Father-son duo helps Bulldogs to improve
NEDERLAND -- Three years as a New Braunfels Unicorn just doesn't compare to three games as a Nederland Bulldog. Just take Ross Matt's word for it.
When his father Ricky returned to his high school alma mater in August as the Bulldogs' defensive tackle coach, coach Larry Neumann pulled quite a recruiting coup, so to speak.
Neumann not only hired a competent varsity coach with extensive college and high school coaching in his background. The Bulldogs head coach also found a capable replacement for Michael Boyd as Nederland's bandit linebacker.
The 17-year-old son of Ricky and Susan Matt collected 100 tackles as an inside linebacker at New Braunfels last year. But his father had been wanting to return to Nederland to be near his family.
Ricky Matt and Larry Neumann stayed in touch over the last few years. When David McCoy resigned from Nederland's staff to accept a pharmaceutical sales job, the dad basically left it up to his 6-1, 192-pound baby boy.
Did Ross want to stay in New Braunfels or go to Nederland? Since Ross had attended high school for three years in New Braunfels, that decision figured to be a tough one. The defensive ends and secondary coach at New Braunfels High School lateraled the verdict to his son.
"He (coach Ricky Matt) let it be my decision," the senior bandit backer recalled. "I was 100 percent go, because my family was from here. It was a good for us.
"There's no comparison. The atmosphere is a lot better for high school football over here with the fans and everything... I've always heard about Southeast Texas being so competitive. It's a lot more hyped up and there are a lot better athletes here."
Nederland's first six-week reports have not arrived yet, but the younger Matt said he already believed he felt right at home. He's already been a huge hero in one of the biggest plays at last Friday's 42-21 victory over West Orange-Stark.
Matt was not accustomed to being an offensive hero. He never "played offense that much" but he grabbed a game-turning reception from Kirk Dean in Friday night's third quarter.
"This is the first time I've ever had that many fans in the stands," Matt said. "My eyes were about as big as golf balls when I saw all the fans."
Besides his mom Susan, there's a whole bunch of Ross Matt fans rooting for Nederland. It starts with his great-grandmother Lena Ancelet, his grandparents, J.D. and Bertha Matt. Policeman and former NHS quarterback Nicky and his family love the Doggies, too.
There are a few more close-to-family members besides the legal ones. You see, Ross Matt and fellow NHS defender Chase Gentile became best friends way before either one ever went to anything known as school. Add the Gentile clan into members' of Ross' rooting section.
"When we first contemplated coming back here, Ross was going to be a freshman," former NHS defensive back and 1975 NHS grad Ricky Matt said.
On the subject of fans, Ricky, Susan and Ross Matt actually had been rabid Nederland fans for many years. They traveled to Rice Stadium from New Braunfels for three playoff games last year. Ross definitely wanted to wear No. 21. That's the same number worn at Nederland by his father.
So the next obvious question becomes --- which Matt is better? Ross or Ricky.
"All the coaches said I can't hit like my dad did but I'm trying to change that," Matt said. "I haven't played my best game yet."
Any critics of Ross Matt's defensive performances need to understand one thing -- Ross has undertaken the toughest job on Nederland's defense without any prior experience. He's done better each game and he's only going to improve with time.
The bandit has to be a fifth defensive lineman at times, a fifth defensive back at others and always a capable outside backer.
"I like it a lot," Matt said. "There's a lot more open field to move around. It's an important job containing everything.... Definitely the repetitions are the key at getting better."
Matt and his Nederland defenders have their hands full this Friday night at Lamar University's Cardinal Stadium when they have the challenge of handling Ozen tailback Anthony Johnson, one of the area's premier backs and a legitimate Division I college prospect.
Ross knows he could have made a few more tackles last week. He always can make up for it this week.
BULLDOG BITES
Man, is this ever a shock. There are no Nederland lineup changes this week, for a change. Plenty of impressive film grades resulted from the 42-21 win over WO-S. They started with Colin Weber (88), Ross Matt (84) and Julian Nunez (82) on defense; Ben Davis (87), Daniel Tompkins (86), Kirk Dean (84), Josh Waite (82), Tyler Nemeth (81) and Jake Askew (80). And on the subject of grades, the NHS first six-week grading period ends Friday..... Tackle leaders vs. WO-S were Chris Pierce and Colin Weber with seven apiece, Chase Gentile with two sacks and five first contacts, Josh Atterberry and Julian Nunez with five solos and two assists, Eddie Romero (4 and 2) and Darin Smith (3 and 3).... This Friday's game against Ozen will be televised on The Port Arthur News Friday Night Experience and will be carried on radio by KLVI-AM (560). Because of technical problems with the first airing of last week's game against West Orange-Stark, it is being replayed at 7 p.m. tonight on Cable 7 ..... No new significant injuries resulted from the WO-S game, though the Bulldogs battled their share of cramps.... The victory over WO-S was Nederland's 16th straight win at Ye Old English 'N' known as Bulldog Stadium, dating back to a 1998 loss to PN-G.