Marlin ISD

The "Little Colonel," Kevin Diles took over for the "General," Jeremy Sanders, who sustained a shoulder in the first quarter and led his team to victory over the Goats ofrom Groesbeck. On the night, Diles had 89 yards rushing and one touchdown while throwing for 96 yards and two touchdowns. The victory was the dogs 37th straight win in district without a loss and gave them their 8th district title in a row without a defeat

Jazz Thomas intercepts a Goat pass and takes it back 38 yards for yet another Bulldog touchdown!
Make It Eight!

(Notice the jersey # above)

It nearly took 4 hours in perhaps the longest regulation game ever to be played at Legion Field but the Dogs finally prevailed and sent the Goats back to Groesbeck with their tails between their legs in a crushing 53-26 victory to win their eighth district title in a row without a defeat!
In a game marred by penalty flags the worse that could happen to the Dogs just might have happened even though they won. QB Jeremy Sanders suffered a shoulder injury in the first quarter and did not return. Sanders was to undergo an MRI Monday morning to see the extent of his injury.
One could tell that Halloween must be near as the fans were "treated" to a game that had a little bit of everything. Sanders injury, 20 penalty flags, an ejection and referees…oh well better not go there. Lets look back at the "treats" of the game.
On the Dogs first possession they had good field position that was set up by a super run back by Kenny Evans. Then behind the passing of Sanders the Dogs moved into Goat territory before a fumble on a 3rd and nine gave the ball back to the Goats.
Starting at their 43 the Goats took eight plays before getting on the board first as Tony Taveras scored from 27 yards out. Chris favors added the point after to give the Goats an early lead, and their only lead at 7-0.
The Dogs would answer back. Kevin Diles returned the kick off 33 yards to the Goat 39. Taking only one play from there it was Sanders running for 39 yards to the end zone. Craig Contreras added the point after to knot it at seven.
The Dogs would take the lead on their next possession. Starting at their own 20 yard line with 3:20 left in the opening quarter Sanders starts the drive by hitting Jones over the middle who makes a sensational one arm catch of the ball for a 33 yard gain. Then on a third and fourteen Sanders runs for 12 setting up a 4th and two. The call is to go for it and the call goes to Travis Miller who's determined run and second and third effort not to go down squirts free and gets the first down. On a second and ten its Sanders calling his own number up the middle, 26 yards before being knocked out of bounds at the Goat 10 yard line. (I believe this is where the injury occurred to his shoulder) Sanders remains in and picks up five more and then runs one more time to score. Contreras' point after is good and the Dogs go up 14-7. The sad part is that Sanders is seen dragging his right arm as he hids for the bench. This touchdown by Sanders turned out to be his last play of the night as he sustained that shoulder injury. Dr. Kelly Czajkoski was seen looking at the shoulder on the sidelines and as mentioned earlier, Sanders was to undergo an MRI on Monday to see the extent of the injury. We will all be praying for Jeremy!
The game though must go on and the Dogs, with their General on the sidelines would have to turn the offense over to their "Little Colonel," Kevin Diles. Folks he might be short in statute but this kid has a BIG heart and he can play some football! NO doubt about it!
The Dog "D" would also have to step it up now. And they do so on the Goats next possession, holding them to five plays and out and forcing a punt.

The Dogs begin their next drive on their own 33-yard line and the "Little Colonel," Kevin Diles leads his troops to the field. First three plays not much going but on a 4th and six, Diles scrambles and picks up a first down. Then with eight minutes before halftime Diles passes to Danario Alexander for a 28-yard touchdown. Contreras adds the point after to make it 21-7.
The Bulldog defense led by Jonathan Thomas, JoQuinn Brooks, Matthew Bailey, Demetrius Freeman, Matthew Phillips, Brian Parr and Jazz Thomas to name just a few again hold the Goats at bay. And with 6:29 left before the half the Goats are forced to punt.
Just when you think the Dogs are poised to strike again and put seven more up - disaster strikes. A fumble on first down, a gain of only one yard on second down, nothing on third down and the Dogs must punt. The Goats defense rises up and block the punt setting up a first and goal at the three. From there Jimmy Jefferson, the speedster only has to travel 3 yards for the touchdown. The point after is good and the Goats are right back in it, down only seven with 2:48 left in the half.
Again it's Diles leading the Dogs. And this time it's through the air once more. Diles hits Kenny Evans for a 51-yard touchdown toss and with the point after by Contreras the Dogs take a 28-14 lead to the lockers.
Moving to the third quarter, the fans were "treated" to something you don't see much at Legion Field from our Bulldogs - a field goal! The Dogs began their second half first drive at the 27-yard line and moved the ball on the ground behind the running of Diles and Miller into the Goat red zone. After three passes fall incomplete, Contreras comes trotting on the field and casually kicks a 28-yard field goal to make it a 31-14 Bulldog lead.
Then with 1:47 left in the quarter Diles adds a rushing touchdown of his own from 10 yards out and the lead grows to 37-14.
Moving to the final quarter the Goats would finally find the end zone again. Facing a 3rd and ten at the Bulldog 29 yard line, Goat quarterback, Cody Wilson hits Jefferson for a short pass that Jefferson shows his speed with and takes the ball all the way to the Bulldog six yard line as the quarter ends. From there it would be Wilson hitting Charlie Curry for the touchdown. The Goats try for two brought the Bulldog fans to their feet as they are "treated" once again for something that doesn't happen very often. Evans who takes the ball 98 yards the other way all the way for two points for the Dogs picks off Wilson's pass for two points. Dogs go up 39-20.
Then with 7:23 remaining in the game JazzThomas adds to the dog-scoring column as he picks off a Wilson pass and runs it back 35 yards for a touchdown. Contreras again is true on the point after and the lead grows to 46-20.
But the Goats didn't lie down and eat any more grass! With 5:18 to play they would tally one last time. This one would again be through the air as Wilson hits Curry one more time. This one covers 32 yards. A tackle from Melvin "Tank" Hopkins stops the try for two and the Dogs hold a 10-point lead at 46-26.
That score would hold up until just over a minute to play. The Dogs faced a 4th and 16 from the Goat 39 and Contreras was called on to punt. But it's a little "trickery" for the Dogs as Contreras fakes the punt, runs left, show some speed, follows his blockers all the way for 37 yards down to the Goat two! Talk about 'trick" or "treat" A little of both! From there it is "MILLER TIME" as Miller scores to make the final 53-26.
So the Dogs finish a perfect 4-0 in district, wrapping up yet another district title for the eighth time in a row, undefeated over those eight years in district may I remind you as well. Now they await the playoffs and the status of their #1 QB, Jeremy Sanders.
The dogs have a bye this Friday night, time to mends some wounds and get ready for another run in the playoffs, which will start November 11, and 12.
On the night Marlin rushed for 300 yards with Diles leading the way with 89 yards on 14 carries. Miller added 87 yards on 10 carries and Sanders had 85 yards on eight carries before he left the game. In passing Sanders was 4/7 for 58 yards while Diles threw for 96 yards on ten attempts.
The Bulldog defense, though giving up 26 points, held the Goats to 91 yards rushing and only 77 yards passing for a total of 168 yards.

Marlin ISD
Created August 26, 1997 -- last revision Dec 2005
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