Marlin ISD

 The Toe of Mo downs the Yoe

QUARTER FINALS CHAMPIONSHIP

Kyle Field in College Station, perhaps a field that some of these athletes will play on again in college, was the site of one of the best high school playoff games ever played. It was the type of game you wished there could be two winners and that they both could go on in the playoffs. But we all know there can only be one team that will move on. And on this night it would be the bulldogs!

It was nerve racking as both teams traded the lead back and forth and then the clock said 0:00 and we were headed to OT tied at 20 a piece. Just like last year in the quarterfinals when we lost to Robinson. But this time the dogs would not fall as they came away with a 27-26 win. And now for a game recap.

Marlin won the toss and deferred, with Desmond Watson having to kick off, with Mo Smith nursing a "turf toe." The Marlin defense set the tone early on as Carlos Bailey put a hit on Brian Bailey on the kick off return that let B. Bailey wondering where he was when he got up.

Three and out for the Yoe on their first possession and they were forced to kick. Jock Johnson returned the punt to the Marlin 26 and on came the offense. QB, Jeremy Modkins hit WR Desmond Watson for seven yards. Mo Smith took an option pitch to the Yoe 44 for a first down. On the next play, Modkins went up stairs again and hit Watson for a 36-yard gainer to the Yoe eight. Fullback, Derrick Berry took it to the one and on second down Modkins scored to put the dogs on the board first. Watson's PAT was wide left and the score remained 6-0 dogs.

Back came the Yoemen. Billy Pittman returned the kick off to the 30. Facing a third and eight, QB Pittman hit Brian Bailey on a screen pass good for 39 yards to the Marlin 29. The next play - Tyrone Miller rumbled 29 yards right up the gut for a score. Daniel Wilfert added the point after and the Yoe took the lead 7-6 with 6:46 left in the first quarter.

Determined not to kick deep to Mo Smith, Wilfert's short kick off was fair caught by Davison Nutt at the Marlin 33. Mixing the pass and the run the dogs moved the ball to the Yoe 22 yard line. On a third and fifteen, Modkins was intercepted by Brian Bailey at the three and the Yoemen took over. A face mask call against Marlin set Cameron up at the 13. A short gain on first down and another face mask call against Marlin gave the Yoe a first down at the 34 as the first quarter ended.

As we started the second quarter, the Marlin D took over. Carlos Bailey made a bone-crushing hit on a would be receiver and defensive lineman, Adrain Green took QB Pittman to the ground on a third down play to set up the punt on fourth down. But the Yoe pulled a trick play with the snap going to fullback Tyrone Miller and he rumbled once again, this time for a first down to the 47. On third down from here, senior Cedric Wells, bulled his way for 47 yards to pay dirt and the Yoe took the lead at 13-6. Wilfert added the point after to make it 14-6 Cameron with 8:37 left to play before half-time.

Once more the Yoemen decided not to kick to Mo and Carlos Bailey returned the short kick to the 49. But the offense couldn't take advantage of the good field position and kicked back to Cameron with the ball rolling dead at the 14.

The bulldog defense held this time with Mark Jimenez making the tackle on a third and short to stop the Yoe and forcing a punt. Desmond Watson fielded the punt and took off down field. At the midfield stripe he was hit, causing a fumble, and Jock Johnson picked the ball out of the air and carried down to the Yoe 26 yard line. Runs by Smith and Berry moved it to the 19 and set up a fourth and three. Modkins kept it and picked up four to the 15. On their second fourth down play of this drive, Modkins hit Watson for a ten yard scoring pass. The dogs went for two to tie it and Modkins hit Watson again and the score was 14-14 with both teams going to their lockers at the half.

The second half began with Cameron kicking once again short with Davison Nutt calling for a fair catch at the 33. On third down, Carlos Bailey burned the Yoe D for a 43-yard pass and run down to the Cameron 23. Mo carried to the 11 and two plays later Modkins ran nine yards to the end zone. Watson's point after hit the upright and the dogs were up 20-14 with 8:03 to go in the third.

Back came the Yoemen once again. Starting at their own 34 the drive began. A third down pass from Pittman to Terrance Brooks is good for thirty yards and a first down at the bulldog 32 as we entered the final period. Pittman keeps for twelve more and another first down to the 20. Pittman again takes it to the one and Wells bulls in from there. The PAT by Wilfert is wide right and the score remains knotted at 20 all with 11:31 to go in the game.

Cameron goes for an on side kick that is recovered by Matthew Yezak at the Marlin 46. A good place to start for the dogs but they couldn't muster a first down and the dogs had to punt. The Yoe though couldn't get anything going on offense this time and they to had to punt.

Back and forth the ball went as neither team could get a drive going. On Marlin's final possession of regulation they took over at the Cameron 47 after a shanked punt. Berry picked up five to the 42 and Smith took a pass to the 32. Two running plays netted only two yards and with only seconds remaining Modkins went to the air. Third down pass went incomplete to Watson and on fourth down Modkins fired a pass to the end zone, where Nutt made a diving grab for the ball but lost it as he hit the ground.

Cameron took over, took a knee and we were headed to OT!

In the overtime, Cameron went on offense first and starting at the bulldog 25, Pittman was hit by Watson after a two yard gain. Watson then threw Pittman for a loss back to the 34 but on a third and 19, Pittman scrambled for a 32-yard gain to the two. On third down Wells made it for the score. The PAT was wide left giving Cameron a six point lead.

Now it was the bulldogs turn. Needing to score at least a TD, the dogs began with senior Mo Smith running for eight to the 17. Then it was senior Jeremy Modkins to the 12. Again it was Smith then Modkins and Smith again to the three. The Yoe defense stiffened and Marlin faced fourth and one. Their season on the line - who else to carry the ball than the MAN who got you this far - one MO time - Mo Smith took a pitch right and went untouched - TOUCHDOWN! Now all we needed was the point after - but who would kick it. Time out Marlin. Then they took the field and #2, turf toe and all said "I can do it and do it he did - right through the uprights - Mo Smith's kick is good! And Marlin wins the game 27-26....

Oh what a game.. And to Cameron we commend them on a well played game and great sportsmanship shown afterwards. A great season for the Yoe.

So onward we go to the Semi-Finals next week to take on the Leopards from La Grange. Game time 1:00 p.m. Saturday December 16 at Waco ISD.

Four down and two to go. See ya at the game!

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

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