Bulldogs put bite on Foster
GALENA PARK -- Scouts from the LaMarque Cougars were in the Galena Park ISD press box Saturday night prior to Nederland's area-round encounter with Richmond Foster when one sports scribe suggested the Cougars would prefer another crack at the Bulldogs.
After all, didn't the Cougars crush Nederland by 23 points in Zero Week?
The scouts failed to detect the writer's sarcastic humor.
"Everybody gets better," was the terse reply of one coach.
Including the Bulldogs. Especially the Bulldogs.
If you want to measure Nederland's improvement from that starting point three months ago, the Bulldogs' 28-14 domination of Foster in the Class 4A Division II area round is offered as resounding proof of their quantum leap.
With the defense pitching a shutout until the final 1:06, Nederland's offense erupted for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Foster's cheap scores disguised the fact that the 9-3 Bulldogs produced far and away their best effort of 2003.
It was a performance head coach Larry Nuemann sensed earlier in the week.
"The kids were more focused and more intense the entire week," he said. "With the exception of that last minute, we executed and played as well as we could play."
Nederland's reward is a rematch with 12-0 LaMarque in the Region III semifinals 7 p.m. next Friday at Rice Stadium. The Bulldogs won the coin flip as the home team.
No doubt Nederland will be a decided underdog against the Cougars. But its situation not much different than the one it encountered against Foster.
The Falcons (8-4) garnered plenty of attention with their bidistrict upset of Killeen Harker Heights. Running back Javarris Williams, who completed his senior campaign with more than 2,000 yards, pounded Heights 45 times for 319 yards and five touchdowns.
His brawn, however, was no match for the Bulldogs' quickness and technique on defense.
Instead of trying to wrestle the stocky Williams to the ground, Chase Gentile, Evan Foxworth, Stephen Phillips, Ross Niles and Jordan Rash were among the Nederland defenders who literally knocked the 5-11, 205 major college prospect off his feet. This technique of constantly aiming for his legs and feet frustrated Williams.
Williams had only 26 yards by halftime, at which time Nederland held a closer-than-it-should-have-been 6-0 lead. Although Williams ruined the Dogs' shutout with a four-yard touchdown run with 1:06 to play, his 83 yards on 27 carries was the second-lowest output this season.
"We knew he (Williams) was a load to bring down," remarked Nederland defensive coordinator Delbert Spell. "He liked to stiff-arm people. You can't practice that sort of tackling, but our kids' execution was outstanding."
And with Williams held in check most of the night, Foster had to rely on junior quarterback Ozzie Carlton. However, he could not cope with the Bulldogs' constant blitzing. He completed only 6 of 24 passes for 88 yards -- 30 that came on a touchdown pass with 36 seconds to play.
Making their first playoff appearance in the three-year history of the school, the Falcons' succumbed to their lack of experience with four turnovers. Nederland converted two into its first two scores.
"They were by far the quickest defense we've played this year," lauded Foster head coach Mark Wiatrek. "We knew they wanted to shut down Javarris. They're just a good football team."
Just how good are the Bulldogs?
Sophomore nose tackle Ron Mohica played just one series due to a staph infection. Yet Spell inserted sophomore Vincent Perricone at weakside end in his first varsity start, and Perricone brought down Williams twice in the first quarter for virtually no gain.
"It wasn't just the scheme," declared Spell. "It was the way Larry Nuemann had these kids prepared during the week."
Another sign of Nederland's gathering playoff momentum was how its offense ovecame a sluggish first half. Provided excellent protection by his blockers, junior quarterback Dustin Hood was victimized by his stone-handed receiving corps in the first half. Those dropped balls kept the Bulldogs from building on the 6-0 lead they grabbed on first play of the second quarter.
"It was very uncharacteristic of our receiver corps. I think every one of them dropped at least one pass (in the first half)," said offensive coordinator Monte Barrow. "If it hadn't occurred during the state playoffs, it would have been laughable. But our kids stayed together. Our blockers didn't get down."
That cohesiveness was evident on the Bulldogs' second possession of the third quarter. Starting from their 11, with a stiff southeasterly breeze at their backs, the Dogs embarked an 11-play drive that culminated with Hood's one-yard sneak on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Hood connected on all three of his passes during the march. His 20-yard completion to Michael Brady put the Bulldogs on the Foster one. Backup QB Kirk Dean, working out of the shotgun, had moved the offense to the Falcons' 25 with his 29-yard completion to Josh Waite.
Ben Davis bulled off right tackle for the two-point conversion and a 14-0 Nederland lead.
Two plays later, Andrew Ferguson picked off a Carlton pass at the Foster 35. But the Bulldogs gave it right back with Hood's interception in the end zone on third down at the Falcons' 13 yard-lline.
On their next series, the Bulldogs covered 68 yards on six running plays. Daniel Tompkins (93 yards on 14 carries) broke a counter 44 yards down to the Foster six. Davis accounted for the rest on the next play with 4:33 remaining.
After forcing Foster to punt without making a first down, the Bulldogs needed two plays for their 28-0 lead. Backup fullback Ashton Cummings burst through right tackle untouched for the 46-yard score with 3:06 to play.
Nederland's initial touchdown was an indication of things to come.
The Falcons began their drive at the Nederland 35. But on second down, Foxworth made a sensational open-field tackle of Williams, whose fumble was recovered by sophomore defensive back Ryan Butler.
From its 29, Nederland embarked 15-play march that consumed the remaining 7:01 of the first quarter. Hood did complete four passes along the way, as the Bulldogs overcame a holding penalty.
It looked as if the drive had died with wide-open Dean dropped a third-down pass at the Foster 15. However, Hood connected with Michael Brady on the next play for 11 yards and a first down at the Foster 21.
Two running plays netted a loss of a yard. Rolling to his right to evade the Falcons' pass rush, Hood connected with Butler at the 12. The sophomore cut to his right and found the end zone with 11:50 left in the second quarter.
Waite's point-after kick was low.
If not for 31-yard gain off a fake punt and an interception at the Nederland 25, it is unlikely Foster would have even threatened in the first half. The Falcons reached the Bulldogs' 25 early in the second quarter, but Perricone recovered a fumble at the 19.
Three plays later, a Hood throw slipped through Trent Hanley's hands and into the grasp of the Falcons' Maurice Perkins at the Nederland.
Foster had first down at the Nederland, but had to settle for a 33-yard field goal attempt. Dustin Snell's line drive attempt sailed wide right.
The Falcons never got closer than the Nederland 44 in the second half, until their two meaningless drives in the closing minutes.