Scoop27
10-17-2015, 08:50 AM
Posted: Saturday, October 17, 2015 2:00 am
By JOEL LUNA joel.luna@thefacts.com | 0 comments
COLUMBUS — A ground-and-pound attack that took a toll on the Sweeny Bulldogs beginning from the first whistle turned into a 42-21 win for the Columbus Cardinals on Friday at Cardinal Stadium.
Columbus had a lot of success running the ball, particularly on first down, totaling 353 yards on the night.
“You can’t make it second-and-short, and be successful, we are having trouble defensively,” Sweeny coach Joseph Olguin said afterward.
The Bulldogs played a better second half after giving up 21 points in the first 24 minutes. One big difference was the running of quarterback Evan Green. The junior had only one carry in the first half, but ran for 53 yards in the second half on nine carries, which made the Sweeny passing game a bit easier.
“Any time your quarterback can run like that you are going to be successful, but they did a good job of reading our zone option in the first half,” Olguin said. “But Evan had some lanes to run in for that second half.”
The Bulldogs made it 28-6 with 5:35 in the third quarter when Green connected with Clayton Gilbert on a 5-yard pass. The extra point was no good.
The Cardinals, though, used a lot of running backs, including senior Michael Castle who on Columbus’ next series broke a couple of tackles going outside and a final tackle downfield to score on a 64-yard scamper. After Ryan Neisner’s extra point, the Cardinals added to the lead, 35-6.
Sweeny used a 32-yard kickoff return by Donovan Banks to set itself up at the Cardinal 38 on the next drive.
A nice throw and catch on third-and-eight from Green to Gilbert went for 20 yards to the Columbus 3-yard line. Sophomore DeAndre Gibson, who was seeing his first action on varsity, scored from the 3-yard line then added the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 35-14.
After the Cardinals scored on their sixth and final running touchdown, the Bulldogs had one more score in them.
Sweeny drove 69 yards on nine plays, ending with Gilbert cradling a 15-yard throw from Green in the end zone with 4:09 remaining.
The big play on the drive, however, was a third-and-21 from Sweeny’s own 45 as Green found Derek Davis for a 37-yard hookup that not only kept the drive alive, but put the Bulldogs in scoring position.
Take away some penalties in the first half and the Bulldogs could have gotten on the board. On Sweeny’s second offensive series, and after a Columbus score, a block in the back erased a 44-yard kickoff return by Banks.
Still, the Bulldogs drove down the field to the Cardinal 29 until an interception ended the drive.
On Sweeny’s third drive, a holding penalty on third down erased a first-down run by Green.
Right before halftime, the Bulldogs had their best offensive series, getting the ball to the Columbus 6-yard line, but they ran out of downs. On fourth down with about 20 seconds to go, Green dropped back looking for a receiver and threw into a crowd of three defenders surrounding a lone Bulldog to end the threat.
“At halftime we just talked about not committing penalties that killed some of those drives.” Olguin said. “On defense we just need to do our assignments. But we did get off to a sluggish start offensively in the first half and again defensively we are just having trouble.”
Green finished the game 16-for-24 for 204 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Columbus was led by Castle, who exploded for 159 yards on just 11 rushes.
By JOEL LUNA joel.luna@thefacts.com | 0 comments
COLUMBUS — A ground-and-pound attack that took a toll on the Sweeny Bulldogs beginning from the first whistle turned into a 42-21 win for the Columbus Cardinals on Friday at Cardinal Stadium.
Columbus had a lot of success running the ball, particularly on first down, totaling 353 yards on the night.
“You can’t make it second-and-short, and be successful, we are having trouble defensively,” Sweeny coach Joseph Olguin said afterward.
The Bulldogs played a better second half after giving up 21 points in the first 24 minutes. One big difference was the running of quarterback Evan Green. The junior had only one carry in the first half, but ran for 53 yards in the second half on nine carries, which made the Sweeny passing game a bit easier.
“Any time your quarterback can run like that you are going to be successful, but they did a good job of reading our zone option in the first half,” Olguin said. “But Evan had some lanes to run in for that second half.”
The Bulldogs made it 28-6 with 5:35 in the third quarter when Green connected with Clayton Gilbert on a 5-yard pass. The extra point was no good.
The Cardinals, though, used a lot of running backs, including senior Michael Castle who on Columbus’ next series broke a couple of tackles going outside and a final tackle downfield to score on a 64-yard scamper. After Ryan Neisner’s extra point, the Cardinals added to the lead, 35-6.
Sweeny used a 32-yard kickoff return by Donovan Banks to set itself up at the Cardinal 38 on the next drive.
A nice throw and catch on third-and-eight from Green to Gilbert went for 20 yards to the Columbus 3-yard line. Sophomore DeAndre Gibson, who was seeing his first action on varsity, scored from the 3-yard line then added the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 35-14.
After the Cardinals scored on their sixth and final running touchdown, the Bulldogs had one more score in them.
Sweeny drove 69 yards on nine plays, ending with Gilbert cradling a 15-yard throw from Green in the end zone with 4:09 remaining.
The big play on the drive, however, was a third-and-21 from Sweeny’s own 45 as Green found Derek Davis for a 37-yard hookup that not only kept the drive alive, but put the Bulldogs in scoring position.
Take away some penalties in the first half and the Bulldogs could have gotten on the board. On Sweeny’s second offensive series, and after a Columbus score, a block in the back erased a 44-yard kickoff return by Banks.
Still, the Bulldogs drove down the field to the Cardinal 29 until an interception ended the drive.
On Sweeny’s third drive, a holding penalty on third down erased a first-down run by Green.
Right before halftime, the Bulldogs had their best offensive series, getting the ball to the Columbus 6-yard line, but they ran out of downs. On fourth down with about 20 seconds to go, Green dropped back looking for a receiver and threw into a crowd of three defenders surrounding a lone Bulldog to end the threat.
“At halftime we just talked about not committing penalties that killed some of those drives.” Olguin said. “On defense we just need to do our assignments. But we did get off to a sluggish start offensively in the first half and again defensively we are just having trouble.”
Green finished the game 16-for-24 for 204 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Columbus was led by Castle, who exploded for 159 yards on just 11 rushes.