Marlin ISD

District play opened for 19-3A as the Marlin Bulldogs hosted the Mexia Black Cats at Legion Field. Friday the 13th, full moon and facing the Black Cats. If you are superstitious - things looked bleak for the dogs.

As it turned out, some strange things did happen - The bulldog offense did not run a play until midway through the second quarter; the bulldog offense did not score a touchdown until five seconds were left in the third quarter; the Mexia offense had 12 first downs to Marlin's 2 in the first half. BUT the score at the half was Marlin 14 and Mexia 0. On to the game recap.

Marlin won the coin toss and deferred to Mexia, who elected to receive. An eleven play drive by the 'cats moved the ball to the dog 20-yard line. Then on the next play, the dog defense knocked the ball loose, Mo Smith picked it up for Marlin and raced 78-yards untouched for the touchdown. Smith's PAT was good and the dogs were up 7-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Blackcats again began a good drive, moving down field rather easily to the Bulldog 10-yard line. Here again came disaster for Mexia as Marlin defensive back, Matterial Richardson picked off a pass at the five and 95 yards later he was celebrating with other team members in the Blackcats end zone. Smith's second point after made it 14-0 and the dog offense still hadn't ran a play.

The Blackcats took the next kickoff and the offense managed only to get to the Marlin 45 where they had to punt.

The game now was midway into the second quarter when the first string offense finally took to the field. They would touch the ball for only two offensive series in the half as both teams went to their lockers with the dogs up 14-0.

Marlin would score their third touchdown of the night (their first offensive TD) with only six seconds left in the third as Smith scored from on-yard out. Mo added the point after to make it 21-0 dogs.

Mo played a BIG part in the dogs next score as he intercepted a Blackcats pass and returned it to the Cat 29. After an illegal procedure call moved the ball back to the 34, Derrick Berry ran for 11 yards and then 4 yards. QB Jeremy Modkins picked up five more to the 16 and then Berry ran the final leg to the end zone. The PAT attempt by Smith was blocked but then Smith picked up the ball and ran it into the end zone for two points. Score Marlin 29 and Mexia 0.

Modkins then picked off a Mexia pass on the Blackcats next possession and the dogs were barking again. Great runs by Berry brought the ball to the Blackcats 19 where Modkins, following his blockers to the T, kept the ball around the right side to the end zone. Smith added the point after and it was all bulldogs 36-0.

The Blackcats finally got on the board with under two minutes left in the game. Back up quarterback, Willie Jefferson hit Gavin Collins on a 15-yard scoring pass. Tony Contreraz added the point after to make the final score 36-7.

On the night Mo Smith had 235 all purpose yards:

2 interceptions covering 70 yards; a fumble recovery for 78 yards and a TD; rushed for 87 yards and a TD; and accounted for 18 of the 36 points scored.

Next up a grudge match with the Robinson Rockets at Robinson on October 20 at 7:30 p.m.. The bulldogs last year defeated the Rockets in district play by a score of 30-7 but the Rockets came back and knocked the bulldogs out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals by a score of 13-7 in over time.

See you at the game!

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

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