Marlin ISD

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Bulldogs Nest The Eagles

The second Eagle has landed.. After taking care of the Hillsboro Eagles in the Bi-District game last week, the Bulldogs "nested" the Newton Eagles (3rd time in four years) in the Area match up played last Saturday night in Huntsville by a score of 35-21.

Behind 190 yards rushing and one touchdown by D'Nerian Wrighter, who took over for the Tank who was nursing a sore wheel (ankle) and 2 late interceptions by Red Richardson with 35 seconds in left in the game. (One returned for the touchdown that iced the game) the Bulldogs will play on… into the Regional Game this week against an all too familiar foe - the La Grange Leopards.

Lets now look back at how this game played out with a feisty bunch of Eagles that just didn't want to fly home empty handed.

The Eagles had first possession and the Dog Defense was up to the cause holding them three and out. The Eagle punt only carried 20-yards and the Dogs took over with their first possession in Newton territory at the 47. On their first play from scrimmage they went to the Tank who was fueled and picked up 9 quick yards. On second down, QB Thaddeus Freeman hit receiver Cody Malone for four yards and a first down. Back came the Tank for two more yards and then Wrighter on his first carry of the night, breaks loose for 16 yards on a 3rd and eight call and another Bulldog first down at the Eagle 14 yard line. The dogs were barking early folks. Tank for 10 more to the four - 1st and goal! Two plays later, Freeman finds a wide-open James Giddings in the end zone for a touchdown. Daniel Ronquillo hits the extra point and the Dogs are up 7-0 early in the first quarter.

On Newton's second possession they again are snuffed by the Bulldog defense. Ronquillo's kick off sails into the end zone and the Eagles started at their own 20. Running back Sam Foster goes for one yard. Then a fine defensive play by Stephen Woodward throws Foster for a loss of three. Third and 12 - and the Eagles get penalized for delay of game. Third and 17 - QB, Logan Greer hits Bryan Smith good for 10 yards but not enough for a first down and the Eagles have to punt.

The Dogs second offensive possession begins at their own 35. Red for two yards, then after a five-yard penalty on the Dogs, they go to a little trickery play that doesn't turn out too well and the Eagles recover a fumble at the Marlin 37. Eagle running back Ty Hopkins takes a handoff and goes Eagle running back Ty Hopkins takes a handoff and goes for 25yards to the Bulldog 12 -yard line. The Bulldog defense steps it up a notch from here though. On the next play Hopkins is thrown for a loss by Eric Venegas. Then LaKendrick Washington and Jimenez corral Greer after only a two-yard gain. This brings up a 3rd and nine from the 11. The Eagles stay with the run but another fine play by #53, Woodward brings down Hopkins at the eight as the quarter ends. (Three plays net a total four yards)

To start the second quarter the Eagles faced a fourth down and tried a 23-yard field goal that was short and the score remained 7-0 Dogs!

Back on the field came the Bulldog offense. Behind a massive size offensive line, Freeman runs for 16 yards, then five more. Second down results in no gain setting up 3rd and five at the dog 39-yard line. "Who you gonna call?" Wrighter Baby - TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE! 61 YARDS __TOUCHDOWN!! Ronquillo adds the point after and the Dogs go up 14-0.

But Newton would answer back. After a short kick off the Eagles take over at midfield. And they only needed one play to cut the lead in half. Foster up the middle - 49 yards - touchdown Eagles. LaKendrick Bevil added the point after and all of a sudden we had a game on our hands folks.

Newton again got a turnover on the Dogs next possession as a Freeman pass was picked off by Joe McLemore at the Newton 46 with 7:43 left in the first half. But the Dog defense once again would rise to the task with Sadler, Jimenez and Tank leading the way as they forced the Eagles to have to punt. This is where a somewhat controversial play happened if you're a Newton fan. Red couldn't get a handle on the ball inside the ten and the ball went into the end zone and was knocked thru the back line. The Eagle coaches and players were signally safety and wanted two points. But the refs said touchback - 1st and 10 dogs at the 20. The Dogs went to the running game once again. Thad for 15 yards behind a super block by Jimenez. Red goes for 13 yards and a personal foul (face mask) on the Eagles moves the ball down to the Newton 23. On top of this penalty comes an unsportsmans like call on the Eagles, which moves the ball to the 12. Then Freeman throws a pass that just goes off the fingertips o f Jimenez in the left corner of the end zone. On the next play, Freeman scrabbles around the right side for 12 yards and another Bulldog touchdown and with Ronquillo's point after the Dogs go up 21-7 with just over five minutes left in the half.

Another short kick off and the Eagles set up shop at their own 32. An early Christmas present for the Eagles on the next play. A pass from Greer goes off the intended receivers fingers (well covered by the Dogs) and ends up in the hands of McLemore who goes 63 yards for a touchdown and with the point after the Eagles are right back in the game down only seven at the half.

The second half had the Eagles kicking off to the Dogs. Red returns the kick off 16 yards and then Freeman on the first play from scrimmage hits Anthony Simms on a beautiful pass and catch that covers 42-yards to the Newton 33. Wrighter for seven to the 26. Wrighter again fro three more yards. But then the Dogs ran into some trouble moving the ball. After a run looses six yards- an illegal procedure call against the Dogs puts the ball back at the 33 and we were facing second and 21. A short pass to Simms picks up 4 yards making it 3rd and 17. A delay of game on the Dogs makes it 3rd and 22. And then an intentional grounding call on Freeman and the dogs faced a 4th and 36. Definitely a series the Dogs don't want to remember. PUNT - Ronquillo gets off a super punt that cover over 40 yards down to the Eagle six-yard line. The Eagles managed to get the ball out to the 13 where they face a 3rd and 3. Hopkins gets the call and just makes it to the first down marker. Hopkins again for three. On a second and seven - Jimenez with another big defensive play for the dogs as he throws Foster for a two-yard loss. Third and nine - Another big play for the Eagles as Greer hits Kedrin Seastrunk and 79 yards later the Eagles are knocking at the door at the three yard line (Wrighter prevented the touchdown catching Seastrunk from behind). But on the very next play, Hopkins high steps into the end zone and with the point after we were all tied up at 21 -21 with 4:40 to play in the third. It seemed as the big "MO" had shifted a little!

The Dogs would have to answer back. They needed something BIG to happen. They needed something to quiet the Eagle fans. Facing a second and nine at their own 21 the Dogs got just what the Doctor ordered - Once again - "Who You Gonna Call?" The D Man - D'Nerian Wrighter - takes a handoff and motors 39 yards down to the Newton 40. D again for four more yards, then he carries for two more. Third and four - Freeman hits Malone who takes a vicious hit but holds on to the ball for a 12-yard gain. Time out Dogs with 1:19 left in the third. After a first down play looses three yards they turn again to Wrighter. He picks up six then ten more - FIRST DOWN DOGS at the Eagle 10 as we head to the final quarter.

First play of the 4th quarter D takes it to the seven. Freeman gets it to the four and the Eagles are flagged for a facemask putting the ball at the two - first and goal. But the Eagle defense puts on a goal line defense and snuffs the dogs on two tries and then a penalty on the Bulldogs puts the ball back at the five. Third and goal and a time out by the Dogs. Well I've said it once and I've said it twice and here we go again - "Who you gonna call?" The D-Man Baby -As Wrighter PLOWS his way determined to find that end zone standing up - TOUCHDOWN. Ronquillo hits again to make it 28-21 with nine minutes to play. The crowd begins to shout DEFENSE - DEFENSE -DEFENSE and that's exactly what the Dogs bring.

After a nice return of the kick off is nullified by another Eagle penalty Newton starts at their own 28. Another fine play by Jimenez throws Hopkins for a loss. Then Washington delivers a blow on Hopkins for another loss - this one for four yards and the Eagles get nowhere and have to punt.

Just what the Dogs need. Possession of the ball, leading by seven in the last quarter. But the Newton defense would play tough and force Marlin to punt with five minutes to play. A Newton defender runs into Ronquillo trying to block the punt and it looks like an automatic first down for the Dogs. But the penalty is only for five yards and the Dogs needed six so instead of 4th and one the Dogs decline the penalty and Newton has the ball 80 yards away from a tying score.

Time once again for the Defense. #42, Washington blows through the Eagle line and sacks the Eagle QB for a seven-yard loss. Second and 17 with three minutes to play and another flag on the Eagles. Second and 22. A pass completion LOOSES four yards. Third and 26 with 2:20 to play from the four. A pass incompletion brings up a 4th and 26 and the Eagles are forced to punt. Another outstanding defensive stand by the Bulldogs.

Bulldogs take over at their own 47 with two minutes to play. The Eagles won't quit and they again hold the Dogs using up their time outs and forcing another punt. This punt is killed at the five-yard line by Mical Roberts. Now the Eagles must go 95 yards in one minute. Three incomplete passes sets up a 4th and ten. On the far side sits #5 - Red Richardson - throw it this way one more time - Logan drops back looks right and throws - its complete - BUT complete to the wrong man - RED returns it 17 yards - ITS Turn Out The Lights The Party's Over - TOUCHDOWN DOGS. And the Dogs move on - Final Marlin 35 Newton 21. (Red would add one more INT on the Eagles last possession. TWO INT's in 35 seconds!)

So now it's onto the Regional finals where the Dogs will face La Grange.

Game Day: Saturday, November 30
Game Time: 7 PM
Game Site: Viking Stadium in Bryan

Marlin ISD
Created August 26, 1997 -- last revision September 2002
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