pirate44
09-04-2005, 08:16 AM
Locals get defensive in A&M-Kingsville win
By GEORGE VONDRACEK Caller-Times
September 4, 2005
KINGSVILLE - On a night when offense was not at a premium, Texas A&M-Kingsville turned to its defense.
And a couple of former area high school standouts stood at the forefront.
Linebacker Deandrae Fillmore, defensive end Curt Jones and safety Anthony Bates turned in huge plays for touchdowns and the third-ranked Javelinas mustered a 40-14 victory over Northeastern (Okla.) State in a Lone Star Conference crossover game Saturday night at Javelina Stadium.
A former West Oso star, Fillmore returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, with the 2-0 Javelinas at best clinging to a 20-14 lead, Fillmore blazed through on a blitz and drilled quarterback Dustin Workman, forcing a fumble. Jones, the ex-Sinton standout, covered the ball for a TD that essentially iced the game.
"The defense picked up real big in the second half, and the offense came around when it had to," said Fillmore, who racked up 15 tackles. "We're just looking to stay motivated and focused."
A&M-Kingsville added a late TD on Cory Miles' 26-yard scoring pass to Clint Bingham, who was making his 2005 debut. Bingham finished with four receptions for 82 yards.
Bates' 45-yard return of an interception for a TD put the icing on the cake with 3:26 to play.
"The defense put in a good performance," A&M-Kingsville coach Richard Cundiff said. "It's real early in the season to point at people. I think you can point at anybody at any time tonight who had a good game."
The Javs did manage 367 yards of offense, with Miles throwing for 260 of it and Raymorris Miller rushing for 66. But 12 penalties for 101 yards short-circuited numerous drives and also negated a couple of touchdowns.
"I don't want to make excuses," said Miles, the junior transfer making his second start for the Javs. "We just didn't play well, and I'll take the blame for that."
The first half was a case of the Javs being their worst enemy on offense. And for the second consecutive week, two breakdowns in the secondary cost A&M-Kingsville long plays, both of which the Redmen converted into touchdowns. Outside of those 53- and 79-yard scoring passes from Workman to Jarrett Byers, the 0-2 Redmen had 92 yards of offense in the opening two quarters.
"That's exactly what they were, breakdowns, kids not executing our system," A&M-Kingsville defensive coordinator Haskel Buff said. "We came in, drew it up, make a few tweaks on the sidelines. They come out and execute in the second half."
Two brilliant scoring runs by Miller and Kingsville-ex Chris Campbell were wiped out by penalties. After Miller's apparent 34-yarder was nullified, the Javs still were able to get a 21-yard field goal from Richard Hammond, set up by a fine 33-yard reception by Christopher Carson, for a 10-7 lead.
The A&M-Kingsville lead grew quickly thanks to Fillmore. The preseason all-American read a pass pattern almost before Workman delivered the ball. Fillmore zipped across and returned the pick 21 yards for a TD. Hammond's point-after kick boosted the lead to 17-7.
That margin didn't last long. Three plays later, Workman found Byers in a seam at the NEO 40 and Byers weaved his way downfield to complete the 79-yarder. Brett Sowers' PAT kick moved the Redmen within 17-14.
After Campbell's apparent TD was called back, the Javs' drive stalled. They got another chance when Jason Gantt intercepted Workman off a tipped pass with 47 seconds remaining in the half. But Miles, whose 1-yard TD run gave the Javs a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, was sacked at midfield as the clock ran out.
By GEORGE VONDRACEK Caller-Times
September 4, 2005
KINGSVILLE - On a night when offense was not at a premium, Texas A&M-Kingsville turned to its defense.
And a couple of former area high school standouts stood at the forefront.
Linebacker Deandrae Fillmore, defensive end Curt Jones and safety Anthony Bates turned in huge plays for touchdowns and the third-ranked Javelinas mustered a 40-14 victory over Northeastern (Okla.) State in a Lone Star Conference crossover game Saturday night at Javelina Stadium.
A former West Oso star, Fillmore returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, with the 2-0 Javelinas at best clinging to a 20-14 lead, Fillmore blazed through on a blitz and drilled quarterback Dustin Workman, forcing a fumble. Jones, the ex-Sinton standout, covered the ball for a TD that essentially iced the game.
"The defense picked up real big in the second half, and the offense came around when it had to," said Fillmore, who racked up 15 tackles. "We're just looking to stay motivated and focused."
A&M-Kingsville added a late TD on Cory Miles' 26-yard scoring pass to Clint Bingham, who was making his 2005 debut. Bingham finished with four receptions for 82 yards.
Bates' 45-yard return of an interception for a TD put the icing on the cake with 3:26 to play.
"The defense put in a good performance," A&M-Kingsville coach Richard Cundiff said. "It's real early in the season to point at people. I think you can point at anybody at any time tonight who had a good game."
The Javs did manage 367 yards of offense, with Miles throwing for 260 of it and Raymorris Miller rushing for 66. But 12 penalties for 101 yards short-circuited numerous drives and also negated a couple of touchdowns.
"I don't want to make excuses," said Miles, the junior transfer making his second start for the Javs. "We just didn't play well, and I'll take the blame for that."
The first half was a case of the Javs being their worst enemy on offense. And for the second consecutive week, two breakdowns in the secondary cost A&M-Kingsville long plays, both of which the Redmen converted into touchdowns. Outside of those 53- and 79-yard scoring passes from Workman to Jarrett Byers, the 0-2 Redmen had 92 yards of offense in the opening two quarters.
"That's exactly what they were, breakdowns, kids not executing our system," A&M-Kingsville defensive coordinator Haskel Buff said. "We came in, drew it up, make a few tweaks on the sidelines. They come out and execute in the second half."
Two brilliant scoring runs by Miller and Kingsville-ex Chris Campbell were wiped out by penalties. After Miller's apparent 34-yarder was nullified, the Javs still were able to get a 21-yard field goal from Richard Hammond, set up by a fine 33-yard reception by Christopher Carson, for a 10-7 lead.
The A&M-Kingsville lead grew quickly thanks to Fillmore. The preseason all-American read a pass pattern almost before Workman delivered the ball. Fillmore zipped across and returned the pick 21 yards for a TD. Hammond's point-after kick boosted the lead to 17-7.
That margin didn't last long. Three plays later, Workman found Byers in a seam at the NEO 40 and Byers weaved his way downfield to complete the 79-yarder. Brett Sowers' PAT kick moved the Redmen within 17-14.
After Campbell's apparent TD was called back, the Javs' drive stalled. They got another chance when Jason Gantt intercepted Workman off a tipped pass with 47 seconds remaining in the half. But Miles, whose 1-yard TD run gave the Javs a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, was sacked at midfield as the clock ran out.