Marlin ISD

 Cougars Caged as Dogs win

AREA CHAMPIONSHIP

It was a bright, cool sunny afternoon at Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen on Saturday, November 25 as the Marlin Bulldogs took on the China Spring Cougars in the Area Championship game in Region III - AAA football (Division II). The Cougars put up a valiant fight as they were down only one at the half before the dogs pulled away in the second half to win by a score of 49-30.

China Spring won the toss and elected to receive. After only getting one first down on their initial drive, China Spring had to punt and Marlin set up shop at their own 26. The dogs began to move the ball both on the ground and in the air and got as far as the Cougar 45 when the drive stalled.

After the punt to the China Spring 38, the dog defense led by Mark Jimenez, Reginal Norman, Jock Johnson and Desmond Watson completely shut down the Cougars on this possession as they gained only one yard.

Mo Smith would be the work horse on the dogs next possession as they worked the ball to the Cougar eight yard line. A fumble set them back to the eleven where they faced a third and goal. QB Jeremy Modkins faked a handoff up the middle, dropped back and found Davison Nutt open in the end zone for the first score of the game. Mo added the point after to make it 7-0 dogs with 1:19 left in the first period.

China Spring's next possession ended with a Thaddeus Freeman interception of a Shawn Bell pass at the Marlin 34. On first down, Modkins picked up ten for the dogs but a penalty nullified the run as the first quarter ended.

As the second quarter got under way runs by Derrick Berry and Mo moved the ball to the Cougar 47. From there, on second down, Smith took an option pitch from Modkins and raced around the right side all the way to the end zone. The try for two by Smith was good to make it 15-0 Marlin.

A high light for the Cougars came on their next possession as running back Jason Harris took a handoff from Shawn Bell and went 75 yards to pay dirt. Kurt Kelm added the point after and China Spring was right back in the ball game down only 8.

The dogs though would answer right back. A short kick off was returned by Jock Johnson to the 39. Watson caught a third down pass from Modkins at the Cougar 40 and ran it down to the 26. Runs by Berry, Smith and Modkins moved the ball to the 15 and on yet another third down, Modkins hit Carlos Bailey for a first and goal at the two. From there a quarterback sneak by Modkins for the score and with Smith's extra point the score moved to 22-7 Marlin with 5:22 left in the half.

The Cougars would roar right back. Bell hitting his number one receiver, Justin MacGibbon with a 48-yard pass and run for a score. Kelm added the point after to make it 22-14.

A Marlin turnover set up the next China Spring score. A Modkins pass was intercepted and returned to the Marlin 35. An illegal block and personal foul against the Cougars on the play set them back to their own 27. After an incomplete pass on third down it looked as though the dogs had held but a roughing the passer call against Marlin gave the Cougars new hope. with time running thin in the second quarter, QB Bell found a wide open MacGibbon for a touchdown; Kelm added the point after and with 12 seconds left before half-time, we had a ball game folks - Marlin 22 and China Spring 21.

It would be Watson with a good return of the second half kick off to get the dogs in a good starting position at the Cougar 37. A Derrick Berry unbelievable run of 22 yards moved the ball deep into Cougar country. Marlin would get as close as the eight but the Cougar defense held on a fourth down try by Modkins.

Marlin's defense would hold and force yet another punt by China Spring and this time Marlin would score. It took only five plays for the dogs hi-lighted by a 23-yard run by Modkins and a 31-yard run by Smith for his second TD of the night. Smith PAT was good and the dogs had a 29-21 lead with just under five minutes left in the third quarter.

Back came the Cougars - Bell hits MacGibbon for a 45-yard pass to the Marlin 10. Three plays later the Cougars faced a fourth and twelve and elected to kick a field goal. Kelm connected on a 29 -yard attempt to close the margin to 29-24.

The only thing about China Spring scoring meant that they had to kick the ball back to the dogs. Jock Johnson had another good return to the 41. Runs by Berry and Smith moved the ball into Cougar territory where on the next play, Modkins would make an unbelievable run all the way to the Cougar five. On the second play of the fourth quarter, Modkins scored from 2-yards out for his second TD. The PAT was blocked and the dogs were up 35-24 with 11:16 to play in the game.

Three and out for the Cougars on their next possession and the dogs would get the ball again. On this possession Smith would be the work horse and on a first and ten from their own 41, - BOOM there goes Mo one more time 59 yards to pay dirt for his third score. Mo added the point after to make it 42-24 dogs with 7:31 left to play.

The combination of Bell to MacGibbon connected again to close out the Cougars scoring on a five yard pass and our boy Mo would answer that with his fourth TD of the afternoon - this one a 44 yard run as the bulldogs went on to a final score win of 49-30. On the afternoon Mo had 302 yards rushing and four touchdowns!

So now its the Newton Eagles for the Regional Championship. Last year was a real barn burner as Marlin came from behind to beat Newton 41-34 to win the regionals. Same place again this year as the teams will meet December 1 at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville. Game time 7:30 p.m.

See ya at he game!

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

©1999 Marlin ISD
All Rights Reserved