Scoop27
08-30-2014, 10:05 AM
SWEENY — The Sweeny Bulldogs came back after a bad first half to pull off an opening season home victory over the Van Vleck Leopards.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-0 lead on their first drive by way of an Anthony Simmons rush. The extra point was missed, foreshadowing what would plague the Bulldogs early in the game. The rest of the first half belonged to the Van Vleck Leopards.
With 4:22 left in the first quarter, Van Vleck’s Dechristian Griggs recovered a fumbled Sweeny punt return at the 2 yard line. One play later RB Montrel Brown scored to tie the game at six. Less than a minute later, Van Vleck’s Draven Copeland recovered a Sweeny fumble at the Leopards own 47 yard line, stymying what started out as a positive drive for the Bulldogs.
Both offenses struggled to move the ball until late in the second quarter, when Montrel Brown again scored from one yard out to give the Leopards a 12-6 lead with 35 seconds remaining until halftime.
At the half Van Vleck looked poised to run their way to a tough victory as Elery Alexander carried the ball five times for 70 yards, including a 58-yard scamper that helped set up Montrel Brown’s second TD of the night. Montrel Brown added 47 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns.
Sweeny gained tough yards through the running game but failed to convert multiple third-down conversions, including one fourth down after driving to the Leopard 6-yard line. Multiple passes by Cody Erikson sailed just over the intended receiver, ending many Bulldog drives with incomplete passes.
The second half started out just like the first half for the Bulldogs. After a Van Vleck three and out to start, Sweeny fumbled yet another punt return, this time giving the ball back with less than two minutes gone in the third quarter.
Three plays later things started to shift in the Bulldogs’ favor as they recovered a fumble on third down. Sweeny was able to turn the takeaway into points, with a nice drive culminating in a Derek Davis six-yard run on an end around, tying the game at 12.
From that point on Sweeny never looked back, eventually scoring 26 unanswered points.
The key to the turnaround was the playing of quarterback Cody Erikson, who seemed to find a groove and connected on big passing plays for the Bulldogs, extending drives and keeping the ball out of Van Vleck’s hands.
Erikson finished with 57 yards rushing, including a five-yard scamper on a read option for a touchdown. He added 103 yards passing, including a 48-yard strike on a roll out to the right, where he found Derek Davis, who had slipped behind the Leopards corners for an easy wide open passing touchdown.
The score put Sweeny up 25-12 early in the fourth quarter. Another touchdown would be added by running back Anthany Simmons, who finished with two touchdowns and 97 yards rushing.
Montrel Brown led Van Vleck with 103 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the losing effort.
Sweeny next heads to Hopper Field on Friday to take on Brazosport.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-0 lead on their first drive by way of an Anthony Simmons rush. The extra point was missed, foreshadowing what would plague the Bulldogs early in the game. The rest of the first half belonged to the Van Vleck Leopards.
With 4:22 left in the first quarter, Van Vleck’s Dechristian Griggs recovered a fumbled Sweeny punt return at the 2 yard line. One play later RB Montrel Brown scored to tie the game at six. Less than a minute later, Van Vleck’s Draven Copeland recovered a Sweeny fumble at the Leopards own 47 yard line, stymying what started out as a positive drive for the Bulldogs.
Both offenses struggled to move the ball until late in the second quarter, when Montrel Brown again scored from one yard out to give the Leopards a 12-6 lead with 35 seconds remaining until halftime.
At the half Van Vleck looked poised to run their way to a tough victory as Elery Alexander carried the ball five times for 70 yards, including a 58-yard scamper that helped set up Montrel Brown’s second TD of the night. Montrel Brown added 47 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns.
Sweeny gained tough yards through the running game but failed to convert multiple third-down conversions, including one fourth down after driving to the Leopard 6-yard line. Multiple passes by Cody Erikson sailed just over the intended receiver, ending many Bulldog drives with incomplete passes.
The second half started out just like the first half for the Bulldogs. After a Van Vleck three and out to start, Sweeny fumbled yet another punt return, this time giving the ball back with less than two minutes gone in the third quarter.
Three plays later things started to shift in the Bulldogs’ favor as they recovered a fumble on third down. Sweeny was able to turn the takeaway into points, with a nice drive culminating in a Derek Davis six-yard run on an end around, tying the game at 12.
From that point on Sweeny never looked back, eventually scoring 26 unanswered points.
The key to the turnaround was the playing of quarterback Cody Erikson, who seemed to find a groove and connected on big passing plays for the Bulldogs, extending drives and keeping the ball out of Van Vleck’s hands.
Erikson finished with 57 yards rushing, including a five-yard scamper on a read option for a touchdown. He added 103 yards passing, including a 48-yard strike on a roll out to the right, where he found Derek Davis, who had slipped behind the Leopards corners for an easy wide open passing touchdown.
The score put Sweeny up 25-12 early in the fourth quarter. Another touchdown would be added by running back Anthany Simmons, who finished with two touchdowns and 97 yards rushing.
Montrel Brown led Van Vleck with 103 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the losing effort.
Sweeny next heads to Hopper Field on Friday to take on Brazosport.