Cole Birkhead needed just one game to absolutely etch his name into the Memorial record book! The Mavericks senior quarterback exploded on Thursday, slinging a ridiculous, school-record seven touchdown passes in Memorial’s 54-34 season-opening win over Fort Worth Paschal at Memorial Stadium. Talk about making a statement right out of the gate!
Birkhead’s Unbelievable Opener
This wasn’t just a good start, it was pure fire. Birkhead had six of those touchdowns before halftime, basically picking apart the Paschal defense at will. Memorial roared to a 47-22 lead through two quarters, giving first-year head coach Ross Dillard a ton of breathing room on what sounds like it was an otherwise chaotic night. For a guy stepping into the head coach role after 11 seasons as defensive coordinator, getting his first win with a performance like this must feel incredible. It was one of the biggest individual performances in program history, no question about it.
Team First, Always
Even after that record-setting night, Birkhead was all about his teammates. “The win feels great; it’s a great way to start the season,” he said, proving he’s got his head on straight. “I have ballers all around me, a great O-line to protect me. I just gotta get the ball and get in the zone.” That’s the kind of leadership you want to see. This offense kept answering despite the rest of the game being far from clean. Paschal hung around early thanks to two muffed punts and a kickoff return for a touchdown, even cutting the Mavs’ lead to 47-34 in the second half. But by then, Birkhead had put so much separation on the scoreboard, it didn’t matter.
This night wasn’t just about the record for Birkhead. It was a massive look at what Memorial’s offense can do all season long. Fifty-four points in an opener, a new head coach’s first victory, and an individual passing performance for the ages. What a way to kick off his senior year!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply