Nederland rolls Silsbee after slow start
SILSBEE -- Friday night's game got off to a frightening start for Nederland. However, the Bulldogs put on a scary offensive display in the second half en route to a 42-15 win over Silsbee at Tiger Stadium.
Nederland (6-3, 5-2), playing its 800th game in school history, needed a win to keep its slimplayoff hopes alive. After turning the ball over on their first two possessions, the Bulldogs looked to have a hangover from last week's loss to arch rival Port Neches-Groves.
"We talked about getting ourselves re-focused after a rivalry game Monday," said Nederland coach Larry Neumann. "Monday wasn't a great workout. Tuesday was a little better and Wednesday was a little better.
"I think maybe we were a little bit something besides being our best at the beginning of the game. I'm not sure what that was, but after that we got in the flow of the game and started performing a lot better. I'm proud of our football team."
Neumann was quick to add that the opponent may have had something to do with the Bulldogs slow start.
"Give credit to Silsbee. I said entering the game that we're in a district where a win-less team can play anybody off their feet because they have good skill people and excellent coaching. I know they are disappointed with their season, but Coach McGallion and his staff have done a great job keeping their kids fired up about playing and playing hard.
"I've got a lot of respect for coach McGallion. They are going to be a lot better in the future."
Leading 14-7 at halftime, Nederland combined a stifling defense and an offense that seemed to be firing on all cylinders.. The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on their first four possessions of the second half to put the game away.
A middle screen pass from Dustin Hood to Ryan Butler covering 40 yards set up the Bulldogs first score of the third quarter. Hood finished off the drive with a 1-yard sneak.
Hood, who finished the game with 131 yards on 8-of-16 passing, was a perfect 3-of-3 on the Bulldogs next drive. Michael Brady hauled in an 8-yard pass from Hood to close out the drive to put Nederland up 28-7.
"He's (Hood) a very talented passer and is very confident in his ability," Neumann said of his junior quarterback. "He was able to scramble around and found open receivers. He's not afraid to do that. Sometimes it about drives me crazy, actually. He'll hold that ball to the last second and he made some key throws and the receivers made some good catches."
As good as the Nederland offense was in the third quarter, its defense may have been better. After allowing Silsbee 102 yards of offense in the first half, the Tigers managed just 13 yards on their first two possessions of the third quarter.
If you discount Jeremic Wilson's 61-yard touchdown run in the waning minutes of the game against the second unit, Silsbee managed just 50 yards of offense in the entire second half.
"We made some adjustments on both sides of the ball at halftime," Neumann said. "To their credit, they did some things in the first half that gave us some trouble. We did some things with our secondary to help us with their option, especially trying to stop their quarterback.
"Offensively, we did some things with our blocking schemes to give our quarterback better protection. William Morrisey is a great player. Some of our players on the field made some adjustment -- Trey Thibodeaux and Trevor Huber in particular -- got together and found a way to keep him (Morrisey) out of our backfield. I think the main thing was the kids got comfortable with what we were doing."
It was more of the same for the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter. Ben Davis, who led all rushers with 104 yards on 19 carries, put Nederland up 35-7 with a 6-yard run.
The reserves got into the action late in the game. Backup quarterback Justin Savoie hit Blane Stark on a 13-yard scoring strike with 2:08 remaining in the game to make the score 42-7.
The Tigers closed out the scoring on Wilson's 61-yard touchdown run with 1:32 left and quarterback Jarrel Gilbert ran in a two-point conversion to make the final score 42-15. Wilson finished with game with 103 yards on 12 rushes.
Silsbee took advantage of Nederland's second turnover of the first quarter. Wilson intercepted Hood's second pass attempt at the 35 and returned it 34 yards to the Bulldog 1.
The Tigers quickly converted as Gilbert called his own number on a sneak to take a 7-0 lead with 5:57 left in the opening quarter.
Silsbee wasted an opportunity on the Bulldogs first turnover. Davis fumbled on the game's second play after gaining 12 yards.
The Tigers drove from their own 48 all the way to the Nederland 5, but Seth Harrell missed a 22-yard field goal.
Nederland answered Silsbee's score on its next possession. The big play on the drive was a 13-yard completion from Hood to Davis, which included a 15-yard personal foul face mask penalty tacked on to the end of the play.
Hood followed with a 17-yard completion to Butler to put the ball at the Silsbee 18. Daniel Tompkins, who gained 52 yards on eight carries, finished off the drive with a 6-yard run on third-and-goal. Josh Waite's extra point was wide right following a 5-yard motion penalty.
The Bulldogs added another touchdown in the second quarter, taking advantage of a Tiger turnover. Stephen Phillips recovered a Wilson fumble at the Nederland 25.
Davis and Tompkins had consecutive runs of 17 and 13 yards, respectively, to put the ball at the Silsbee 46. Scrambling to his right, Hood found a streaking Butler for a 31-yard scoring strike.
Hood and Butler, who scored the first touchdown of his career, hooked up on the 2-point conversion to make the score 14-7.