For those that use 5dimes........

LEAGUE CITY — Clear Springs still is winless, but the Chargers won’t find a sweeter time than tonight to get their first win of the season. 

Clear Springs kicks off the District 24-5A schedule at 7 p.m. today at The Rig in Pearland against the defending state champion Oilers. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest.

Exactly 364 days ago, the Chargers fell to the Oilers in the district opener in a heartbreaking 40-38 last-minute loss. Springs was down but not out as it won the rest of its regular season games before being upset in the opening round of the playoffs. 

Pearland, on the other hand, went on to win the Class 5A title.

This year, both Clear Springs and Pearland have two very different teams. The Oilers (2-1) lost on the road two weeks ago to Houston Memorial in a 17-14 shocker. While Pearland now has been exposed as a beatable team, the Chargers’ hardships in the first three weeks showed many more problems. 

Clear Springs has dealt with injury after injury and poor weather conditions. But now that they’ve had their bye week, the Chargers are feeling rested and ready for the challenge. 

Sophomore quarterback Zach Cripps overcame plenty of adversity in each of the first three losses, but he’s increasingly making use of one of the most dominant players in Galveston County — senior receiver Marcus Johnson. 

Johnson caught four passes for 148 yards in the first half of the season opener, two catches for 9 yards in the rainy loss to Bryan and exploded for 213 yards on eight catches two weeks ago against Cinco Ranch. 

Johnson’s hands and yards-after-catch ability make him Cripps’ main target, and Chaz Edgerson and Matt Wymyczak also has emerged as threats, especially when teams are double-covering Johnson. 

The Chargers haven’t struggled to put points on the scoreboard, but they’ve frequently given up big plays. Whether it’s a run around the outside or a deep bomb down the field, Clear Springs has given up a major chunk of yardage outside of the range of defensive tackle Dallas McClarty and linebacker Cameron Doubenmier. 

The Clear Springs linemen will no doubt be strong in their steps after Tuesday night’s annual Hog Fest at Grand Buffet in League City, where the linemen get together to feast. 

Today’s game at The Rig in Pearland might come down to fourth-quarter hunger, but the Chargers will hope to come out on the other end than last year.