crabman
09-21-2006, 06:31 PM
In case ya'll were wondering what happened to Matt.
SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY
Former Gobbler takes over TLU's starting QB position
September 21, 2006 - Posted at 1:11 a.m.
BY COY SLAVIK - ADVOCATE SPORTS EDITOR
Matt Schumacher's time came sooner than even he expected.
With 2 minutes, 41 seconds left in the second quarter of Saturday's American Southwest Conference game against Mississippi College, Schumacher, Texas Lutheran's third-string sophomore quarterback, was inserted into the game to see if he could inject some life into the Bulldogs' ineffective offense.
The former Cuero Gobbler took advantage of the opportunity by completing 17 of 29 passes for 310 yards and one touchdown and rushing for two more scores. Schumacher almost led TLU to a potential game-tying touchdown, but his final pass of the game was intercepted at the Mississippi College 1-yard line with 50 seconds left in the game as the Bulldogs lost 28-21.
Still, Schumacher's performance vaulted him from third-stringer to starter for this Saturday's key ASC game against Mary Hardin-Baylor.
"I was pleased but also disappointed at the same time," Schumacher said of his performance, which also included throwing four interceptions. "I made some mistakes that I shouldn't have made."
"He did a good job of managing the game," TLU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jim Good said. "He turned the ball over a little but, but that was not only his fault. It was partly my fault, too. But he moved the ball and did a good job of leadership."
The Bulldogs (2-1, 0-1 in the ASC) struggled to move the ball Saturday, first with starting quarterback Adam Vyvial and then with backup Joel Waldon.
TLU head coach Tom Mueller had seen enough and summoned Schumacher into the game.
Good said he wasn't surprised by Mueller's move.
"Not at all," Good said. "Last year on the JV, he was by far the best at managing games. People rallied around him. Normally, you put your No. 3 quarterback in the game and you think, 'Oh geez.' But it wasn't that way with Matt at all.
"Coming into this season, we had two upperclassmen who were ahead of him.
One guy was a senior and one guy was a junior. They both came from great programs and had a lot to offer. They both had opportunities but didn't get it done for whatever reasons and we felt 100-percent confident in putting Matt in."
"Coach Good reassured me to be patient because my time would come and it did," Schumacher said. "I told him I would be ready whenever it did."
With 3:05 left in the third quarter, Schumacher threw a 91-yard touchdown pass to Jason Trahan as the Bulldogs pulled within 14-7.
After Mississippi College scored touchdowns on two straight possessions to widen its lead to 28-7, Schumacher led a furious fourth-quarter TLU rally. With 3:09 left in the game, Schumacher scored on a 1-yard run to make it 28-14.
Mississippi College recovered an onside kick, but TLU's defense stiffened and forced a three-and-out. Schumacher then led the Bulldogs on a four-play, 67-yard touchdown drive, running the final 23 yards for the score to pull TLU within 28-21 with 1:55 to go.
The Bulldogs recover an onside kick and Schumacher drove the team to a first-and-goal at the Mississippi College 6. But with 50 seconds left, Mississippi College linebacker Chris Dudley stepped in front of TLU wide receiver Darrell White at the 1 to pick off Schumacher's pass.
"The mistakes that he made are definitely correctible and that's probably the biggest reason we're so excited about Matt," Good said. "He's a coachable kid who will listen and not only listen but apply what you tell him on the football field."
Schumacher admits he feels some butterflies in his stomach as the Bulldogs prepare for ASC favorite and 17th-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor (1-1).
"I'm real excited. I hadn't played in about two years," Schumacher said. "Throughout the whole year, there has been a buzz going on around here. We think we can do something special. It's just a matter of time, so this is a big week for us. I like situations like this."
SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY
Former Gobbler takes over TLU's starting QB position
September 21, 2006 - Posted at 1:11 a.m.
BY COY SLAVIK - ADVOCATE SPORTS EDITOR
Matt Schumacher's time came sooner than even he expected.
With 2 minutes, 41 seconds left in the second quarter of Saturday's American Southwest Conference game against Mississippi College, Schumacher, Texas Lutheran's third-string sophomore quarterback, was inserted into the game to see if he could inject some life into the Bulldogs' ineffective offense.
The former Cuero Gobbler took advantage of the opportunity by completing 17 of 29 passes for 310 yards and one touchdown and rushing for two more scores. Schumacher almost led TLU to a potential game-tying touchdown, but his final pass of the game was intercepted at the Mississippi College 1-yard line with 50 seconds left in the game as the Bulldogs lost 28-21.
Still, Schumacher's performance vaulted him from third-stringer to starter for this Saturday's key ASC game against Mary Hardin-Baylor.
"I was pleased but also disappointed at the same time," Schumacher said of his performance, which also included throwing four interceptions. "I made some mistakes that I shouldn't have made."
"He did a good job of managing the game," TLU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jim Good said. "He turned the ball over a little but, but that was not only his fault. It was partly my fault, too. But he moved the ball and did a good job of leadership."
The Bulldogs (2-1, 0-1 in the ASC) struggled to move the ball Saturday, first with starting quarterback Adam Vyvial and then with backup Joel Waldon.
TLU head coach Tom Mueller had seen enough and summoned Schumacher into the game.
Good said he wasn't surprised by Mueller's move.
"Not at all," Good said. "Last year on the JV, he was by far the best at managing games. People rallied around him. Normally, you put your No. 3 quarterback in the game and you think, 'Oh geez.' But it wasn't that way with Matt at all.
"Coming into this season, we had two upperclassmen who were ahead of him.
One guy was a senior and one guy was a junior. They both came from great programs and had a lot to offer. They both had opportunities but didn't get it done for whatever reasons and we felt 100-percent confident in putting Matt in."
"Coach Good reassured me to be patient because my time would come and it did," Schumacher said. "I told him I would be ready whenever it did."
With 3:05 left in the third quarter, Schumacher threw a 91-yard touchdown pass to Jason Trahan as the Bulldogs pulled within 14-7.
After Mississippi College scored touchdowns on two straight possessions to widen its lead to 28-7, Schumacher led a furious fourth-quarter TLU rally. With 3:09 left in the game, Schumacher scored on a 1-yard run to make it 28-14.
Mississippi College recovered an onside kick, but TLU's defense stiffened and forced a three-and-out. Schumacher then led the Bulldogs on a four-play, 67-yard touchdown drive, running the final 23 yards for the score to pull TLU within 28-21 with 1:55 to go.
The Bulldogs recover an onside kick and Schumacher drove the team to a first-and-goal at the Mississippi College 6. But with 50 seconds left, Mississippi College linebacker Chris Dudley stepped in front of TLU wide receiver Darrell White at the 1 to pick off Schumacher's pass.
"The mistakes that he made are definitely correctible and that's probably the biggest reason we're so excited about Matt," Good said. "He's a coachable kid who will listen and not only listen but apply what you tell him on the football field."
Schumacher admits he feels some butterflies in his stomach as the Bulldogs prepare for ASC favorite and 17th-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor (1-1).
"I'm real excited. I hadn't played in about two years," Schumacher said. "Throughout the whole year, there has been a buzz going on around here. We think we can do something special. It's just a matter of time, so this is a big week for us. I like situations like this."