Pearland blows past Clear Falls in season opener 49-3

    The 2026 football season began in the right way for Pearland as they completely dominated the season opener with a 49-3 pounding over the Clear Falls Knights.

    The Oilers have their sights set on defending their district crown from last year and seeking to move beyond the second round of the post-season since 2013 when they faced Allen in the 2013 Class 6A state championship contest.

    Pearland head coach B.J. Gotte enters his fifth season at the helm of the Oilers program, and he has seen his teams improve each year. The Oilers were 8-0 in district last season and finished 11-1 with a close 28-21 loss to Dickinson in the area round. Pearland has advanced to the playoffs for the past 26 consecutive years.

    The Oilers built a 21-3 halftime lead as junior RB Royce Swan scored the first touchdown for the Oilers in the opening quarter on a 2-yard scoring plunge for a 7-0 lead.

    Pearland added a second touchdown on a 16-yard scoring dash by senior RB Ryan Miller. Holden Macneish added his second PAT for a 14-0 advantage.

    Clear Falls scored on the following possession as they hit a 21-yard field goal by Augustin Loredo.

    With :22 seconds remaining in the first half, Swan scored on a 5-yard run for a 21-3 lead at intermission.

    Pearland scored again in the third quarter as Swan got loose on a 28-yard dash with 5:45 remaining in the period. The PAT was good giving the Oilers a 28-3 lead.

    The Oiler defense made the next score as LB Kam Harris intercepted a Clear Falls pass and rambled 65-yards for the touchdown to increase the lead to 35-3 with 11:29 remaining in the final quarter.

    Pearland would tack on two more scores in the frame when senior QB Kaleb Smith hit sophomore RB Lance Goree on a 4-yard scoring toss and QB Blake Morkovsky closed out the scoring with a 1-yard keeper to post the 49-3 final score.

    Swan was the game’s leading ball carrier with 19 totes for 153 yards and three scores while Miller had seven carries for 78 yards and one TD. Senior RB Utibe Obot had five carries for 62 yards.

    Smith was 8-of-12 passing for 61 yards and one TD while rushing for 27 yards on three totes.

    Tight end Karon Johnson had one catch for 20 yards, Braxton Jones had three grabs for 15 yards, Swan had one catch for 13 yards, and Deshun Washington had one grab for 13 yards.

    The Oiler offense had 330 yards rushing and 61 yards passing for a total of 391 yards and seven touchdowns.

    Pearland (1-0) will host the Katy Paetow Panthers (0-1) on Friday, September 4 at Pearland ISD Stadium at 7:00 p.m.