Marlin ISD

3 Second Half Eagle Turnovers
Are Key To Bulldog Victory

Three key interceptions, (Wrighter, Smith and Jimenez) in the second half played a huge part in the Bull Dogs victory over Hillsboro on Saturday night in Temple as Marlin wins 38-22 and moves on to the Area Championship game this Saturday night in Huntsville.

It was a chilly night at Wildcat Stadium as turnovers by both teams led to most of the scoring. Our hometown Dogs pretty much controlled the game from the start as they built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. With 7:22 remaining in the first quarter the Dogs went seven plays in three minutes before Tank Smith scored his first touchdown of the night from 10 yards out. Daniel Ronquillo added the point after to give the Dogs a 7-0 lead.
Then with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter it was Red Richardson taking a pitch left from quarterback Thaddeus Freeman at midfield. A "nest" of Eagles looked to have Red pinned in at the sideline but somehow out came Red from the nest and 45 yards later - TOUCHDOWN and the Dogs were up 13 zip. Ronquillo added the point after to make it 14-0. This drive took 3 plays and only one minute to score! So with a 14 point lead still in the first quarter things looked pretty much in hand fro the Bulldogs.

But the Eagles weren't returning to their nest in Hillsboro quite so fast. They would cash in on a Bulldog turnover at the Marlin 23 yard line. Taking only five plays, the last one a five-yard run by Marshall Thompson for a touchdown, the point after was good and the Eagles had cut the lead in half to 7-14.

This is where the half would end and when it just began to look like the Dogs were going to run away with it - we had a game on our hands folks! Half-time stats showed both teams with five first downs. Hillsboro had a total of 70 yards (56 thru the air) while the Dogs were a few better at 85 yards.

In the second half the Bulldogs struck first. With 5:31 remaining in the 3rd quarter, Freeman threw a beautiful pass that tipped off the Eagle defender into the hands of TE Anthony Simms for a 47- yard touchdown. Ronquillo again was true on the point after to move the Dogs back in front by 14 points at 21-7.

Once again the Eagles fought back as their quarterback answered with a touchdown pass of his own. This one to Justin Brooks to make it 21-14 Dogs. The touchdown was set up by a 57-yard kickoff return by Donald Massey to the Bulldog 27 yard line.

Then a blocked punt had the Eagles poised to tie the game as they set up shop at the Dog 27-yard line and some of the Bulldog fans were getting pretty silent! No worry here folks - "Mr. Clutch," D'Nerian Wrighter picked off a Cockerham pass at his own five-yard line and ran it back to midfield.

And then right after the INT - Wrighter is on the receiving end of Freeman's' second touchdown pass. This one covered 25 yards and with Ronquillo's extra point - instead of a tie game the Dogs go up by 14 once again (28-14).

The Eagles though still wouldn't go away. Through the air they moved the ball to the Dog 31 yard line but Tank picked off a Cockerham pass to thwart another drive.

The Dogs would get a little more breathing room as Ronquillo connected from 40 yards out to push the Dog lead to 17 with 5:35 left in the game. (31-14)

Hillsboro added a late touchdown on a pass from Cockerham to Massey covering 41 yards. Massey then caught a pass for the two pint conversion to make it 31-22 Marlin but they would get no closer - The Tank busted loose from 39 yards out to answer the Eagle score and Mark Jimenez picked off another Cockerham pass to seal the victory.

So now the first Eagle has landed and the Bulldogs get ready to take on another Eagle squad from Newton. This will be for the Area Championship game and will be played in Huntsville at Bowers Stadium on Saturday, November 23 at 8:00 PM. This will be the third time in a row the Bulldogs have faced Newton in the playoffs. The last two were both games we will never forget. In game #1 - 1999 in a high scoring affair in which both teams combined for 989 total yards the Dogs were down by one point at 33-34 late in the 4th quarter. They had the ball at heir own 13 where QB Jeremy Modkins threw a screen pass to Derrick Berry and Berry ran it all the way back to the Newton 6-yard line where Mo Smith scored and the Dogs won the Regional match up 41-34. Then game #2 - 2000 - a defensive game that saw Newton hold a 7-0-halftime lead. The Dogs tied it late in the third went for two - made it and were up 8-7 with Newton driving for an apparent game winning field goal - but then Desmond Watson picked off an Eagle pass at the Bulldog 35 and returned it 65 yards for the touchdown. Final Dogs 14 Eagles 7.

Game #3 2002 - Results to follow! See you at the game!

Marlin ISD
Created August 26, 1997 -- last revision November, 2002
Please mail comments or suggestions to tsimpson@marlinisd.org

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