Pudlugger
08-31-2002, 09:24 AM
Yoakum clearly was the better team last night against a La Grange team that was not ready for prime time. While Yoakum demonstrated poise and pinache on offense not getting a penalty called until mid 4th quarter, La Grange kept shooting itself in the foot with 4 or 5 holding calls, two facemasking (unintentional- when tackling a 5'5" rb how do you keep from touching the helmet!)and don't forget the icing on the cake- a delay of game call with LG on the Yoakum 2 yardline 2nd and goal with the score 13-0 late in the first quarter. This put us on the 7 and the call was for a little dump pass into the right corner of the endzone. Boone defended it beautifully, lying back just enough to get Anderle to loft a soft floater high (not high enough) over to TE Schramm which Boone then leaped up to intercept. Two plays latter, Harrison runs 80+ yards. He would have gone all the way except he was run down by the fastest guy on the field, #1 junior Eric Pittman, who caught him from behind finally after making up a 20 yard lead! No matter, the Bull Dogs scored next play- 14 point turnaround 21-0 rather than 14-7. The Yoakum D was impressive with #81 Cedric Johnson making way too many plays against the LG running game. The LG line looked lethargic and I suspect some changes will be made next week.
I can't close this message without risking sounding like a whinner but the Refs were truly awful. They called some penalties that were questionable, notably holding. One or two holding calls are to be expected but 4 or 5 against the visiting team at critical points stopping drives is just too much. Also, what is that offensive pass interference call all about...that's such a rare call in football you would think La Grange would get a break on that at least but noooooo. The two facemasking calls were on 3rd down stops by the LG D that kept the Yoakum drives going leading to the first 13 points scored. As an indication of how bad it was even the Umpire was unhappy waving off at least 3 calls againt La Grange including a legitimate and really excellent hit by CB Dansin Wolf #89 against Harrison who was trying to break a tackle. The ref threw the flag as the whistle was blown AFTER THE HIT for a late hit call! The other refs huddled with this guy and probably told him to keep his hanky in its holster for a few plays at least.
Bottom line, Yoakum was better prepared and had the most confidence as their defense stopped LG three times inside the 10 yard line which won them the game IMHO. The penalties helped keep La Grange off balance, but they would not have won had the Refs let them play(but it would have been a better game at least and everyone would have felt better about the outcome).
Josh Johnson, the LG defensive team leader and sparkplug linebacker who is being held up by the UIL over some technicality regarding paperwork or guardianship or whatever, did not play and his absence was felt by everyone. It is a shame that a kid can't play football because the UIL bureaucrats have their panties in a twist over his transfer, which was clearly motivated by personal family concerns not athletics.
Anyway, congratulations to Yoakum and good luck the rest of the year.
[This message has been edited by Pudlugger (edited August 31, 2002).]
I can't close this message without risking sounding like a whinner but the Refs were truly awful. They called some penalties that were questionable, notably holding. One or two holding calls are to be expected but 4 or 5 against the visiting team at critical points stopping drives is just too much. Also, what is that offensive pass interference call all about...that's such a rare call in football you would think La Grange would get a break on that at least but noooooo. The two facemasking calls were on 3rd down stops by the LG D that kept the Yoakum drives going leading to the first 13 points scored. As an indication of how bad it was even the Umpire was unhappy waving off at least 3 calls againt La Grange including a legitimate and really excellent hit by CB Dansin Wolf #89 against Harrison who was trying to break a tackle. The ref threw the flag as the whistle was blown AFTER THE HIT for a late hit call! The other refs huddled with this guy and probably told him to keep his hanky in its holster for a few plays at least.
Bottom line, Yoakum was better prepared and had the most confidence as their defense stopped LG three times inside the 10 yard line which won them the game IMHO. The penalties helped keep La Grange off balance, but they would not have won had the Refs let them play(but it would have been a better game at least and everyone would have felt better about the outcome).
Josh Johnson, the LG defensive team leader and sparkplug linebacker who is being held up by the UIL over some technicality regarding paperwork or guardianship or whatever, did not play and his absence was felt by everyone. It is a shame that a kid can't play football because the UIL bureaucrats have their panties in a twist over his transfer, which was clearly motivated by personal family concerns not athletics.
Anyway, congratulations to Yoakum and good luck the rest of the year.
[This message has been edited by Pudlugger (edited August 31, 2002).]