Marlin ISD

Brahmas Buck Bulldogs From Playoffs

It was another fine run by our bulldogs. Winning district for the fourth year in a row. Undefeated 20-0 in district the last four years. Then it was a victory over Hillsboro on November 16 for the Bi-District crowd and onto the Area Championship where our nemesis the Newton Eagles waited. Our dogs took out the Eagles for the third time and it was on to face another familiar foe the La Grange Leopards in the regional finals. This time it was sweet revenge as the dogs downed the Leopards 34-7 setting up a quarter final match up with an unfamiliar foe - the Bellville Brahmas who came into the game with a most impressive 12-1 record. Now let's look back at how this exciting game all came about. A game that took 3 over times before there was a winner!

Bellville won the toss and deferred to the second half. Marlin's Anthony Simms took the opening kick off and returned it seven yards and the dogs set up shop. The Tank got the first call and was stopped in his tracks for no gain. On second and ten, QB Thaddeus Freeman takes the ball for a gain of five setting up a third and five. Tank managed one yard on his second carry and the dogs were forced to punt. A short punt by Daniel Ronquillo covered 30 yards where Bulldog John Sadler made a crunching tackle of the ball carrier and jarred the ball loose. After a mad scramble, the Brahmas retained possession at their own 45 -yard line. A little razzle-dazzle by the Brahmas on their first play from scrimmage as QB Jess Buenger threw to TE JR Ford who then threw to Emmanuel Sanders but the second pass fell incomplete. Second and ten - senior running back Tim Gobert for three yards where he is met by Stephen Woodward and LaKendrick Washington. A 3rd and seven resulted in an incomplete pass and the Brahmas were forced to punt. Brandt Goeke got off a nice punt that covered 46 yards with no return. The dogs would start their second possession deep in Bulldog territory. This time it would be "D" as in Wrighter - 3 yards then again for 6 more setting up 3rd and 1. A fake to D and Freeman is thrown for a loss. Another punt and its short one covering only 23 yards this time. The Brahmas take over at the Marlin 35. It's Gobert for 4 where Braxton Hill brings him down. Second and six and again its Gobert for 3 more, with Washington and Eric Vanegas on the tackle. Third and three and it's the first turnover of the game as Gobert is hit hard by Wrighter causing a fumble and Red Richardson picks up the ball and returns it 30 yards back to the Marlin 48 with 4:57 still to play in the first quarter. A pass to Mark Jimenez covers four yards and the Dogs are in Brahma territory. A second down play looses three yards setting up a 3rd and 8. Freeman runs and is held to no gain. Ronquillo for his third punt of the game gets off a nice one covering 44 yards with no return. First and ten Brahmas at their own five yard line with 3:44 to go first quarter. Sanders picks up eight on first down. Second and two results in a two-yard loss bringing up the first BIG play of the game. 3rd and four from the Brahma 11. A pass to Goeke gets just what they need and its first down Brahmas. Venegas makes another find play and throws Josh Bryant for a one-yard loss. On 2nd and 11, Buenger scrambles and finds a wide-open Harold Runnels (TE) on a pass that covers 24 yards for another first down. Buenger then goes to JR Ford for a 49-yard pass and run and the Brahmas who were at their five have a first and goal at the Bulldog nine. Two plays later, Josh Bryant scores from nine yards out and with five seconds left in the first quarter the Brahmas have a 6-0 lead. Goeke is true on the point after to make it 7-0.

As we start the second quarter, the bulldogs are at their 34 -yard line. Freeman takes it for a nice run covering 20-yards to the Bellville 47. Tank for nine more yards to the 38. But the Brahmas come up with a big defensive play and throw Freeman for a huge loss back to the Marlin 45! But back comes Freeman hitting his favorite target, Anthony Simms over the middle for 23 yards back down to the Brahma 32 yard line. Thad runs for two and then the "D Man" Wrighter Baby - breaks free, carries defenders all the way 23-yards down to the eight! First and goal dogs. Tank for two and then Tank for eight more and a TOUCHDOWN! Ronquillo adds the point after and we are all tied at 7 with 7:49 to play in the half.

The Brahmas return the ensuing kick 26 yards before Wrighter and Sadler bring down the ball carrier at the 27-yard line. Again the Brahmas go to the pass - this one covers 63 yards to Goeke all the way down to the Bulldog seven yard line and its first and goal. Bryant is hit by a pack of Dogs and thrown for a four-yard loss. Second and goal from the 11. Another fine defensive play by Washington throws Gobert for a yard loss bringing up third and goal at the 12. The Brahmas are going the wrong way! An incomplete pass and the Brahmas are forced to try a field goal. The kick is good and the Dogs who easily could have been down by seven are only down by 3 with 5:42 to play in the half.

The Bulldogs set up their next offensive possession at their own 35-yard line. After Tank looses two, Red breaks free for 14 yards and a first down. An illegal procedure penalty costs the Dogs five yards to set up a 1st and 15. Freeman's pass to Jimenez who is open is a little too long and sets up a second and 15. Freeman hits Wrighter for eight yards and then Freeman runs for five. Fourth and two and the Dogs punt it away. A good return brings the ball back to the Brahma 41 yard line with 3:36 to play in the half. But the Bulldog defense holds the Brahmas to three and out.

The punt nails the Bulldogs back at their own five with 2:34 remaining. And then a turnover by the Dogs as Freeman's pass intended for Cody Malone is picked off by Chase Kiecke at the Marlin 49 yard line. Once more the Marlin defense is called upon. A sack by Washington gets things going. Gobert breaks free for a big gainer but a holding call puts the ball back at the Brahma 39. 2nd and 21 and a reverse to Kiecke picks up nine yards. 3rd and 12 with 1:13 to play results in an incomplete pass and the Dog defense has held once again. A 37-yard punt with a loss on the return and the Dogs are pinned in again this time at the seven. A miscue on the handoff results in a fumble but Daniel Mason prevents disaster and falls on the ball for the Dogs at the nine. 2nd and eight and D breaks free for 20 yards and a first down with 37 seconds left in the half. But another turnover for the Dogs as Freeman is picked off for the second time and we head to the half with the score 10-7 Bellville.

The second half kickoff started with #6 Josh Bryant of the Brahmas returning a kick off to the 20 where he was met head on by #6 of the Bulldogs, Mical Roberts. So it looked like another hard hitting half of play was in store. Bryant took a handoff from Buenger and picked up five yards before being brought down by Wrighter. Then Washington and Woodward meet Gobert at the line after only a one-yard gain. Third and four and Buenger goes to the air to Bryant but the pass falls incomplete on a nice play that was nearly intercepted by Brandon Fisher, who had clear sailing to the end zone. A bad punt by Goeke nets only 20 yards and the Bulldogs start their first possession of the second half with excellent field position at the Bellville 47-yard line. Thad on a keeper good for nine yards to the 38. Second and one - Thad back to pass, is pressured and goes down for a 4-yard loss. 3rd and 5 and the Tank breaks free to the 25. A penalty after the first down moves the ball back to the 40. Thad runs for seven, then Wrighter for three and another first down at the 30. Again the ball goes to Wrighter - 4 yards and then Wrighter again for six more and another first down at the 20. The Dogs were barking loud! But the Brahma D would then hold Wrighter on two consecutive runs and after a 3rd down pass is incomplete, on trots Ronquillo to try a 35-yard field goal to tie it. No problem - straight through the uprights and we are tied at 10 with 4:38 left in the third quarter.

Ronquillo booms the ensuing kickoff through the end zone for a touchback. The Marlin Defense is chopping at the bit and ready to go. Stephen Woodward tackles Brahma running back Gobert for a three-yard loss on first down. Wrighter who comes out of nowhere to bat the ball away from a wide-open receiver breaks up a second down pass. On 3rd and 12 from their own 18 the pass is incomplete and the Bulldog defense once again has done their job. A 32-yard punt by Goeke with no return sets up Marlin at midfield with 3:20 left in the third. Two plays with the Tank running gets four yards. On a third down it's a shuffle pass to Tank good for only I yard and the Bulldogs punt back to the Brahmas.

Chase Kiecke receives the punt and is nailed right away by Sadler at the 16-yard line. A near disaster for the Brahmas on a first down play as QB Buenger fumbles but recovers. On the next play Sadler throws Granklin Millstid for a two-yard loss and the quarter comes to a close. For the record - the Marlin defense held the Brahmas to a total of two yards in the third quarter! But the game remained tied at 10.

The Brahmas ended up punting the ball back to Marlin who took over at their own 35 after a 45 yard punt by Goeke. First play goes to Wrighter for a nice gain of eight yards. Then Wrighter again for one yard. Third and one at their own 44 and Wrighter is stuffed by the Brahma D and loses yardage bringing up a 4th and 3. A gutsy call as the Dogs decide to go for it. Freeman a keeper to the right but he is thrown for a loss and the Brahmas take over in Bulldog territory at the 31 with 8:48 to play. Gobert for six yards. And then on a second and four, Bryant runs right, finds a hole and 25 yards later - touchdown Brahmas. The point after is good to make the score 17-10 Bellville with just under 8 minutes to play in the game.

The Dogs don't panic and seemed poised to answer back. Starting at their own 20 yard with 7:52 to play they would begin The Drive. Freman on first down scrambles for 24 yards. Freeman again on a keeper for 14 more yards. Then Wrighter for 14 yards and on three plays the Dogs were at the Brahma 28 yard line. Then the Dogs went to Red. A gain of seven to the 21. Red again to the 14. And then back to Wrighter for the last 14 yards and the tying touchdown. A well executed drive that took just over four minutes. Ronquillo added the point after and once more we were tied at 17.

The Brahmas turn. With 3:16 to play they faced a third and five at their 30. Buenger finds Gobert open for a 17-yard gain to the 47. They would get to the Bulldog 46 but no closer and on fourth and five they punted.

The Dogs have just less than two minutes to try and get to field goal range. Freeman runs for 17 yards to the 37. Thad again for three more to the 40. Another three yards by Freeman, then Wrighter for six. The Bulldogs got to the Brahma 46 but on a fourth down play needing six, the pass in incomplete and we are headed to over time!

Bellville took the ball first at the 25-yard line and on the first play of overtime they fumble and the Dogs recover, needing only a field goal to advance! On second down as the Dogs try to get a little closer for the field goal - the Dogs fumble back to the Brahmas and we head to the second overtime.

Marlin has first possession this time and they waste no time in scoring as Freeman runs 25 yards for the touchdown on the first play. Ronquillo is good and now its up to the Marlin defense. On first down the Brahma ball carrier is thrown for a loss with Sadler, Woodward and Venegas on the tackle. But on second down Buenger finds a receiver who out jumps the Tank for a touchdown in the right corner. Point after is good and we head to the third OT tied at 24.

This time it's the Brahmas with first possession. Two incomplete passes bring up a crucial third and ten. A pass to the 13 sets up another first down. The dog defense stops the Brahmas on two plays bringing up a 3rd and 8 at the 11. Buenger back to pass finds Goeke in the left corner of the end zone - touchdown Brahmas. By rule in the third overtime you must go for two and the Bulldog defense stuffs the Brahmas.

Now the Dogs must answer - down by 6. First down and Thad is thrown for a loss. Second down pass to Simms is incomplete. Third down gains nothing bringing up a 4th and 13 - Thad scrambles left and comes back right and lets it go for the end zone - Wrighter and the defender jump and both come down simultaneously with the ball - Looks like a TD - but no the refs rule no catch. And the ball game and season is over for the Dogs. This game was a real thriller from start to finish - two great teams slugging it out and unfortunately only one get to play on.

But it was another great run for Marlin in the play offs as they finish the season as the Regional Champs of 3 A Division II football.

That's all till next year!

Marlin ISD
Created August 26, 1997 -- last revision September 2002
Please mail comments or suggestions to tsimpson@marlinisd.org

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