dutchman
09-14-2005, 05:14 AM
Bulldogs lose home opener 38-35
BY TOM SIMPSON, Bulldog correspondent
http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/8425/sports027im.th.jpg (http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sports027im.jpg)
When Bellville and Marlin meet on the football field you know it's going to be close and it's going to be a great game to watch.
This past Friday night at Legion Field was no exception as once again the Brahmas and the Bulldogs "duked" it out in a high scoring affair.
Billed as the Fox Sports Net Dairy Queen Game of the Week, this was a classic that went down to the final play of the game before Bellville escaped Marlin with a three-point victory.
In the first half, one might think that the Brahmas were going to run away with this one as they built a commanding 24-6 halftime lead. But the second half turned into a real barnburner.
In the third quarter, the 'Dogs, behind the pin-point passing of senior quarterback, Jeremy Sanders (8 of 9 passes for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns in the third quarter alone), fought their way back into the game and were down only ten going to the final quarter.
The 'Dogs took the lead at 35-31 with just over three minutes to play as Sanders hit Denerio Alexander with a 20-yard TD pass, but the Brahmas regained the lead with 1:09 remaining.
Marlin had one last chance, and they got close.
Alexander had a good return of the kick off and once again it was Sanders running and passing the 'Dogs down to the Bellville seven-yard line where the 'Dogs took a time out with only five seconds remaining. The mind set of the 'Dog coaching staff huddled with the players and decided to go for the win rather than the possible tying field goal.
Sanders took the snap, looked for an open receiver, then took off left and was knocked out of bounds at the three. Brahmas took the win 38-35.
On the opening drive the Brahmas marched 66 yards on six plays, the final 31 yards coming by a run by Clayton Chaney for a touchdown. Mauricio Bonilla was good on the point after and Bellville was on the board first with 8:53 left in the opening quarter.
The 'Dogs answered with a seven-play drive covering 67 yards with Sanders hitting Benny Jones for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Point after by Contreras was no good and the Brahmas were up one with 1:40 left in the first quarter.
In second quarter, it was all Brahmas. With 11:53 remaining in the half, running back Eric Valentine scored from 13 yards out and with the point after by Bonilla the Brahmas were up 14-6.
Then with six minutes left in the quarter it was Chaney again, this time from 9 yards out. Extra point by Bonilla was good and the lead was stretched to 21-6 Bellville.
The Brahmas added a 38-yard field goal off the toe of Bonilla and took a commanding 24-6 lead to the lockers.
A different Bulldog team took the field in the second half. Early in the third quarter it was Jones again. This time from 26-yards out off the arm of Sanders. The two-point conversion was good and the 'Dogs were creeping back in it, down ten with 10:54 left in the third quarter.
A deep kick off by Contreras pinned the Brahmas inside the five. The 'Dog defense rose up and they held the Brahmas to only three yards. However, a costly penalty on the third down play hurt the 'Dog's big time.
Just as the momentum was shifting the 'Dogs way the penalty gave the Brahmas a first and ten. On the very next play, Bellville quarterback Lane O'Connor hit Brandon Harris over the middle and 78 yards later it was a back breaking [sic] touchdown for the Brahmas. Bonilla hit the point after and the lead was 17 at 31-14.
With 6:22 remaining in the third quarter, Sanders hit Kenny Evans for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Contreras hit the point after to bring the 'Dogs again within ten. The 'Dogs went 79 yards on 6 plays in the drive.
With 10:22 remaining in the game, the pin point passing of Sanders again delivered as Jones caught his third touchdown pass of the night -- this one from 10 yards out. Contreras again was good on the point after and the 'Dogs were within three at 28-31.
The 'Dogs and Sanders weren't done. With 3:20 remaining in the game Sanders connected with Alexander for a 20-yard touchdown pass and the 'Dogs took their first lead in the game.
This was Sanders fifth touchdown pass of the night and with the point after by Contreras true, the 'Dogs were up four at 35-31.
An out-of-bounds kick off gave the Brahmas good field position and they began to move the ball downfield behind the running of Allan Cooper, Chaney and Valentine. Eating up time on the clock, Valentine scored from four yards out and the Brahmas once again took the lead. The point after by Bonilla was good and Bellville had a three-point lead with 1:09 to play.
A good kick off return by Alexander to near mid-field gave the Dogs a good starting point. A 25-yard pass from Sanders to Evans moved the 'Dogs deep into Brahma territory.
A few plays later they were at the seven with only five clicks on the clock. Time out Bulldogs. A field goal to tie or go for the win? Go for it was the call.
Sanders took the snap, looked for an open receiver and took off running left and was knocked out of bounds at the three as time ran out. The Brahmas escaped with a three-point victory.
Despite the loss, Marlin showed some solid stats.
Sanders hit on 22 of 31 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns. He also added 63 yards rushing.
The 'Dogs lost, but they have nothing to be ashamed about.
It was a great and entertaining game. Bellville is a good team with a lot of tradition.
Our season is young and we just might see the Brahmas again sometime down the road in the playoffs.
But for now, lets put this one behind us and get ready for the Leopards from Lorena this Friday night at Legion Field at 7:30 pm.
See you at the game!
Copyright © 2005 The Marlin Democrat. All rights reserved.
BY TOM SIMPSON, Bulldog correspondent
http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/8425/sports027im.th.jpg (http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sports027im.jpg)
When Bellville and Marlin meet on the football field you know it's going to be close and it's going to be a great game to watch.
This past Friday night at Legion Field was no exception as once again the Brahmas and the Bulldogs "duked" it out in a high scoring affair.
Billed as the Fox Sports Net Dairy Queen Game of the Week, this was a classic that went down to the final play of the game before Bellville escaped Marlin with a three-point victory.
In the first half, one might think that the Brahmas were going to run away with this one as they built a commanding 24-6 halftime lead. But the second half turned into a real barnburner.
In the third quarter, the 'Dogs, behind the pin-point passing of senior quarterback, Jeremy Sanders (8 of 9 passes for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns in the third quarter alone), fought their way back into the game and were down only ten going to the final quarter.
The 'Dogs took the lead at 35-31 with just over three minutes to play as Sanders hit Denerio Alexander with a 20-yard TD pass, but the Brahmas regained the lead with 1:09 remaining.
Marlin had one last chance, and they got close.
Alexander had a good return of the kick off and once again it was Sanders running and passing the 'Dogs down to the Bellville seven-yard line where the 'Dogs took a time out with only five seconds remaining. The mind set of the 'Dog coaching staff huddled with the players and decided to go for the win rather than the possible tying field goal.
Sanders took the snap, looked for an open receiver, then took off left and was knocked out of bounds at the three. Brahmas took the win 38-35.
On the opening drive the Brahmas marched 66 yards on six plays, the final 31 yards coming by a run by Clayton Chaney for a touchdown. Mauricio Bonilla was good on the point after and Bellville was on the board first with 8:53 left in the opening quarter.
The 'Dogs answered with a seven-play drive covering 67 yards with Sanders hitting Benny Jones for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Point after by Contreras was no good and the Brahmas were up one with 1:40 left in the first quarter.
In second quarter, it was all Brahmas. With 11:53 remaining in the half, running back Eric Valentine scored from 13 yards out and with the point after by Bonilla the Brahmas were up 14-6.
Then with six minutes left in the quarter it was Chaney again, this time from 9 yards out. Extra point by Bonilla was good and the lead was stretched to 21-6 Bellville.
The Brahmas added a 38-yard field goal off the toe of Bonilla and took a commanding 24-6 lead to the lockers.
A different Bulldog team took the field in the second half. Early in the third quarter it was Jones again. This time from 26-yards out off the arm of Sanders. The two-point conversion was good and the 'Dogs were creeping back in it, down ten with 10:54 left in the third quarter.
A deep kick off by Contreras pinned the Brahmas inside the five. The 'Dog defense rose up and they held the Brahmas to only three yards. However, a costly penalty on the third down play hurt the 'Dog's big time.
Just as the momentum was shifting the 'Dogs way the penalty gave the Brahmas a first and ten. On the very next play, Bellville quarterback Lane O'Connor hit Brandon Harris over the middle and 78 yards later it was a back breaking [sic] touchdown for the Brahmas. Bonilla hit the point after and the lead was 17 at 31-14.
With 6:22 remaining in the third quarter, Sanders hit Kenny Evans for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Contreras hit the point after to bring the 'Dogs again within ten. The 'Dogs went 79 yards on 6 plays in the drive.
With 10:22 remaining in the game, the pin point passing of Sanders again delivered as Jones caught his third touchdown pass of the night -- this one from 10 yards out. Contreras again was good on the point after and the 'Dogs were within three at 28-31.
The 'Dogs and Sanders weren't done. With 3:20 remaining in the game Sanders connected with Alexander for a 20-yard touchdown pass and the 'Dogs took their first lead in the game.
This was Sanders fifth touchdown pass of the night and with the point after by Contreras true, the 'Dogs were up four at 35-31.
An out-of-bounds kick off gave the Brahmas good field position and they began to move the ball downfield behind the running of Allan Cooper, Chaney and Valentine. Eating up time on the clock, Valentine scored from four yards out and the Brahmas once again took the lead. The point after by Bonilla was good and Bellville had a three-point lead with 1:09 to play.
A good kick off return by Alexander to near mid-field gave the Dogs a good starting point. A 25-yard pass from Sanders to Evans moved the 'Dogs deep into Brahma territory.
A few plays later they were at the seven with only five clicks on the clock. Time out Bulldogs. A field goal to tie or go for the win? Go for it was the call.
Sanders took the snap, looked for an open receiver and took off running left and was knocked out of bounds at the three as time ran out. The Brahmas escaped with a three-point victory.
Despite the loss, Marlin showed some solid stats.
Sanders hit on 22 of 31 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns. He also added 63 yards rushing.
The 'Dogs lost, but they have nothing to be ashamed about.
It was a great and entertaining game. Bellville is a good team with a lot of tradition.
Our season is young and we just might see the Brahmas again sometime down the road in the playoffs.
But for now, lets put this one behind us and get ready for the Leopards from Lorena this Friday night at Legion Field at 7:30 pm.
See you at the game!
Copyright © 2005 The Marlin Democrat. All rights reserved.