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Rabbits fall 40-0

Wednesday, 08 September 2010 15:08 |

ATL faces ‘Blue Crush’ in form of D-Field

BY JUSTIN STONE

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The Atlanta Rabbits ran into a blue wave on Friday when they took on the visiting Daingerfield Tigers. The Tiger defense held the Rabbs to only two yards rushing in the first half, and only 39 overall, as D-Field roared to victory 40-0.

Atlanta took the opening kickoff to its own 40 yard line, but only a Tiger penalty kept that drive from being a three and out. The Rabbs were finally made to punt from their own 49 with Daingerfield returning it all the way back to their own 44.

The Tigers wasted no time taking advantage of the field position, and without even facing a third down score on five plays when quarterback Tyler Boyd recovered a bad snap and took it in from five yards out. The PAT failed and the Rabbs were down 6-0 with 7:38 to go in the quarter.

The Rabbits’ next drive went nowhere and Stanton Holland was forced to punt the out at the Rabbit 38.

Daingerfield started its next drive strong but the Rabbits held on, stopping the Tiger drive when Lawson Shultz knocked down a pass on fourth down to stop the Tiger threat with less than 2:00 to go in quarter.

Once again the Rabbits were stymied on their next drive and forced to punt after only three plays.

The Tigers put together a nice little drive, but once again the Rabbit D held strong and after 10 plays the Tigers punted away.

The Rabbits took over at their own 18, but were once again forced into a three and out. Holland punted away and the ball was returned to the Tiger 43.

The Tigers were not to be denied this time though. They marched the 57 yards in seven plays before Boyd once again ran to pay dirt. Another failed PAT made the Tiger advantage 12-0 with 3:39 to go in the half.

The Rabbits took over from their own 30 but could do nothing with it, the Tigers forcing another three and out.

The Tigers started their next drive at about mid-field, but it was hardly a drive. Boyd dropped back on the first play of the drive and chucked up a 48-yard touchdown pass to Darrin Terry with 1:38 to go in the half. Time ran out in the half before the Rabbs could redeem themselves.

Daingerfield took the ball to begin the half but this time the ATL D buckled down and forced a punt. The punt was a beauty and finally stopped rolling at the Rabbit two yard line.

The Rabbs actually made good of the circumstance and manage to move the ball out to the 36, but that’s where the drive would end and another punt came off the boot of Holland.

Daingerfield ran out the quarter in its ensuing drive but wasted no time getting back on the board in the fourth. Five plays into the final period Tyler Boyd got his second touchdown of the game sneaking in from four yards out. Finally the Tigers converted on a two-pointer when Boyd once again carried it in himself. That one put the Rabbs down 26-0.

Atlanta took another kickoff to the 29 yard line but this drive resulted in another three and out. But instead of a punt it was a ball that got picked off by none other than Tyler Boyd himself. Boyd came down with the ball at his own 40 and that’s where the Tigers set up shop.

Four plays later the Tiger offense was back off the field. From the 10 yard line Boyd found Jeremy Godbolt in the end zone and hit him in stride. The two-pointer was once again good and D-Field was now up 34-0.

The Rabbits’ next drive was more of the same. Marred by penalties on this drive the maroon was made to punt again, from its own seven to its own 49.

The Tigers struck quick again, running only two plays before Boyd hit Keyarriss Garrett on a long ball for gold that covered 44 yards. The PAT was no good and the Tigers were up 40-0.

The rest of the game was a back and forth tug of war with no team getting the best of the other, and the game ended at 40-0.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 September 2010 15:09 )

L-K beats Center

Wednesday, 08 September 2010 15:06 |

Tigers a force to be reckoned with

By JUSTIN STONE

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The Linden-Kildare Tigers proved why they are a force to be reckoned with Friday at Jack Hetherington Tiger Stadium. Down for nearly the entire game, the Tigers scored with 38 seconds to go in the contest to escape with their second win of the young season over Center, 28-23.

Center struck first in the game, putting together a nine-play drive that covered 84 yards and ended with Ryan Goodwin plunging into the end zone from two yards out. The PAT was successful, giving the Roughriders a 7-0 lead with only three and a half minutes gone in the game.

L-K returned the ensuing kick to their own 38 yard line and Kenneth Harrison promptly found J.J. Walker for a 24-yard pass completion.

Unfortunately Rashoderick Linwood fumbled his first carry of the game and Center recovered at its own 38.

But this time the Tiger defense stepped up and forced Center into a three and out with the Roughriders punting down at the L-K 25.

The Tigers were nothing but consistent on this drive, running 14 plays and using a good mix of run and pass to cover the length of the field. The drive ended when Harrison found Linwood in the end zone from 10 yards out with only a minute to go in the first period. Harrison’s PAT was no good and Center was now up 7-6.

The Roughriders took the kickoff and returned it to their own 44 yard line where they set up shop. Once again Center struck quickly, though not as hard, using eight plays to get into field goal range where Felipe Parra booted the three-pointer with 10:53 to go in the half.

L-K’s next drive went nowhere and the Tigers were forced into a three and out. Linwood punted away and Center took over at its own 34.

The Roughriders pieced together a little drive before the Tigers managed to stop them at mid-field. Parra punted the ball nicely but Harrison returned it 20 yards to give L-K decent field position at the 28.

L-K put together a nine-play drive that put them near the goal line before a penalty put them off track. Immediately after that Harrison made a rare mistake in throwing an interception to Center’s Se’Ryan Netherly that was returned 29 yards. A Roughrider chop block on the play moved them back to the 21.

Center couldn’t get much going on this drive, and shortly after they crossed mid-field Quan Warren caused Center’s Trey Sudds to fumble with Mathew Byrd recovering the drop at the L-K 44.

But Sudds got his revenge on the very next play, picking off Harrison’s first pass of the drive and returning it 19 yards to the L-K 44. Four plays later Center was in the end zone as Cameron Cloudy found Netherly for the 28-yard scoring pass. Parra’s PAT was good and Center went into the tunnel at halftime up 17-6.

Center took the ball to open the second half, but three plays after taking over Linwood knocked the ball loose from Sudds and recovered the ball himself at the Tiger 39.

This time the Tigers got it done, scoring in six plays when Harrison plunged in from three yards out. Warren ran in to complete the two-point conversion and L-K was now only down 17-14.

Center was forced into another three and out on its next possession and Parra punted down to the L-K 46.

L-K had no more than gotten across mid-field when Harrison chucked up his third interception of the game, this one to Netherlt who returned the rock to the rock to his own 25.

But L-K forced the Roughriders into yet another three and out and Parra punted down at the L-K 46.

L-K managed to move the ball up to the Center 33 yard line but Linwood’s fourth down run came up short and Center took over at their own 33.

Center converted one-third down on the drive, but was ultimately forced to punt from just shy of mid-field.

The Tigers took over at their own 36 and wasted no time getting back to the Promised Land. L-K put together a seven-play drive that culminated with Kenneth Harrison firing a fourth down pass 15 yards to Josh Harrison in the end zone. Harrison PAT was no good but L-K now had their first lead of the game 20-17.

But Center wasn’t going down without a fight and the Roughriders, starting from their own 36, marched the length of the field without even facing a third down situation. This time Edgar Espino booted the PAT but failed, putting Center on top 23-20.

The Tigers took over on their own 37 but couldn’t get anything going. After gaining a single yard in three tries Linwood punted away to the Center 34.

Center put together a short lived drive, but after seven plays was forced to punt away from the L-K 38.

The Tigers took over at their own 22, and thus started the most impressive drive of 2010 so far.

Harrison started the drive by firing a 38-yard pass to Quan Warren that made it to the Center 40. From there Center forced the Tigers into a fourth down situation, but Harrison found Cody Belyeu open 11 yards down field and hit him for the first down.

On the very next play Harrison again went to the airways and this time hit Warren in the end zone with 38 seconds to go in the contest. The two-point pass to J.J. Walker was good and L-K had the lead 28-23.

Center tried in vain to make a comeback, but 38 seconds proved not to be enough time, and thus the game ended with L-K still undefeated.

Tiger Head Coach Jerry Bennett said he was proud of his players and coaching staff but was disappointed in all of the turnovers in the first half.

"I was happy we won, but you just can’t turn the ball over like we did in the first half", said Bennett. "We kept moving the ball, but we just weren’t getting into the end zone. But it was good that we came from behind twice in the fourth quarter".

The Tigers take on the Queen City Bulldogs at home on Friday.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 September 2010 15:07 )

Bulldgos face L-K Friday night

Wednesday, 08 September 2010 15:02 |

Queen City falls at the hands of DeKalb

By JUSTIN STONE

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The Queen City Bulldogs were stunned on their own turf in a game they were predicted to win over the DeKalb Bears. But the Bears came to Smith-Wall Stadium with purpose, and by the time the dust cleared they had scored a 52-14 victory over the host Bulldogs.

The ‘Dawgs were unable to get on the board until the final quarter and the rest of the contest was virtually all DeKalb.

Queen City got the ball first and Darryl Shepherd returned the opening kick to the 28 yard line of the Bulldogs. Sadly the hometown boys were held to a three and out in their initial series and were forced to punt.

The Bears’ luck wasn’t much better on their ensuing drive. They moved the ball for a little while before their QB ended up throwing a pick to the Bulldogs at their own nine-yard line.

Queen City took over at their own 10, but once again couldn’t move the ball against a stiff Bear defense. After six plays the Dawgs were forced to punt away, setting the Bears down at their own 28 after a penalty moved them back.This time DeKalb showed the poise it takes to win at this level when after 10 lays #3 from two yards out.

Another possession led to another three and out by the Bulldogs and they punted down to the DeKalb 49.

The Bears had no trouble with this field position and two plays later #32 found himself in the end zone after a six-yard burst. Another failed PAT made the score 12-0 DeKalb.

Another QC possession led to another Bulldog three and out and they punted down to the 31.

One play later the Bears were back in the end zone when #2 scampered in from three yards out. This time the PAT was true and DeKalb had a 19-0 lead with 8:45 to go in the half.

The Dawgs moved the ball a little bit on their next drive, but after nine plays were forced to punt it away again.

Once again the Bears wasted no time marching right down the field before #25 took a 48-yard gallop into the end zone. With the PAT the score was now getting out of hand at 26-0 DeKalb with 2:23 to go in the half.

Queen City suffered another three and out on its next drive, and when the Bears received the next punt they simply took a knee to end the half.

Queen City’s woes started back immediately after the halftime show as #8 took the opening kickoff the half all the way home to put the Bears up 33-0 with only :24 seconds missing out of the half.

The ‘Dawgs started to put together a nice drive on its next series, but briefly ended up having to punt anyway. The Bears took over at the 47 yard line and four plays later were back in the end zone, with # 32 taking the 41-yard sprint to the house. This time the PAT failed and QC was down 39-0 with 8:23 to go in third.

The ‘Dawgs failed to gain sufficient yardage on their following drive and one more punt was in order.

Once again it took the Bears only five plays to march 51 yards to the end zone with #1 plunging in from a yard out. The extra point made it 46-0 DK and there was no looking back.

The ‘Dawgs finally got something going on their next drive and managed to march 72 yards before Hunter Wilcher put QC on the board with a 43-yard run that put the ‘Dawgs on the board for the first time. Wilcher also converted the two-point play to make the score 46-8 with just less than six minutes to go.

But DeKalb struck like lightning in this game and within a matter of six plays #1 found himself in the zone with a 30-yard scoring run. The extra point failed but DK was still comfortably on top with a 52-8 led.

Wilcher wasn’t quit done yet and on the first play of the following drive he found Chris Martin open from 78 yards to put QC back in the end zone. The failed PAT made it 52-14, where the score would end as it occurred with only 30 seconds left in the half.

DK took the kickoff and promptly killed the clock.

The Bear PAT failed and the ‘Dawgs were down 6-0.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 September 2010 15:05 )

Rabbs face Daingerfield Friday night

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 06:22 |

Atlanta falls to Gilmer is Rose Classic

By JUSTIN STONE

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It took a mighty push at the end for the Atlanta Rabbits to make the score on Thursday night against Gilmer respectable. The Buckeyes scored early and often in kicking off the Trinity Mother Frances Rose Classic with a 63-28 defeat of the Rabbs.

Things went bad for the Rabbs from the start when Atlanta’s Ta’rell Holloway fumbled the opening kickoff. Gilmer’s Xavior Easley recovered the fumble at the nine, and two plays later Buckeye QB Luke Turner snuck in from the one for the first points of the game. The two-point conversion was good and Gilmer took the early lead 8-0.

On the ensuing kickoff Lee Raley took the kick out to his own 14 yard line. The Rabbs managed to drive to their own 37 yard line before being forced to punt.

Turner returned the punt to the 36 yard line, but a holding penalty set the buckeyes back to the 26.

On the first play of the drive Turner dropped back to pass but was dropped in the backfield instead by Taylor McCarty and Sam Daniels for a loss of five yards. After a few more pass plays failed to net Gilmer a first down they punted away. The punt was downed at the ATL 27 yard line.

This time it was the Rabbits who didn’t take long to start clicking. On the first play of the drive the Rabbs’ Corion Webster took a run 73 yards to pay dirt to put Atlanta right back in the mix. The Rabbit two-point try failed, giving Gilmer an 8-6 lead with 5:51 to go in the first.

Gilmer’s Darrien Pollard took the next kick to his own 23 yard line where the Buckeyes set up shop. The revenge-minded Buckeyes then took a long run of their own when tailback Gus Johnson took a handoff 77 yards for the score on the first play of the drive. The extra point was good, giving Gilmer the 15-6 lead with 5:28 still showing in the first quarter.

Gilmer tried an onside kick after the score, but Atlanta wasn’t fooled and Lawson Shultz recovered the errant kick at Gilmer’s 49 yard line.

This time the Rabbs marched down to the Buckeye 31 yard line before turning the ball over on downs with 1:46 remaining in the period.

The Buckeyes got right to work. Turner hit wideout Gavin Holt on a pass that took Gilmer to the Rabbit 35, and on the next play Turner took it in for the score himself on a QB draw with no time showing on the clock. The PAT failed and the first quarter ended with Gilmer on top 21-6.

Atlanta took the kickoff to open the second quarter to its own 22 yard line. The Rabbs used Webster and Joe Rose to run up to their own 45 before QB Stanton Holland fumbled the ball and Gilmer recovered with 9:22 showing on the clock. This time Gilmer put together a seven-play scoring drive, with help from an Atlanta face mask penalty, that culminated with Gus Johnson scoring from two yards out with 6:47 to go in the half. The PAT was good, giving Gilmer a 28-6 advantage.

The Rabbs started their next drive at their own 34 yard line, but were forced into a three and out. The Rabbit punt left Gilmer on the 48 yard line. This time it took the Buckeyes a pair of plays before Xaviour Easley caught a 48-yard pass for the score. That made the Gilmer advantage 35-6 after the PAT with 4:19 remaining in the half.

Cole Roberson received the kickoff and took it to the Rabbit 34 yard line. But the Rabbs were forced into another three and out, and Stanton Holland punted out of bounds at the Buckeye 30 with 2:43 to go in the half.

Gilmer wasted no time in putting up a three-play scoring drive that ended with Johnson bobbing and weaving 51 yards to the end zone. The PAT was good and Gilmer’s advantage was now 42-6 with 2:11 to go in the half.

The Rabbs had a sense of urgency going onto the field for the ensuing kickoff. Corion Webster soothed that sense by returning the kickoff all the way home for the special teams score. The Rabbit two-point try failed, but the deficit was now cut to 42-12.

The Buckeyes went three and out on their next drive, and time ran out in the half before the Rabbs could get back on the board.

Gilmer’s return man took the opening kick of the second half out to his own 34 yard line where Gilmer started the half. Gus Johnson took the first run of the half across mid-field to the Rabbit 34. After an ineligible receiver penalty moved them back five yards, the Buckeyes’ Turner threw his second TD of the night to Easley with 11:22 showing in the period. The PAT was good making the score 49-12.

On the ensuing kickoff Atlanta caught the fumbleitis again as Michael Wicks fumbled the kickoff. Gilmer’s Ty Barr recovered the fumble at the Rabbit 35, and Gilmer quickly took advantage of the good field position. It took the Buckeyes two pass plays before Darrien Pollard caught his second TD of the game with 10:18 to go in the third. The PAT made the score 56-12.

Atlanta took the kickoff out to its own 40 yard line, but couldn’t capitalize on the field position. The Rabbs were forced into another three and out with Holland punting a fair catch down to the Buckeye 25.

Gilmer took over with 8:14 showing in the third quarter and put together a substantial drive. The Buckeyes took ten plays to march 75 yards before Jordan Trailer put his team on the board again with a two yard TD reception. The score came with 3:07 on the clock and the PAT made the score 63-12.

Atlanta took the kick out to its own 25 where the Rabbs set up shop. A few good runs put ATL at the 31 yard line, where they stood when time ran out in the quarter.

The Rabbs started the fourth quarter at fourth and four and were forced to punt. The punt was downed at the Buckeye 44. Gilmer ran a few plays without much success and on third down made the ultimate mistake when the Gilmer QB hit Rabbit defender Jacob Neshyba in the chest for an interception with 10:03 to go in the game.

Starting from their own 25 the Rabbs put together a couple of runs that moved them up to the 31. On fourth and four Webster recorded his second video game run of the game when he sprinted the 69 yards to pay dirt with 7:38 remaining. The two-point try was no good and the score was 63-18 Gilmer.

Atlanta then tried an onside kick of their own, but were convincing enough to pull off the stunt. Wicks recovered the onside at the Gilmer 45.

Webster took the first run of the drive and fumbled it, but fortunately Julius Neal was there to scoop up the ball and the big man toted it for several more yards to Gilmer’s 18 yard line.

A Rabbit false start on the drive proved costly and The ATL drive sputtered after a failed fourth down attempt from the one. Gilmer took over from there with 2:50 on the clock.

On Gilmer’s first play of the drive, their tailback was caught in the backfield by several Rabbit defenders for the safety. That made the score 63-20 when ATL went to accept the free kick.

On the Rabbs’ final drive of the night they shook off an offensive clipping penalty to put together a six-play scoring drive that ended when Holland found Lawson Shultz wide open in the end zone with :28 on the clock. The Rabbs finally succeeded on a two-point try with a pass from Holland to Darius Dickerson. That made the score 63-28.

Gilmer recovered the Rabbit onside kick at Atlanta’s 49 and ran out the clock from there.

Rabbit Coach Ronnie Melton said that there were spots on the team that looked good and others that didn’t. He went on to say "You can’t make that many mistakes against a team that good and get away with it."

Melton said if his team can make better adjustments in the future then they will be all right.

The Rabbs take on Daingerfield at home on Friday night.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 31 August 2010 06:30 )

Kickoff is 7:30 at Rose Stadium

Thursday, 26 August 2010 09:04 |

Rabbs, Buckeyes open season in Tyler classic

By JUSTIN STONE

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The Atlanta Rabbits open their 2010 football campaign on Thursday night at Rose Stadium in Tyler. The Rabbs’ first game of the season will be a tough one as the boys will be facing the defending 3A Division I State Champion Gilmer Buckeyes.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30. Gilmer enters the matchup as the state’s number seven squad in the pre-season rankings.

The game opens up a full weekend of varsity action at Rose Stadium for the Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic.

On Friday night, Lufkin and Tyler John Tyler will face off at 7:30. These are a pair of uber-productive big schools and should prove to be an entertaining matchup.

The weekend closes with a nationally televised matchup featuring Euless Trinity and Tyler Lee. That game is scheduled for 9 p.m. due to its national status.

Trinity is the USA Today pre-season number one in the nation and with Tyler Lee not being a bit shabby themselves, this should be a fitting close to a good weekend of football.

Atlanta has had a tough spell since 2003 when they defeated Gilmer en route to their state championship that year. This would be a good game for the boys to prove that they are the group to bring the winning tradition back to ATL.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 August 2010 09:06 )

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