Marlin ISD

Bulldogs

"Socket to Crockett"

Claim Bi-District Championship

As everyone might remember, it was way back in early September that the football season got under way and Marlin opened with the Crockett Bulldogs at Legion Field. Marlin was leading that game 14-13 into the fourth quarter (playing 3/4 of the game without Jeremy Modkins) when with 4:45 to play, Crockett scored the game winner and went on to a 19-14 victory. That was then and this is NOW baby!

This time in the rain and cold, Marlin rolled, they slid and they put a whipping on Crockett by the tone of 40-6 to bring home the Bi-District Title. On to the game.....

Crockett won the toss and elected to receive the opening kick off. The tone for this game was set up early. On their second offensive play, QB L. Riley was intercepted by Thaddeus Freeman (everyone remembers the hit Thaddeus took back in the September game) who returned the ball to the Crockett 30.

On Marlin's first offensive play, Derrick Berry ran for 13 yards down to the 17. The next three play resulted in zero yards setting up a fourth and ten. Field goal? no way - Instead, QB Jeremy Modkins finds Desmond Watson behind two defenders in the end zone - TOUCHDOWN! Mo Smith added the point after to make it 7-0 still early in the first quarter.

On Marlin's next possession they would score on a three yard run by Mo Smith. This was on a fourth and goal play. Smith added the point after to make it 14-0 Marlin.

A costly turnover by Crockett (fumble recovered by Matthew Yezak) set up shop at the Crockett 32. A pass to Derrick Berry covered 31 and 1/2 yards and Marlin was poised to score again. However the nest three plays netted a minus 19 yards! Facing a fourth and goal - Modkins pitched to Smith who got to the two before being tackled. Ball went over on downs.

Crockett though was unable to mount any type of offense. Facing a third and five from the 48, Riley's pass was intercepted by Jock Johnson (he would have three on the night) who returned it back up the field to the Marlin 39. After two running plays picked up five yards, Modkins dropped back to pass on a 3rd and five and found TE Davison Nutt over the middle for a 55-yard pass and run for a TD. Point after by Smith was no good and the score was 20-0 Marlin with 9:12 to go before half.

Another Crockett turnover led to Marlin's next score. Desmond Watson picked up a loose ball in the Crockett backfield and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown. Smith's PAT was good and the Marlin bulldogs were rolling 27-zip with 6:05 left in the half.

Marlin's defense once again caused a Crockett fumble and the offense took over at the Crockett 48. Runs by Berry, Smith and Modkins brought the ball to the Crockett 37. Then Berry on back to back carries takes it to the 25. The next play found Modkins hitting Nutt once again for a touchdown and with James Johnson adding the point after the lead was moved out to 34-0 with just over two minutes left in the half.

Crockett finally mounted their only scoring drive on their next possession. They took the ensuing kickoff and went 58 yards in seven plays to score. At the half it was 34-6. That touchdown was the first the Marlin defense had given up in 17 quarters!

The second half didn't start well for Marlin as they fumbled the kick off and Crockett had new life at the 48. Any thought of a momentum shift was quickly stopped though as Jock Johnson stepped in front of a Crockett receiver for INT #2!

The third quarter produced no scoring and the final score of the game came with 7:08 remaining when Modkins hit Smith with a 9-yard screen pass for a touchdown. Final score Marlin 40 and Crockett 6.

Oh yeah, Jock's third INT - Crockett had a first and ten at the Marlin 34 when Riley attempted a pass to Johnson's side of the field one more time. Jock said, "thank you" and stepped in front of the receiver and made a beautiful fingertip catch at the six before stepping out of bounds.

Next up it will be the Cougars of China Spring for the Area Championship. Game time - Saturday, November 25 at 2:00 p.m. - Leo Buckley Stadium, Killeen.

GO DOGS!

Marlin ISD
Created 1999 -- last revision November, 2000
Please mail comments or suggestions to tsimpson@marlinisd.org

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