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ARLINGTON — Explosive junior receiver Jimmy Valsin turned a pair of intermediate passes into long-distance touchdowns to propel Arlington Bowie to a 28-14 victory over Flower Mound Marcus Thursday night at Wilemon Stadium.
“People might not think we can throw, but we are showing we can,” said Valsin, who had seven catches for 177 yards, adding credence to his claim of being the fastest player on the team.
Head coach Danny DeArman isn’t so sure, but said it is fine if Valsin believes he is the fastest.
“I’m really proud that Jimmy had a big night coming back from a broken leg last year,” the coach said.
Bowie (1-0), No. 15 in SportsDay’s Class 6A area rankings, extended its opening-night record to 12 wins in 14 seasons.
Running back Ty’son Edwards rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns to lead unranked Marcus (0-1).
Valsin staked Bowie to a 14-7 halftime lead when he broke a tackle to turn a sideline pass from Drevvon Ponder into a 75-yard touchdown.
The duo struck again in the third quarter, this time for an 81-yard score that widened the Bowie lead to 21-7. Valsin at full speed was able to maintain balance at midfield after having his heel clipped by a Marcus pursuer.
Ponder, a junior, ran for two scores including the clincher with 2:25 remaining and completed 8 of 13 for 196 yards.
“Drevvon in his first start surprised me a little,” DeArman said. “It is not easy to be in that situation, but I know he is tough.”
Edwards’ one-yard touchdown plunge with 8:34 remaining cut the Bowie lead to 21-14 but the Marcus defense could not keep it a one-score game.
Bowie grabbed a 7-0 lead in the opening two minutes on Ponder’s six-yard scoring run set up by a fumble recovery by Kameron Sanders on Marcus’ first offensive play.
Marcus pulled level with a 75-yard drive capped by a two-yard Edwards run. Junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (17 of 33, 169 yards) twice completed third-down passes to maintain the eight-play march.
