texasjeremy
10-11-2004, 05:57 PM
Palestine falls in last seconds to Rusk
10-9-04
By Scott Tyler
H-P Sports Editor
RUSK - Friday's District 21-3A opener came down to one play - a two-point conversion for Rusk with 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
After Rusk scored to cut the Palestine lead to 13-12, the Eagles decided to go for the win instead of attempting the kick which would have sent the game into overtime.
Using top running back Cody Glenn as a decoy, Rusk went to Justin Sturns, who went untouched on the right side of the line for the score, giving Rusk a 14-13 win.
"This is a hard loss for us," Palestine head coach Glen Tunstall said. "We get to see what kind of character we have and see what we are made of."
On a slick and muddy field due to heavy rainfall most of the week, the game turned into a defensive struggle as both teams were plagued with problems trying to stay on their feet.
"What hurt us was we could not get cuts up the field," Tunstall said. "But it was the same for both teams."
With 5:44 left in the game and Palestine (0-1, 4-2) trailing 13-6, Rusk (1-0, 4-2) took over at its 34-yard line. A personal foul on Palestine gave Rusk possession inside the Wildcats' territory. Four plays later, Sturns broke free for a 21-yard gain, putting the Eagles' on the 9-yard line.
On a fourth down at the 1-yard line, Glenn broke through for the touchdown and then the two-point conversion gave Rusk the lead.
"That penalty really helped them on that final drive," Tunstall said.
For most of the night, the Palestine defense was able to contain Glenn, who came into the game as one of the leading rushers in East Texas.
On the first play of the game, Glenn broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run giving Rusk a 6-0 lead. After that play, Glenn rushed for 10 yards only one more time. He finished with 106 yards on 20 carries.
Palestine took advantage of a turnover in the first quarter when Rusk fumbled the ball on its 18-yard line.
On the Wildcats' first play, Cameron Jones got a hole on the left side, broke free into the Rusk secondary and on the 5-yard line spun out of a tackle to get into the end zone for the 18-yard score. The extra point try missed left, leaving the game tied.
Palestine had a chance to take the lead, but a Nigel Cooper 44-yard touchdown run was negated on a holding penalty.
"We had the opportunity several times to put the game away," Tunstall said.
Twice in the first half and on the opening drive of the second half, Palestine lost the ball on downs as each fourth down play was less than two yards.
After Palestine failed on a fourth-and-1 in the third quarter, the Palestine defense forced Rusk three-and-out and the Eagles' could only manage a 14-yard punt, giving the Wildcats the ball at their own 49.
Palestine got into Rusk territory when Fred Williams, on the option, went 15 yards then pitched to Jones, who picked up 2 more yards.
Williams converted on a third and 6-yard play when he rushed for 8 yards. Jones then broke free up the middle for a 22-yard run, which was concluded when he broke a tackle inside the 5-yard line to get into the end zone giving Palestine a 13-6 edge.
Jones finished with a game-high 131 yards on 17 carries.
Rusk put together a nine-play drive which went deep into Palestine territory, but on a fourth-and-two, the Palestine defense stopped Sturns for no gain giving the Wildcats possession.
However, the Wildcats' returned the favor as Glenn intercepted a pass on the Rusk 30 with eight minutes left to play in the game.
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It is the eighth straight year Palestine has lost its district opener. ... Cooper had six catches for 47 yards. ...Palestine will travel to Diboll next week.
10-9-04
By Scott Tyler
H-P Sports Editor
RUSK - Friday's District 21-3A opener came down to one play - a two-point conversion for Rusk with 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
After Rusk scored to cut the Palestine lead to 13-12, the Eagles decided to go for the win instead of attempting the kick which would have sent the game into overtime.
Using top running back Cody Glenn as a decoy, Rusk went to Justin Sturns, who went untouched on the right side of the line for the score, giving Rusk a 14-13 win.
"This is a hard loss for us," Palestine head coach Glen Tunstall said. "We get to see what kind of character we have and see what we are made of."
On a slick and muddy field due to heavy rainfall most of the week, the game turned into a defensive struggle as both teams were plagued with problems trying to stay on their feet.
"What hurt us was we could not get cuts up the field," Tunstall said. "But it was the same for both teams."
With 5:44 left in the game and Palestine (0-1, 4-2) trailing 13-6, Rusk (1-0, 4-2) took over at its 34-yard line. A personal foul on Palestine gave Rusk possession inside the Wildcats' territory. Four plays later, Sturns broke free for a 21-yard gain, putting the Eagles' on the 9-yard line.
On a fourth down at the 1-yard line, Glenn broke through for the touchdown and then the two-point conversion gave Rusk the lead.
"That penalty really helped them on that final drive," Tunstall said.
For most of the night, the Palestine defense was able to contain Glenn, who came into the game as one of the leading rushers in East Texas.
On the first play of the game, Glenn broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run giving Rusk a 6-0 lead. After that play, Glenn rushed for 10 yards only one more time. He finished with 106 yards on 20 carries.
Palestine took advantage of a turnover in the first quarter when Rusk fumbled the ball on its 18-yard line.
On the Wildcats' first play, Cameron Jones got a hole on the left side, broke free into the Rusk secondary and on the 5-yard line spun out of a tackle to get into the end zone for the 18-yard score. The extra point try missed left, leaving the game tied.
Palestine had a chance to take the lead, but a Nigel Cooper 44-yard touchdown run was negated on a holding penalty.
"We had the opportunity several times to put the game away," Tunstall said.
Twice in the first half and on the opening drive of the second half, Palestine lost the ball on downs as each fourth down play was less than two yards.
After Palestine failed on a fourth-and-1 in the third quarter, the Palestine defense forced Rusk three-and-out and the Eagles' could only manage a 14-yard punt, giving the Wildcats the ball at their own 49.
Palestine got into Rusk territory when Fred Williams, on the option, went 15 yards then pitched to Jones, who picked up 2 more yards.
Williams converted on a third and 6-yard play when he rushed for 8 yards. Jones then broke free up the middle for a 22-yard run, which was concluded when he broke a tackle inside the 5-yard line to get into the end zone giving Palestine a 13-6 edge.
Jones finished with a game-high 131 yards on 17 carries.
Rusk put together a nine-play drive which went deep into Palestine territory, but on a fourth-and-two, the Palestine defense stopped Sturns for no gain giving the Wildcats possession.
However, the Wildcats' returned the favor as Glenn intercepted a pass on the Rusk 30 with eight minutes left to play in the game.
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It is the eighth straight year Palestine has lost its district opener. ... Cooper had six catches for 47 yards. ...Palestine will travel to Diboll next week.