schoolboardminutes

Tank Reaches 1,000 Yards Rushing On The Year
As Dogs Roll To Third District Shutout
With 33-0
Win Over The Lorena

The Bulldogs forced six turnovers and held the Leopards to only 129 total yards and moved to 4-0 in district play with a 33-0 win at Legion Field on Parent Night.

The win sets up the district title game next week at Cameron. Cameron beat Rockdale in "The Battle of the Bell" to move to 4-0 in district play.

Turning to the Lorena game…

The Leopards took first possession and were moving the ball a little easy on the Marlin defense as they moved into Bulldog territory. Then the Bulldogs got their first of six Leopard turnovers as Delvin Wright recovered a fumble at the Marlin 36 yard line.

On the Bulldogs first play from scrimmage, quarterback Thaddeus Freeman scrambled for a huge gain picking up 60 yards to the Lorena four-yards line. After a five-yard penalty on the Dogs, Freeman picks up seven yards to the two BUT a fumble gives the ball back to the Leopards.

The Marlin defense held the Leopards to three and out and forced a punt. Bulldog return specialist, Red Richardson brought the punt back 22 yards to the Lorena 28 -yard line. Mark Jimenez breaks tackles and picks up eight yards to the 21. Tank Smith gets one yards on second down bringing up a 3rd and one. The Dogs go back to the Tank on third down and he gets six yards to the 15. First and ten Dogs! Back to the Tank for one and then an incomplete pass to Anthony Simms brings up 3rd down. Jimenez gets the call and picks up five. Facing fourth down and four yards to go at the Leopard nine-yard line the Dogs call a time out. Who do you give the ball to - Bread and Butter Man - The Tank takes it to the house on fourth down and the dogs move on top 6-0. Daniel Ronquillo splits the uprights to make it 7-0 as the first quarter comes to an end.

The bulldog's second score was set up by a D'Nerian Wrighter interception. The dogs faced a 4th and 13 at the Lorena 23 yards line with 7:34 remaining in the half. The Dogs decide to go for it and Freeman fumbles the snap, picks it up, goes back to pass, mishandles the ball again, picks it up runs right then reverses directions and come back near side (runs about 20 yards sideline to sideline), twist thru would be tacklers, turns and jumps over another defender and out runs the rest and scores! Ronquillo adds the point after to make it 14-0 Dogs.

Another interception by the Dogs sets up touchdown number three. Brandon Fisher picks off a Leopard pass and begins returning it up field but for some reason the whistle blew and the play was dead at the point of the interception. First and ten Dogs. Freeman picks up seven yards and then on second down he throws a beautiful spiral pass over the middle to Anthony Simms who catches it in stride and 57-yards later - TOUCHDOWN DOGS! Ronquillo again is true on the point after to make it 21-0.

The Dogs added a safety just before the half to make it 23-0.

The second half was more of the same. Scoring by the Bulldogs and relentless defense led by John Sadler, Richardson and Wrighter. On the dogs first possession of the second half they start at their own 33-yard line. Three plays later Freeman scores his second touchdown of the night from 16 yards out. Ronquillo's point after is good to make it 30-0.

In the fourth quarter Lorena looked ready to score and prevent another shutout by the Dog defense. The Leopards had first and goal from the one with seven minutes remaining but for some reason they went to the pass - wrong decision - Wrighter picks it off at the goal line (his 2nd on the night) and returns it 37 yards to preserve the shutout.

A high point of the night for the Bulldogs was Tank Smith on his last carry of the night picking up 16 yards, which put him over 1,000 rushing yards on the year. On the night Tank rushed for 152 yards on 15 carries and scored one touchdown. Freeman added 140 yards on the ground with his two touchdowns and threw for 57 yards and one touchdown.

On defense Sadler led the team in tackles with 16 giving him 119 on the year.

Oh before I forget - the Dogs final score of the game came with 5:42 remaining as Ronquillo hits from 32 yards out for a field goal. This guy is really something to watch. He can kick it from 50-yards out! Wonder if the college scouts are watching! He could prove to be a very valuable player come playoff time! Way to go Daniel!

So the final game is all set up and should be a good one. Two undefeated teams in district at 4-0 will meet this Friday night in Cameron for the district title. Game time 7:30 PM.

See you at the game!

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