The starting quarterback headed to the hospital with injured ribs before halftime. The leading rusher left the game with a sore groin and cramps in the third quarter.

A&M Consolidated kept going to other ball carriers, and for these Tigers, that's a trip to bountiful.

The Tigers rolled up 485 yards on the ground, using their bevy of backs and a strong effort by the offensive line to run away from big-play Cypress Woods 38-24 at Tigerland Stadium on Friday night.

Junior wingback Quinton White exploded for 161 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game for good in the third quarter and senior fullback Clinton Banks hammered away for 145 yards on 21 carries as the Tigers used their relentless ground game to break open their home opener, which was tied 10-10 at halftime.

Consol got 88 yards from halfback Chris Nutall and 72 from reserve fullback C.J. Goodman to overcome the loss of starting quarterback Jacob Bronowski. The junior hurt his ribs when he was hit after throwing a pass early in the second quarter. He was taken to the hospital for tests with Consol's medical staff concerned about possible liver damage.

"We've got some people that can do a good job out of that backfield," Consol coach Jim Slaughter said. "You've gotta brag on our offensive line, because we've got too many people coming in and making plays."

The Tigers (1-1) beat Cy-Woods for the first time in three meetings. It was the season opener for the Wildcats, who reached the state quarterfinals last year.

"They've got the best group of running backs I've seen in a long time," Cy-Woods coach David Jones said. "They've got four or five really talented kids."

White may be the most versatile of the bunch. He moved to quarterback briefly after Bronowski was injured and ran the Wildcat formation, completing a 26-yard pass and running for a 19-yard touchdown.

In the third quarter, White scored in more traditional fashion for a Consol wingback, zipping 69 yards on a jet sweep. White also had two punts for an average of 41.5 yards and returned punts and kickoffs.

"Quinton did a great job," Slaughter said. "When he leaves the field, I start worrying. He does a lot of things for us."

Consol needed White's big night and a ground-gobbling offense to combat the quick-strike attack of the Wildcats. Cy-Woods had seven plays of 20 yards or more, including pass completions of 87 and 71 yards.

The Tigers allowed 461 yards after giving up 465 in a season-opening loss to Klein Oak.

"Nearly every touchdown that they scored or long play that they had was a bust on the part of some kid," Slaughter said. "We've gotta stop doing that."

Consol's defense came up with a couple of key stops and one huge turnover. The Wildcats scored to get within 31-24 and got the football back on a fumble with 6 minutes, 6 seconds left. However, quarterback Colton Huntsman lost the ball on an attempted handoff and Consol's Fredrick Goodman recovered to set up the clinching touchdown.

Cornerback Ernest Payton made a couple of plays that took 14 points away from Cy-Woods. Payton twice chased down Wildcats who were behind the entire defense, and each time Cy-Woods wound up failing to convert field goal attempts.

"Ernie is really making a difference," Slaughter said. "Last year, if they ever broke, they scored. Not this year. He's running them down and giving us a second chance on defense."

The first half ended in a strange tie. Consol opened the game with an impressive drive, marching 69 yards before managing a 29-yard field goal by Jordan Jeter, a kick that didn't seem like settling after the problems that plagued the Wildcats' field goal team.

Cy-Woods stunned the Tigers with an 87-yard pass to a wide-open Fredrick Anderson on its first offensive play. Payton chased him down and forced a cutback and a tackle by linebacker Kade Kenney at the 8. Payton's play proved huge when the Tiger defense held and Nathaniel Crea sent his 22-yard field goal attempt wide right.

Crea connected on a 27-yarder early in the second quarter to tie the game, but Consol regained the lead with a drive that featured White. With Bronowski out of the game, White took over at quarterback and found Nutall on a 26-yard pass to convert a third-and-7.

White stunned Cy-Woods with "quarterback" keepers on the next two plays. He burst through a big hole in the middle of the line and outran the defenders to the goal line for a 19-yard touchdown.

Cy-Woods tied it on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Huntsman to Patrick Gant. The Wildcats got a chance to take the lead after Consol lost a fumble, but the visitors couldn't take advantage of a 53-yard run by Anderson. Crea had a 32-yard field goal attempt blocked after a bad snap to end the half.