shoulder pads and had bandages around his right leg. Klein Forest coach Ken Hammock said the team doctor informed him the injury could be serious, but Davis will be re-evaluated over the weekend.
“They said they think it has the all the symptoms of a torn ACL,†Hammock said. “(It would be a loss) more than just on the field. I can’t tell you the significance of the loss of the leadership.â€
Cinco Ranch wasted no time taking advantage. The Cougars’ defense held the Golden Eagles without a point in the second half and pressured senior backup QB Germaine Cornett.
“It definitely affected us,†Cinco Ranch defensive lineman Tyler Jones said. “We didn’t alter our game plan that much. We just still played the smash-mouth football that we always do.
“We all noticed the change, but we didn’t really talk about it. We knew it was a different kind of game.â€
Offensively, the Cougars had their issues early, turning the ball over three times in the first quarter. With a first-year starter at quarterback in Kyle Meloy, it wasn’t unexpected, but Meloy got better as the game progressed.
Meloy (10-of-14 passing, 224 yards) and receiver Alex Ludowig (four catches, 165 yards) quickly developed a rapport, connecting on touchdown passes in the first and third quarters — the latter of which was a 68-yard score that gave the Cougars the lead for good, 28-21, at the 7:56 mark.
Meanwhile, the Cougars’ running game, led by senior
K.C. Nlemchi and sophomore Jamel James, began dominating in the second and third quarters. James (20 carries, 144 yards) and Nlemchi (14 carries, 97 yards) combined for 241 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

Cinco Ranch running back
K.C. Nlemchi (25) celebrates with lineman Tyler Knowles (58) after rushing for a touchdown against Klein Forest.