Marlin ISD

 Three Down & Three To Go!

Bulldogs ground the Eagles

It was cold but it was exciting as Marlin will move on to the quarterfinals as they came from behind to down the Eagles from Newton 14-7 at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville on December 1.

Marlin won the toss and deferred to Newton, who opted to receive. With the wind behind him Mo Smith's kick off sailed through the end zone, preventing any type of run back by the Eagles. So they set up shop, first and ten from their twenty. Keeping it on the ground they moved it out to the 44 before the dog defense, led by Jimmie Quinn and Thaddeus Freeman separated the ball from the carrier and recovered a fumble at midfield.

The bulldog offense began to move with a run by Mo good for 16 and a first down. But the Newton defense got tough and prevented Marlin from getting any closer as the ball went over on downs.

Newton then began a drive that took fifteen plays and covered 73 yards - they needed 74 and didn't get it as the dog defense held the Eagles out on two tries from inside the one!

Marlin though couldn't move the ball too far as penalties forced a punt into the wind from the seven. Newton would take over in excellent scoring position at the bulldog 34. On a second and ten, Will Gulley, found room to run down the far sideline and made it all the way to the end zone for the Eagles first and only TD of the night. The PAT was good and Newton had a 7-0 lead with 5:30 to go in the half.

On the ensuing kick off, Mo had a good run all the way to the Newton 44. But the dogs couldn't muster any more offense from there and the teams headed for their lockers at the half.

After receiving Newton's kick off to start the second half, the Marlin offense still couldn't get going and had to punt back to Newton. The Eagles themselves couldn't do anything on offense and they to had to punt. It was a good one as the ball rolled dead at the six.

On first down, quarterback Jeremy Modkins picked up eight yards. Two plays later the dogs faced a fourth and two from their own 14. Then perhaps the play that turned the game. Modkins audibled a fake, took the snap and passed to Jock Johnson for a five yard pick up to the 19. Oh what a risky play BUT it worked - FIRST DOWN DOGS!

Smith then picked up three yards on first down and on second down, Modkins found Smith wide open over the middle for a 33-yard completion to the Newton 45. Derrick Berry then ran for four - Modkins hit Desmond Watson for nine and the dogs were barking loud at the Eagle 30!

A personal foul on Newton moved the ball to the twenty and then a pass interference moved the ball to the ten. And the dogs were barking now! On a third and goal, Modkins threw a bullet to Smith in the end zone who went low to catch the ball for a touchdown. The dogs then faked the point after and threw a pass to Mo but the pass fell short and the try for two had failed. But hold everything - Newton off sides! This time Derrick Berry bulled straight ahead and scored and the bulldogs took the lead 8-7 with only 44 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

As we moved to the fourth quarter, the Eagles had the wind behind them, they had a field goal kicker and they began their march from their own 12 yard line. Mixing the pass and the run they were soon on the bulldog 37. But the dog defense said "No more." Facing a fourth and eight from the 35, Eagle QB, Logan Greer's pass was picked off by Desmond Watson and returned 68 yards for a touchdown. The point after was wide right but the dogs were up 14-7 with 4:06 to play.

Kicking into the wind gave the ball back to Newton at the 49. The defense though would rise again and held the Eagles on yet another fourth down attempt. The dogs only needed a couple of first downs and this game was won. But this time the Eagles defense held Marlin and the dogs were forced to punt. A mishandled punt attempt was recovered by Newton at the dog 33 and the Eagles had one last shot. On first down, with seconds left on the clock, a halfback pass was picked off at the one yard line by Jock Johnson and the dogs had "snatched" the last chance away from the Eagles. QB, Modkins took the snap, dropped to a knee and it was sweet victory!

A sigh of relief and a time to breath easily once more for the fans - so we move on to face the Cameron Yoemen in the quarterfinals next Friday night at 7:30 p.m. - Kyle Field, College Station.

Should be another great ball game. See ya there!

GO BULLDOGS!

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

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