Scoop27
09-27-2014, 11:27 AM
By JOEL LUNA joel.luna@thefacts.com | 0 comments
PORT LAVACA — A bulky, speedy, run-oriented team like the Calhoun Sandcrabs that loves to grind it all night long poses problems for opposing defenses.
The Brazosport Exporters didn’t have the answer to that problem Friday night in Sandcrab Stadium as they fell, 35-14, in their final nondistrict tuneup.
Much of the running assault came from 5-foot-11, 155-pound quarterback Raheem Jones, who just could not be stopped early on by the Exporter defense. The junior went on touchdown runs of 19, 5 and 69 yards in the first half to catapult the now Sandcrabs to a 21-0 lead.
“He is very good in space,” Brazosport coach Ben Rudolph said of Jones.
But Jones didn’t exactly get off on the right footing as he fumbled on the first play from scrimmage for Calhoun. With 9:52 left in the first quarter, the Exporters took over at the Calhoun 36-yard line.
On their first play, Jody Virgil found Jeremiah Credit for a 31-yard completion to the 5-yard line. But the Ships hurt themselves with penalties, and soon found out the Sandcrab defense is no slouch, either.
On first down, quarterback Navontae Darthard was held to no gain, then a holding penalty moved Brazosport back to the 15.
Two downs later, Eric Covarrubias’ 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked and picked up by Skylar Blinka, who ran it to the Calhoun 46.
After a couple big gains, Jones cut through the Ship defense and scampered in from 19 yards out for a 7-0 Calhoun lead.
It was tough going for the Exporter offense in that first half, and when they did something positive, penalties hurt them.
“Penalties hurt us the whole night, and I’ve always said that officials don’t cost you a game,” Rudolph said. “If it comes down to an official’s call, win or lose, then that means you were not good enough to win anyway.
“We have to tighten up some of the things we do, but we held onto the football, which is a positive thing.”
Brazosport was held to 70 total yards and six first downs in the first 24 minutes of play. Their longest run from scrimmage was for 14 yards by Darthard. Eight of the 26 rushing plays in the first half went for negative yards.
“I felt like Calhoun is a very good football team, they do a lot of good things both offensively and defensively,” Rudolph said. “We were not able to take advantage of some of the early opportunities that we had, and that kind of bit us a little bit.”
The Exporters got on the board thanks to another Calhoun fumble in the third quarter. This time, they used nine plays as Darthard went in from the 1-yard line with 7:30 to cut the lead to 21-7.
Calhoun came right back after Brazosport’s onside kick went out of bounds, giving the Sandcrabs a short field again. The big play was a 29-yard gallop by Jones, setting up Elijah Velasquez to run it in from 5 yards out on second down and make it 28-7.
The Exporters’ second touchdown came in the fourth quarter when Tahj Edwards pounced on a fumble in the end zone after the snap went over the Calhoun punter’s head.
“We made some defensive stops and got some turnovers ourselves, but I think we are primed and ready,” Rudolph said.
After a bye week, Brazosport opens District 12-4A play Oct. 9 when it hosts Columbia.
PORT LAVACA — A bulky, speedy, run-oriented team like the Calhoun Sandcrabs that loves to grind it all night long poses problems for opposing defenses.
The Brazosport Exporters didn’t have the answer to that problem Friday night in Sandcrab Stadium as they fell, 35-14, in their final nondistrict tuneup.
Much of the running assault came from 5-foot-11, 155-pound quarterback Raheem Jones, who just could not be stopped early on by the Exporter defense. The junior went on touchdown runs of 19, 5 and 69 yards in the first half to catapult the now Sandcrabs to a 21-0 lead.
“He is very good in space,” Brazosport coach Ben Rudolph said of Jones.
But Jones didn’t exactly get off on the right footing as he fumbled on the first play from scrimmage for Calhoun. With 9:52 left in the first quarter, the Exporters took over at the Calhoun 36-yard line.
On their first play, Jody Virgil found Jeremiah Credit for a 31-yard completion to the 5-yard line. But the Ships hurt themselves with penalties, and soon found out the Sandcrab defense is no slouch, either.
On first down, quarterback Navontae Darthard was held to no gain, then a holding penalty moved Brazosport back to the 15.
Two downs later, Eric Covarrubias’ 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked and picked up by Skylar Blinka, who ran it to the Calhoun 46.
After a couple big gains, Jones cut through the Ship defense and scampered in from 19 yards out for a 7-0 Calhoun lead.
It was tough going for the Exporter offense in that first half, and when they did something positive, penalties hurt them.
“Penalties hurt us the whole night, and I’ve always said that officials don’t cost you a game,” Rudolph said. “If it comes down to an official’s call, win or lose, then that means you were not good enough to win anyway.
“We have to tighten up some of the things we do, but we held onto the football, which is a positive thing.”
Brazosport was held to 70 total yards and six first downs in the first 24 minutes of play. Their longest run from scrimmage was for 14 yards by Darthard. Eight of the 26 rushing plays in the first half went for negative yards.
“I felt like Calhoun is a very good football team, they do a lot of good things both offensively and defensively,” Rudolph said. “We were not able to take advantage of some of the early opportunities that we had, and that kind of bit us a little bit.”
The Exporters got on the board thanks to another Calhoun fumble in the third quarter. This time, they used nine plays as Darthard went in from the 1-yard line with 7:30 to cut the lead to 21-7.
Calhoun came right back after Brazosport’s onside kick went out of bounds, giving the Sandcrabs a short field again. The big play was a 29-yard gallop by Jones, setting up Elijah Velasquez to run it in from 5 yards out on second down and make it 28-7.
The Exporters’ second touchdown came in the fourth quarter when Tahj Edwards pounced on a fumble in the end zone after the snap went over the Calhoun punter’s head.
“We made some defensive stops and got some turnovers ourselves, but I think we are primed and ready,” Rudolph said.
After a bye week, Brazosport opens District 12-4A play Oct. 9 when it hosts Columbia.