Fulshear's backup quarterback Mason West threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns on a bum ankle to lead the Chargers past George Ranch 37-9 and keep their playoff hopes alive.

West, a sophomore, was not supposed to play in the Thursday, Oct. 22, game at Guy K. Traylor Memorial Stadium in Rosenberg. But freshman starter Jace Medica went down on Fulshear's second drive after tucking the ball and running for three yards, as first reported by the Fort Bend Herald. Medica had to be helped off the field and did not return.

Head coach Stephen Hill said after the game that the team suspects Medica tore his ACL. The injury has not been confirmed.

Hill said West had barely practiced during the week because of an ankle injury and the coaching staff had planned to hold him out. But West stepped in and made an immediate impact, finding Ryland Forks on the left side for a 49-yard touchdown on his first series to put Fulshear up 6-0. Forks finished with seven catches for 131 yards and two scores.

The Chargers led 13-9 at halftime, then shut out George Ranch 24-0 in the second half. Myron Parkinson capped a 34-yard drive early in the third quarter to make it 20-9. Alejandro Quinonez drilled a 46-yard field goal later in the period to push the lead to 23-9.

The play of the night came in the fourth quarter. West threw a lateral to junior wideout Austin Bush, who launched a pass downfield to junior Tre Clewis for a 21-yard touchdown. West later connected with Clewis on a 52-yard strike, setting up Parkinson's untouched 19-yard scoring run for the final margin.

West finished 11-of-14 passing with no interceptions. Starting running back Jaylyn Collins also missed the game with an injury, according to Hill.

The win moved Fulshear to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in District 23-6A, according to MaxPreps. Waller, which entered the week tied for third at 3-1, lost to Cypress Ranch 37-3 on Saturday, Oct. 24, dropping the Bulldogs to 3-2. Fulshear holds a tiebreaker over Waller after beating them 38-28 earlier in district play.

Hill said a win at Cypress Springs would clinch third place and the No. 1 seed in Division II.

"Next Saturday our season is on the line," Hill said.

Fulshear travels to Cypress Springs (4-4, 3-2 district) on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m. The Chargers close the regular season at home against Cypress Park on Thursday, Nov. 5.