Tank Keeps Marlin On The Right Track

Bill Reynolds- Head Feature Writer

- Sept. 4, 2004 -

--Week One Review--

The Marlin Bulldogs, coming off a huge zero week triumph, still had nothing to lose Friday when they  ventured in to Waco for a key non-district clash with 4A University High.

Marlin, a 3A state finalist a year ago, continued to respond well to graduation losses by winning on the field, nipping the Trojans 12-7 before an engaged crowd at WISD stadium.

The fans definitely got their money's worth.

The Bulldogs (2-0) ultimately cashed in on the strength of their stout defense and key plays by Marlin Running back Tank Smith and wideouts Cody Malone and Devon Hughes.

Smith kept the Bulldogs on track by pounding in from a yard out midway through the final stanza, delivering what proved to be the winning score.

Marlin then withstood a late University rally capped by Deodrick Brownlow's 38-yard TD strike to Donte Slaughter.

The Bulldogs had seized the early lead when Marlin signal caller Jeremy Sanders threw a 24-yard scoring strike to Malone, giving the the visitors a 6-0 edge they held entering the final quarter. They doubled the margin when Smith culminated a clutch drive, highlighted by an acrobatic Hughes reception on third-and-long, with his short touchdown burst.

Sanders' textbook throw to Malone at the flag set the tone for a splendid night. The Bulldog standout finished with 159 yards passing, a third of those going to Hughes on seven connections.

All in all, it was a tough evening for Waco area teams.

The LaVega Pirates dropped their second straight decision, losing 28-0 at home to 22-2A power Rosebud-Lott.

The Cougars coming off a season-opening defeat to state preseason No. 1 pick Rogers, rebounded with fine performance against dangerous LaVega.

R-L kept the Pirates off the board despite another strong outing by LaVega QB Vincent Williams, who threw for 180 yards. Williams, sidelined for much of '03 with a knee injury, completed 4 passes for 81 yards to speedy Joe Sanders.

But the Pirates were done in by the lack of a running game, on of their fortes last year.

LaVega managed just 24 yards rushing, a little over a yard per attempt.

The Cougars, meanwhile, benefited from a steady attack marshaled by quarterback Brett Bailey. R-L netted 117 yards on the ground while Bailey made the most of three completions, accounting for 106 yards in the air.

Bailey also made his presence felt with a 31-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter, a score that firmly secured the momentum in favor of Rosebud-Lott.

Lance Wolf triggered the Cougar onslaught with a one-yard TD run in the opening frame.

Rosebud-Lott stretched its cushion to 21-0 in the third quarter when Mark Rudloff hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass from Lance Wright.

Kenneth Travis rounded out the scoring with a 30-yard dash late in the contest.

Waco High, meanwhile, remained true to its commitment to playing a though pre-District schedule. The Lions were on the road Friday at No. 9 Tyler Lee.

The hosts, behind quarterback Josh Hill, emerged with a 35-14 triumph in an entertaining offensive show that saw the two clubs combine for nearly 900 yards of total offense.

Hill victimized the WHS Stop Dept. with 236 yards passing on 11 completions, including long TD bombs to Tony Bush and Walter Simpson.

The Lions, Who fell behind 17-0 in the first period, pulled within 10 when Carl Sims waltzed 21 yards to the paydirt.

Despite a valiant effort by Sims, who finished with over 300 yards of total offense---171 coming on the ground---Waco trailed 28-7 at intermission and wouldn't climb back into the fray.

Sims made the final score respectable by hitting Anthony Hicks on a 22-yard rollout in the waning moments. Sims' longest completion cane on a 36-yard aerial to Lajerald Betters, which preceded the late TD pass to Hicks.

Waco Connally fell 19-6 Friday to Fairfield, which was coming off a disappointing 31-0 loss in its season opener to Cameron. The Cadets had trouble keeping Fairfield from moving the chains and rolling the clock, a ploy that neutralized Connally's potent offense.

Cadet QB Jordan Williams completed 13-28 passes for 169 yards, but it wasn't enough to offset Fairfield's grind-it-out approach.

Connally suffered a tough break when Torian Williams' 96-yard TD scamper on a first quarter kick was nullified due to off-setting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

Torian Williams, however, did reach the end zone before the break when, following a Fairfield turnover, he grabbed a 17-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Williams.

Hewitt Midway, though, came up a winner by literally kicking Round Rock McNeil. Panther placekicker Justin Shaughnessy booted four treys--the longest from 28 yards--to secure Midway's second win in as many starts.

Panther quarterback Wesley Sauls completed 14 passes for 140 yards and ran for another 75 yards in leading MHS to a closely fought 12-9 victory.

The Mart Panthers, on the other hand, recorded the nights most lopsided triumph. Mart, which climbed to No. 10 in the State 2A rankings after last Saturday's upset of Maypearl, routed undermanned Bosqueville 90-0 at Chambless Field.

For much of the night the Class A Bulldogs were without leading rusher J.J. Jackson, who went down with a kneww injury after picking up 47 yards on seven carries.

Panther QBs Roddy Green and Will Rosen directed an attack that produced 631 yards of total offense and 11 scores.

Green rushed eight times for 172 yards and five TDs. He completed eight for 15 passes for 128 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown to Kevione Kirven. Rosen was three-of three for 31 yards, and ran 84 yards on five attempts, two of which were scores.

Cody Franklin rushed 13 times for 177 yards, going the distance from 81 yards out the first time he touched the ball.

Mart's defense also got in on the act, forcing eight Bulldog miscues. Panther free safety Damian Davis returned an interception 102 yards for one TD, while Eric Steinke brought back another pick off 53 yards for a touchdown.

Bulldog QB Tyler Minyard, frequently flushed from the pocket, completed 16 of 43 passes for 161 yards.

In other results from the CentexFootball.com coverage area:
*China Spring bested McGregor 31-3; Robinson defeated West 35-12; Rockdale edged Lorena 14-7; Teague beat Hillsboro 26-12; Hubbard downed Riesel 53-13; Salado dropped Clifton 29-7; Valley Mills behind Mikey Sadler's five TDs, blanked Dawson 60-0; Chilton topped Bartlett 51-8; and Rogers trimmed Reicher 21-13.