Scoop27
10-08-2016, 09:57 AM
SWEENY — Playing a state-ranked team to start the district season would seem to be a daunting task, but the Sweeny Bulldogs were undaunted Friday night.
The Bulldogs played toe-to-toe with Cuero, the No. 4 team in the Class 4A poll, but fell short, 21-18, in the District 15-4A Division II opener for both teams.
“They played extremely hard. I am so proud of the effort they gave,” Sweeny coach Randy Lynch said. “We had a little bit of everything — offense, defense, special teams. It was just a great high school football game.”
The Gobblers were averaging 44 points and 375 yards of offense per game coming into the contest, but the Bulldogs’ defense found a way to slow the potent Cuero attack. Sweeny limited the Gobblers to just 13 yards of offense and one first down in the first half. The Bulldogs went on to hold them to 228 total yards for the game.
“Cuero is good. We ing in,” Lynch said. “We were 38-point underdogs. They went toe-to-toe with them because of the effort they gave.”
A 32-yard field goal by Sweeny’s Juan Jurado that hit the crossbar and went through with 32 seconds left in the first quarter was the only scoring in the first half. The way the Bulldogs’ defense was playing, it looked like it would hold up.
The Gobblers found their rhythm offensively in the second half. Quarterback Bralen Taylor, who finished with 114 yards rushing, broke free on a 63-yard touchdown run with 10:30 left in the third quarter to put Cuero up 7-3.
Cuero’s defense recovered a Sweeny fumble at the Bulldog 22 on the ensuing drive to set up the Gobblers’ next touchdown. Taylor finished off a five-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 7:28 left in the quarter to put the Gobblers up 14-3.
But Sweeny didn’t give in. The Bulldogs’ defense recovered a Cuero fumble at the Gobbler 43 with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.
It took just four plays for the Bulldogs to take advantage of the mistake, as quarterback Evan Green scored from 3 yards out with 3:24 left in the period to cut Cuero’s lead to 14-10.
Donovan Bantouchdown plunge.
Cuero countered with an eight-play, 85-yard drive that Taylor finished off with a 37-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. The drive included a 44-yard pass to Jordan Whittington to get the Gobblers into Sweeny territory.
The Bulldogs responded with a 17-play, 68-yard drive that Green completed with an 8-yard touchdown run with 3:58 left in the game. Green ran in the two-point conversion to get the Bulldogs to within three.
Cuero recovered the ensuing onside kick and managed to hold on to the ball for the remaining 3:54 in the game to escape with the victory.
Lynch is hoping the effort continues next week as the Bulldogs travel to take on Ingleside in their next district game.
“We’ve got to keep it going,” he said. “I told them after tonight this game is over and we will focus on the next opponent, which is Ingleside. That’s what we have to do, because we cannot have a letdown.”
The Bulldogs played toe-to-toe with Cuero, the No. 4 team in the Class 4A poll, but fell short, 21-18, in the District 15-4A Division II opener for both teams.
“They played extremely hard. I am so proud of the effort they gave,” Sweeny coach Randy Lynch said. “We had a little bit of everything — offense, defense, special teams. It was just a great high school football game.”
The Gobblers were averaging 44 points and 375 yards of offense per game coming into the contest, but the Bulldogs’ defense found a way to slow the potent Cuero attack. Sweeny limited the Gobblers to just 13 yards of offense and one first down in the first half. The Bulldogs went on to hold them to 228 total yards for the game.
“Cuero is good. We ing in,” Lynch said. “We were 38-point underdogs. They went toe-to-toe with them because of the effort they gave.”
A 32-yard field goal by Sweeny’s Juan Jurado that hit the crossbar and went through with 32 seconds left in the first quarter was the only scoring in the first half. The way the Bulldogs’ defense was playing, it looked like it would hold up.
The Gobblers found their rhythm offensively in the second half. Quarterback Bralen Taylor, who finished with 114 yards rushing, broke free on a 63-yard touchdown run with 10:30 left in the third quarter to put Cuero up 7-3.
Cuero’s defense recovered a Sweeny fumble at the Bulldog 22 on the ensuing drive to set up the Gobblers’ next touchdown. Taylor finished off a five-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 7:28 left in the quarter to put the Gobblers up 14-3.
But Sweeny didn’t give in. The Bulldogs’ defense recovered a Cuero fumble at the Gobbler 43 with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.
It took just four plays for the Bulldogs to take advantage of the mistake, as quarterback Evan Green scored from 3 yards out with 3:24 left in the period to cut Cuero’s lead to 14-10.
Donovan Bantouchdown plunge.
Cuero countered with an eight-play, 85-yard drive that Taylor finished off with a 37-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. The drive included a 44-yard pass to Jordan Whittington to get the Gobblers into Sweeny territory.
The Bulldogs responded with a 17-play, 68-yard drive that Green completed with an 8-yard touchdown run with 3:58 left in the game. Green ran in the two-point conversion to get the Bulldogs to within three.
Cuero recovered the ensuing onside kick and managed to hold on to the ball for the remaining 3:54 in the game to escape with the victory.
Lynch is hoping the effort continues next week as the Bulldogs travel to take on Ingleside in their next district game.
“We’ve got to keep it going,” he said. “I told them after tonight this game is over and we will focus on the next opponent, which is Ingleside. That’s what we have to do, because we cannot have a letdown.”