Texas high school football team wins 97-0

Blowout scores in high school football games are always hard to report, especially when it's this lopsided. Magnolia West (Magnolia, Texas) came within a touchdown of posting the most points in modern Texas history during Friday's 97-0 home victory over Caney Creek (Conroe, Texas).

The Mustangs' total is the most by one team in the Lone Star State since 1978, when Orangefield scored 98. The record of 103 was set in 1969 by Valley Mills, according to the Dave Campbell Texas Football record book (1951 to present), and Magnolia West's total is tied for seventh since 1951. No records are kept of most lopsided victories.

According to the Conroe News, Hunter Bilbo and Devon Banks each rushed for three touchdowns while Brock Dalton threw for 231 yards and three more scores for the Mustangs (4-1), a fourth-year program coached by Blake Joseph, nephew of legendary Katy coach Gary Joseph.

Of Magnolia West's 14 touchdowns, nine came on the ground, as the team ran 49 offensive plays — 30 rushes and 19 passing attempts. The Mustangs punted twice.

Caney Creek, which dropped to 0-4, finished with minus-10 yards total offense in the District 8-5A (Division I) game. The Panthers have been outscored 251-33, while Magnolia West has outscored its opponents now 244-84. The two schools are 37 miles apart outside of Houston. 

According to internet reports, Magnolia West had second-stringers in early and some third-stringers in by the end of the game.

Reached by e-mail, Caney Creek coach Kendall Hineman was thankful for the inquiry but wrote: "I will not comment on the game but I can assure you that it (the lopsided score) was not COVID related."

The University Interscholastic League, the governing body for public school high school sports in Texas, does not mandate a mercy or running-clock rule, but coaches at halftime can agree to implement one in the second half. It's unclear if one was used in Friday's game.