Marlin ISD
Marlin ISD
In what was definitely a "Defensive Struggle" for both teams as they fought to a 0-0 stand off, the Marlin Bulldogs finally pulled it out in the end, as QB Shaun Henry found his favorite receiver, Jante Cheeves for a 54 yard scoring strike as time expired! Oh what a game!
La Vega missed two opportunities to get a score in the first quarter. After an interception of a Henry pass at the La Vega 48, the Pirates drove to the Bulldog 23 where the dawg defense stiffened and Eric Alejoís 40 yard field goal attempt was no good.
On their second scoring threat in the first quarter, the Pirates were on the Bulldog ten-yard line when Donald Benjamin picked off an Alejo pass in the endzone to kill the threat.
With six minutes before the half, the Pirates were again knocking at the door on the Bulldog 28 when Leonard Mitchell recovered a fumble to kill yet another drive by the Pirates.
In the final period the Pirates again drove to the Bulldog 25. But with only 3:30 remaining in the game, the bulldog defense forced another Pirate turnover as Mitchell recovered his second fumble of the night.
The Bulldogs though gave it right back as a Henry pass intended for Cheeves was picked off at the La Vega 27 with just over two minutes to play.
Could the ëDawg defense rise to the occasion once more. Three running plays by the Pirates netted only four yards and La Vega was forced to punt with only 50 seconds remaining.
The Bulldogs had the ball on their own 33. On the first play, Henry scrambled for 13 yards. Both teams then traded penalties and with seconds left, Henry dropped back and found his favorite receiver, Cheeves had broken away from the defender. Henry let it go --- Cheeves makes the reception and at the gun to end the game the Bulldogs had a TOUCHDOWN!
Henry then hit Reggie Smith for a two-point conversion and the final was 8-0 Marlin!
Leading running back for the Bulldogs, Antonio "Tookie" Davis turned in another spectacular running night as he gained 133 yards on 16 carries to give him 498 total rushing yards on the year.
Jante Cheeves TD gives him 5 Td's on the year and moves his total receptions to 12.
Cassius "Bootsy" Johnson, Corey Gray and Leonard Mitchell each led the defense with nine tackles. (Mitchell also had two "BIG" fumble recoveries). And Donald Benjaminís key interception in the end zone which killed a Pirate scoring threat.
Things donít get any easier for the Bulldogs. This week the Leopards of Lorena, currently tied for first in the district, come to town. Look for another defensive struggle here as Lorena is rated number one defensively in class 3 A while the Bulldogs are number 3.
Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Marlin ISD
Created August 26, 1997 -- last revision November 25, 1997
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