texasjeremy
09-20-2006, 02:26 PM
Palestine secondary passes test
The Palestine Herald
PALESTINE — By SCOTT TYLER
H-P Sports Editor
Palestine defensive coordinator Booker Bowie had a feeling the Wildcats’ secondary was going to get tested Friday night at Henderson.
The Wildcats entered the third week of action giving up only 122 rushing yards in two games.
“With the way we have been able to stop the run, we know people are going to throw it,” Bowie said. “We knew this week we were going to need our secondary to step up.”
Henderson came out Friday night and tested the Wildcat secondary, throwing the ball 32 times and Bowie feels the secondary passed the test.
“I was real impressed with our cornerbacks (Raymond Welch and Chrys Davis),” Bowie said. “The corners broke on the football and made great open field tackles.”
The Palestine defense continued to excel, allowing 176 total yards to Henderson and nearly had a shutout as the Lions pulled off a trick play in the final minute to get on the scoreboard.
“We are coming together as a unit,” Bowie said. “We are trusting each other and all the positions are coming together.”
In three games, the Palestine defense has allowed 530 yards, an average of 176.7 yards a game.
“Our defense is playing four quarters of football,” Palestine head coach Glen Tunstall said. “The defense knows what their job is and they are playing great football.”
Palestine also limited the big plays, a problem the Wildcats had in the first two games. Henderson’s biggest play of the game was the trick play in which wide receiver Ladaria Brown threw a pass to the quarterback Joel Johnson for 39 yards. Other than that play, Henderson only had one more play of 20 yards.
However, the way Henderson started the game, it looked like the Lions were going to march down the field, something Palestine has not allowed a team to do this season.
Henderson used 11 plays and converted on three third downs to get the ball to Palestine’s 34-yard line on the opening drive of the game.
Palestine made some changes on the fly to make two stops against the run and then forced Johnson into his first two incomplete passes of the game to stall the drive.
“When they were driving, we made some changes and went to a different front,” Bowie said. “We had to do something a little different and it worked.”
The first drive would be the farthest Henderson would get into Palestine territory until the final touchdown with just over a minute left in the game.
The Palestine defense kept the Wildcats in the game in the first half as the offense was unable to get into the end zone. Then in the second half, it was the defense which helped get the ball back to the offense quickly.
After Palestine scored on its opening possession of the second half to take a 7-0 lead, the Palestine defense got a turnover as Larry Nays recovered a fumble on the Henderson 16-yard line. Palestine would turn the fumble into six points to lead 13-0.
“The big key to the game was getting the fumble in the third quarter,” Tunstall said. “We had just scored and then to get the ball right back and go back into score gave us all the momentum.”
However, the Palestine defense was not done.
The Wildcats stopped Henderson on three and out, forcing a punt, which Kevin Swanson returned on a highlight play for 55 yards to give Palestine a 20-0 lead.
On Henderson’s next play, Davis had perfect coverage deep on the wide receiver and stepped in front to intercept the pass.
One play later, Palestine scored on a long pass play and had scored 27 straight points.
During the scoring run by Palestine, the defense stopped Henderson on six plays for minus 4 yards and two turnovers.
On the game, Palestine had three turnovers as Greg Anderson recovered a fumble in the first half.
“One of our goals is to get three turnovers,” Bowie said. “That was big for us to get those turnovers.”
The Palestine Herald
PALESTINE — By SCOTT TYLER
H-P Sports Editor
Palestine defensive coordinator Booker Bowie had a feeling the Wildcats’ secondary was going to get tested Friday night at Henderson.
The Wildcats entered the third week of action giving up only 122 rushing yards in two games.
“With the way we have been able to stop the run, we know people are going to throw it,” Bowie said. “We knew this week we were going to need our secondary to step up.”
Henderson came out Friday night and tested the Wildcat secondary, throwing the ball 32 times and Bowie feels the secondary passed the test.
“I was real impressed with our cornerbacks (Raymond Welch and Chrys Davis),” Bowie said. “The corners broke on the football and made great open field tackles.”
The Palestine defense continued to excel, allowing 176 total yards to Henderson and nearly had a shutout as the Lions pulled off a trick play in the final minute to get on the scoreboard.
“We are coming together as a unit,” Bowie said. “We are trusting each other and all the positions are coming together.”
In three games, the Palestine defense has allowed 530 yards, an average of 176.7 yards a game.
“Our defense is playing four quarters of football,” Palestine head coach Glen Tunstall said. “The defense knows what their job is and they are playing great football.”
Palestine also limited the big plays, a problem the Wildcats had in the first two games. Henderson’s biggest play of the game was the trick play in which wide receiver Ladaria Brown threw a pass to the quarterback Joel Johnson for 39 yards. Other than that play, Henderson only had one more play of 20 yards.
However, the way Henderson started the game, it looked like the Lions were going to march down the field, something Palestine has not allowed a team to do this season.
Henderson used 11 plays and converted on three third downs to get the ball to Palestine’s 34-yard line on the opening drive of the game.
Palestine made some changes on the fly to make two stops against the run and then forced Johnson into his first two incomplete passes of the game to stall the drive.
“When they were driving, we made some changes and went to a different front,” Bowie said. “We had to do something a little different and it worked.”
The first drive would be the farthest Henderson would get into Palestine territory until the final touchdown with just over a minute left in the game.
The Palestine defense kept the Wildcats in the game in the first half as the offense was unable to get into the end zone. Then in the second half, it was the defense which helped get the ball back to the offense quickly.
After Palestine scored on its opening possession of the second half to take a 7-0 lead, the Palestine defense got a turnover as Larry Nays recovered a fumble on the Henderson 16-yard line. Palestine would turn the fumble into six points to lead 13-0.
“The big key to the game was getting the fumble in the third quarter,” Tunstall said. “We had just scored and then to get the ball right back and go back into score gave us all the momentum.”
However, the Palestine defense was not done.
The Wildcats stopped Henderson on three and out, forcing a punt, which Kevin Swanson returned on a highlight play for 55 yards to give Palestine a 20-0 lead.
On Henderson’s next play, Davis had perfect coverage deep on the wide receiver and stepped in front to intercept the pass.
One play later, Palestine scored on a long pass play and had scored 27 straight points.
During the scoring run by Palestine, the defense stopped Henderson on six plays for minus 4 yards and two turnovers.
On the game, Palestine had three turnovers as Greg Anderson recovered a fumble in the first half.
“One of our goals is to get three turnovers,” Bowie said. “That was big for us to get those turnovers.”