Marlin ISD

The bulldogs took an impressive 5-1 overall mark to Gatesville on Friday night to take on the 6-0 Hornets. At stake in this match up would be the inside track to the district title.

The bulldogs got the scoring started in the first quarter on a 40-yard run by DeMarcus "Mo" Smith for a TD. Brandon Lofton added the point after and the dogs were up 7-0 with 6:33 left in the first quarter.

A bulldog mishandled punt led to a Hornet touchdown with QB D. Moore scoring from 6 yards out. The extra point was good and we were all knotted up at 7 a piece heading to the second quarter.

The bulldog running game took over again. Derrick Berry for 17 yards; Roderick Scruggs for 5 yards; back to back runs by QB Jeremy Modkins brought the ball down to the Hornet 28; Smith to the 17. Then a penalty on the Hornets set the dogs up with a first and goal from the eight. Two plays later, Smith scored his second touchdown of the night. Lofton's point after was good to make it 14-7 bulldogs.

The ensuing offensive series by the Hornets went no where. The bulldog "D" led by Brandon "Big Cotton",Drews, Lofton, Danny Sadler, C. Armstead and Will Johnson would give no ground. Two quarterback sacks and the Hornets were forced to punt.

Neither team would move the ball and both teams headed to their lockers with Marlin up 14-7 at the half.

The third period opened with the Hornets hitting a 29 yard field goal on their first offensive series to cut the lead to 14-10. Then the Hornet "swarming" defense force a bulldog punt and the momentum seemed to be shifting.

BUT...on a first and 10 from their own 17, Hornet QB Moore's pass was deflected into the air by Cornelius Armstead and defensive lineman, Will Johnson was "Johnny on the spot" as he plucked the ball out of the air and ran nine yards for a touchdown. The point after by Lofton was good and the score was 21-10 and the Hornet crowd had been "stung."

There would be no more scoring in the third period but the Hornets wasted no time in getting on the board to start the final period. QB Moore hit receiver T. Miller for 46 yards and then came right back to Miller for 24 more yards for a touchdown. An unsuccessful 2 point conversion left the score 21-16 bulldogs with nine minutes left in the game.

The bulldogs would answer back. Desmond Watson returned the kickoff to the Marlin 47. On first and ten, Modkins picked up six yards to the Hornet 47. Mo Smith moved the chains again reaching the Hornets 35. Working the clock by keeping the ball on the ground it was Smith scoring his third touchdown of the night from 24 yards out. The point after was no good but the lead grew to 27-16 with five minutes remaining.

The Hornets wouldn't quit. They need only three plays to "sting" the bulldogs again to cut the lead to five with just over four minutes remaining.

The Hornets then tried an on-sides kick but Modkins recovered at the bulldog 48. All the dogs needed now was a time consuming drive. But in only 58 seconds the bulldogs scored again as Modkins scored on a bootleg left from 49 yards to ice the game and make the final Marlin 33 Gatesville 22.

The bulldogs return home this week for Homecoming where they will take on the Cameron Yoemen. Kick off is 7:30 pm.

See ya at the game!

Marlin ISD
Created August \999 -- last revision October 1999
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