Scoop27
11-08-2014, 02:13 PM
By JOSHUA COOK joshua.cook@thefacts.com
WHARTON — The District 12-4A silver medal went home with the Wharton Tigers on Friday night.
The Tigers (3-1, 7-3) took down the Sweeny Bulldogs (2-2, 6-4), 52-23, to claim the Division II district’s second seed on the final Friday night of the regular season.
Turnovers have plagued the Bulldogs all season, a trend that continued Friday, as Sweeny lost possession of the ball seven times during the game — four fumbles and three interceptions.
Wharton was able to capitalize on Sweeny’s turnover habit, converting the Bulldog miscues into 32 points.
“We have to cut out the mistakes. We shot ourselves in the foot a lot of times,” Sweeny coach Joseph Olguin said.
Tiger safety Aston Branch came up with two interceptions to lead the team, and also had three catches for 56 yards on the offensive side.
The Tigers pounced on the Bulldogs early, taking the ball away twice in the opening frame on their way to a 19-0 advantage through the first 12 minutes.
With quarterback Cody Erikson struggling to connect with his receivers early on, Olguin substituted in Dallas Blackstock.
Behind a fresh signal-caller, the Bulldog offense came to life, accounting for 218 yards through the final three-plus quarters.
However, despite the efforts of Blackstock (16 of 26 passing for 196 yards, three touchdowns and two picks to go with 22 rushing yards) and leading receiver Blayne Bailey (eight catches for 117 yards), Wharton’s early lead was too steep to overcome.
“The kids didn’t quit. They kept playing,” Olguin said. “It was tough taking a kid like Cody out, but Dallas stepped in and did a good job completing some balls we weren’t completing earlier.”
Blackstock, who had only attempted 11 passes on the season heading into the game, took the opportunity to lead his team.
“I was trying to get the job done, trying to bring my back and win,” he said.
Wharton kicked off its scoring affair with a two-yard touchdown run by Dontre Elliot and subsequent extra point by Guyver Cano to go ahead, 7-0.
On the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs were threatening. But, after a botched handoff became a loose ball, Wharton’s Zachary Laws scooped up the football and raced 76 yards to the house.
With momentum wholly in the Tigers’ corner, the Wharton defense came up with another takeaway on the ensuing Sweeny possession, this time in the form of an interception by Jaylon Haynes at the Bulldog 20-yard line.
Less than two minutes later, the Tigers were in the end zone again, this time reaching paydirt on a one-yard bruising run by Benjamin Baylor, Jr.
The score put the Tigers ahead by three scores, 19-0, and forced the Bulldogs to play catch-up for the remainder of the contest.
Sweeny challenged throughout the final three quarters of play, coming within 16 points on two occasions, but was unable to fully close the gap.
The Bulldogs’ comeback attempt was aided by four Blackstock touchdown passes — a five-yarder to Phillip Higgins, a 29-yarder and a 10-yarder to Clayton Gilbert.
Gilbert compiled 50 yards on four catches to go with his two scores, while Higgins hauled in five passes for 41 yards and the touchdown.
Tailback Baylor Jr. led Wharton’s offense, carrying the ball 17 times for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Joseph Krenek delivered a scoring strike to Dontay Bell and also made his way over the goal line once with his legs.
With the defeat, Sweeny finished third in district, setting up a meeting with the Caldwell Hornets (3-1, 6-4) in the bidistrict round of the playoffs next week.
WHARTON — The District 12-4A silver medal went home with the Wharton Tigers on Friday night.
The Tigers (3-1, 7-3) took down the Sweeny Bulldogs (2-2, 6-4), 52-23, to claim the Division II district’s second seed on the final Friday night of the regular season.
Turnovers have plagued the Bulldogs all season, a trend that continued Friday, as Sweeny lost possession of the ball seven times during the game — four fumbles and three interceptions.
Wharton was able to capitalize on Sweeny’s turnover habit, converting the Bulldog miscues into 32 points.
“We have to cut out the mistakes. We shot ourselves in the foot a lot of times,” Sweeny coach Joseph Olguin said.
Tiger safety Aston Branch came up with two interceptions to lead the team, and also had three catches for 56 yards on the offensive side.
The Tigers pounced on the Bulldogs early, taking the ball away twice in the opening frame on their way to a 19-0 advantage through the first 12 minutes.
With quarterback Cody Erikson struggling to connect with his receivers early on, Olguin substituted in Dallas Blackstock.
Behind a fresh signal-caller, the Bulldog offense came to life, accounting for 218 yards through the final three-plus quarters.
However, despite the efforts of Blackstock (16 of 26 passing for 196 yards, three touchdowns and two picks to go with 22 rushing yards) and leading receiver Blayne Bailey (eight catches for 117 yards), Wharton’s early lead was too steep to overcome.
“The kids didn’t quit. They kept playing,” Olguin said. “It was tough taking a kid like Cody out, but Dallas stepped in and did a good job completing some balls we weren’t completing earlier.”
Blackstock, who had only attempted 11 passes on the season heading into the game, took the opportunity to lead his team.
“I was trying to get the job done, trying to bring my back and win,” he said.
Wharton kicked off its scoring affair with a two-yard touchdown run by Dontre Elliot and subsequent extra point by Guyver Cano to go ahead, 7-0.
On the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs were threatening. But, after a botched handoff became a loose ball, Wharton’s Zachary Laws scooped up the football and raced 76 yards to the house.
With momentum wholly in the Tigers’ corner, the Wharton defense came up with another takeaway on the ensuing Sweeny possession, this time in the form of an interception by Jaylon Haynes at the Bulldog 20-yard line.
Less than two minutes later, the Tigers were in the end zone again, this time reaching paydirt on a one-yard bruising run by Benjamin Baylor, Jr.
The score put the Tigers ahead by three scores, 19-0, and forced the Bulldogs to play catch-up for the remainder of the contest.
Sweeny challenged throughout the final three quarters of play, coming within 16 points on two occasions, but was unable to fully close the gap.
The Bulldogs’ comeback attempt was aided by four Blackstock touchdown passes — a five-yarder to Phillip Higgins, a 29-yarder and a 10-yarder to Clayton Gilbert.
Gilbert compiled 50 yards on four catches to go with his two scores, while Higgins hauled in five passes for 41 yards and the touchdown.
Tailback Baylor Jr. led Wharton’s offense, carrying the ball 17 times for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Joseph Krenek delivered a scoring strike to Dontay Bell and also made his way over the goal line once with his legs.
With the defeat, Sweeny finished third in district, setting up a meeting with the Caldwell Hornets (3-1, 6-4) in the bidistrict round of the playoffs next week.