Marlin ISD

Yes - the talking started right after the game. What IF Jeremy had played? It could have made a difference and then again the Panthers might have contained him. This we will never know. But hey the game was played and it was a great game played by two outstanding football teams. And it went right down to the final minute with the game still in doubt. What more could a fan want.

Marlin was trailing 16-22 with only seconds remaining and were barking at the door at the Panther 5-yard line. However, on the next play a pitch right resulted in a fumble recovered by the bulldogs at the 16. Facing a third down from there with no time outs, Panther Quan Cosby sacked bulldogs QB, Thaddeus Freeman and the clocked ticked down to zero. Final score Mart 22 and Marlin 16.

"The Game" that everyone had circled on their calendars way back when school started was played before a packed crowd at the new Waco ISD stadium on Thursday night, September 21. And it was a great ball game.

The scoring didn't get started until there was only 1:37 left in the first quarter as both defenses were playing solid football. A flea flicker play by the Panthers with Lyndall Strunck passing 50 yards to Rashi Sharp set Mart up at the bulldog 10 yard line. After the defense stiffened the Panthers set up up for an apparent 17 yard field goal. Holder Lyndall Stunck too the hike and pitched the ball to Quan Cosby who was coming across the back of his offensive line. Cosby trotted on into the end zone and then brother Quincy kicked the point after and the Panthers were up 7-0.

This is where the scoring would end for the first half.

The Panthers scored first in the third quarter as Quan scored his second TD on the night from two yards out with 3:56 remaining in the quarter. The two point conversion try was good on a "Brother -to-Brother" pass to make it 15-0 Panthers.

As mentioned earlier the defenses for both clubs were playing outstanding. And it would be the Marlin D that would account for the bulldogs first score. With only three seconds remaining in the quarter, DE Desmond Watson stripped Quan of the ball at the Bulldog 20 yard line. The ball ended up in the hands of SS Jock Johnson who ran it back untouched 80 yards for a touchdown. Marlin faked the kick on the point after and Demarcus "Moe" Smith hit RB Derrick Berry for the two point conversion to make the score 15-8 as the third quarter ended.

In the final period it was Quincy Cosby scoring from 11 yards out and then he kicked the point after to move the Panthers to a 22-8 lead.

The dogs had to put it in gear big time now as they were down 14 with seven minutes remaining. The Panthers not wanting to kick to Moe Smith kicked short to the sideline with Davison Nutt cradling the ball in before stepping out of bounds at the 37. It was time to go to work for the bulldog offense. On second down, QB Thaddeus Freeman hit Berry for a completion to the Mart 41. On the next play "Moe" following his blockers scored a n apparent TD - HOLDING BULLDOGS! Cost the dogs fifteen yards and then a delay of game tacked on five more yards and the dogs were headed in the wrong direction. Give it to Moe - he knows where to go! The next play Moe runs for 27 yards to the Panther 19. It took four more plays with Moe powering his way over Panther defenders into the end zone from 13 yards out. Freeman scored on the two point try and the dogs were barking again - down only six with 3 1/2 minutes to play!

The bulldog D had to get the ball back to give Marlin a chance. The Panther O needed only a couple of first downs to run out the clock.

Beginning at their own 36, two downs netted only two yards as DT Adrain Green led the dog defense. Facing a third and eight QB Cosby, slipped in the backfield and fumbled with LB Jimmie Quinn picking up the pigskin and racing to the end zone - TIE GAME! But the referee closest to the ball saw Quinn's knee touch the ground when he bent down to pick up the ball. First down bulldogs at the Mart 33.

Moe carried to the 20 - First and 10 bulldogs. Smith again then Berry to the nine - First and goal bulldogs. Smith to the five. Time out Marlin. Five yards away from at least a tie and possibly a point after try for the win. But that was as close as the dogs would get. A pitch on the next play resulted in a fumble and a loss of 11 yards. Third down and no time outs left - Quan Cosby, who had fumbled earlier to give the ball to the bulldogs comes crashing in to deck QB Freeman as time runs out. Final score Mart 22 and Marlin 16. A great game!

Next up will be a road game vs. the Eagles of Wilmer - Hutchins on Friday, September 29. This will be the final tune up for the bulldogs before district play begins on Friday the 13th of October against the Blackcats of Mexia.

Marlin ISD
Created 1999 -- last revision September, 2000
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