Scoop27
10-01-2016, 09:59 AM
FREEPORT — A double-overtime classic between the Brazosport Exporters and the heavily favored Sealy Tigers ended with some late game controversy — and a heartbreaking loss by the Ships.
Trailing for the first time after squandering a 22-point second-half lead, Exporter sophomore quarterback Jermaine Ellis connected on a short pass to Jalen Johnson on the left side, which was immediately put on the turf.
After mixed signals from the officials, it was ruled Johnson had fumbled and Sealy recovered, ending the game and giving the Tigers a 32-29 District 12-4A Division I win Friday night at Hopper Field.
Despite a tough loss, Brazosport head coach Ben Rudolph knows his team shouldn’t have been in that situation after leading 29-7 early in the second half.
“I think we’ll see on film that it was an incomplete pass,” Rudolph said.
“We put ourselves in position for the officials to make that call. We have to do a better job as a team taking care of our side of the ball so we don’t put officials in position to make a judgement call like that.”
The Tigers forced overtime after quarterback Garret Zaskoda hit Justin Eckhardt for an 8-yard touchdown, capping a drive that lasted more than four minutes and 16 plays. Eckhardt tied the game at 29 after rushing in for the two-point conversion on the next play.
Sealy scored twice in the final eight minutes of the game, while Brazosport’s only score came on a 75-yard pick-six by defensive back Ashton Dudley.
The Ship offense couldn’t move the ball in the second half after putting up 306 yards of offense in the first half.
“Sealy had a good defensive plan and my hat goes off to them,” Rudolph said. “We couldn’t get a consistent rhythm going on offense and that hurt. We needed to convert third downs to keep our defense off the field.”
The Ships, who fall to 1-4 overall and 0-1 district, converted just three third downs in the second half.
The night couldn’t have started off any better for Brazosport.
After forcing a Sealy three-and-out to open the game, Ship running back Ameer King took a direct snap out of the wildcat formation on their first play from scrimmage and exploded through a hole on the right side for a 72-yard touchdown run.
The wildcat remained effective for the Ships, as King scored on a 65-yard run to the left side after breaking several tackles before hitting the open field. He then ran in the two-point conversion to make it 15-0 Brazosport with 5:54 left in the first quarter.
King carried the ball 14 times for 200 yards in the first half.
The Ship passing game also got in the mix when Ellis found Johnson for a 31-yard touchdown pass on a free play after the Tigers jumped offsides, making it 22-0 early in the second quarter.
Sealy quarterback Garret Zaskoda saw pressure in the first half and was sacked a couple of times, but connected on a 62-yard pass to a wide-open Christian Browning down the right sideline to make it 22-7 early in the second.
The Tigers improve to 2-0 in district and 3-3 overall. Brazosport will look to turn things around Friday at El Campo.
Trailing for the first time after squandering a 22-point second-half lead, Exporter sophomore quarterback Jermaine Ellis connected on a short pass to Jalen Johnson on the left side, which was immediately put on the turf.
After mixed signals from the officials, it was ruled Johnson had fumbled and Sealy recovered, ending the game and giving the Tigers a 32-29 District 12-4A Division I win Friday night at Hopper Field.
Despite a tough loss, Brazosport head coach Ben Rudolph knows his team shouldn’t have been in that situation after leading 29-7 early in the second half.
“I think we’ll see on film that it was an incomplete pass,” Rudolph said.
“We put ourselves in position for the officials to make that call. We have to do a better job as a team taking care of our side of the ball so we don’t put officials in position to make a judgement call like that.”
The Tigers forced overtime after quarterback Garret Zaskoda hit Justin Eckhardt for an 8-yard touchdown, capping a drive that lasted more than four minutes and 16 plays. Eckhardt tied the game at 29 after rushing in for the two-point conversion on the next play.
Sealy scored twice in the final eight minutes of the game, while Brazosport’s only score came on a 75-yard pick-six by defensive back Ashton Dudley.
The Ship offense couldn’t move the ball in the second half after putting up 306 yards of offense in the first half.
“Sealy had a good defensive plan and my hat goes off to them,” Rudolph said. “We couldn’t get a consistent rhythm going on offense and that hurt. We needed to convert third downs to keep our defense off the field.”
The Ships, who fall to 1-4 overall and 0-1 district, converted just three third downs in the second half.
The night couldn’t have started off any better for Brazosport.
After forcing a Sealy three-and-out to open the game, Ship running back Ameer King took a direct snap out of the wildcat formation on their first play from scrimmage and exploded through a hole on the right side for a 72-yard touchdown run.
The wildcat remained effective for the Ships, as King scored on a 65-yard run to the left side after breaking several tackles before hitting the open field. He then ran in the two-point conversion to make it 15-0 Brazosport with 5:54 left in the first quarter.
King carried the ball 14 times for 200 yards in the first half.
The Ship passing game also got in the mix when Ellis found Johnson for a 31-yard touchdown pass on a free play after the Tigers jumped offsides, making it 22-0 early in the second quarter.
Sealy quarterback Garret Zaskoda saw pressure in the first half and was sacked a couple of times, but connected on a 62-yard pass to a wide-open Christian Browning down the right sideline to make it 22-7 early in the second.
The Tigers improve to 2-0 in district and 3-3 overall. Brazosport will look to turn things around Friday at El Campo.