From The Houston Chronicle, September 3, 2004

Sept. 11, 2004, 12:52AM

Clear Lake tops Baytown Lee to go 3-0

By NIKI HERBERT

LEAGUE CITY -- At first glance, there's little that is intimidating about Clear Lake's Scott Oswald.

At 5-11, 190 pounds, the senior quarterback doesn't appear to be much of a threat.

But you don't get to be the District 24-5A offensive most valuable player just because your team was the district champion.

Oswald proved his value with a display of grit and speed during a 45-10 non-district victory over Baytown Lee on Thursday night at District Stadium.

From slithering through hosts of defenders, to carrying defenders with him to a first down, to downright outsprinting the defense, Oswald led the Falcons' attack, which gained 561 total yards.

"He's matured a lot and he's good at putting our team in good situations by reading what the defense gives," Clear Lake coach Troy Aduddell said. "He's grown a lot in this offense and it's his second year in it.

"He's a tremendous athlete. We have a few of them here."

Oswald had 189 rushing yards before halftime. Forty-nine seconds into the second half, Oswald had pushed that total to 252 yards when he went 73 yards -- including a 60-yard touchdown run -- in two plays to give the Falcons (3-0) an insurmountable lead at 31-10.

Oswald finished the night with 259 yards on 14 carries and completed three of five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown pass.

Backup quarterback Jonathan Gilmer relieved Oswald with four minutes remaining in the third quarter and Clear Lake leading 38-10.

"I didn't expect to run much because we had practiced on running the fullback all week," Oswald said. "But I saw what the defense was giving us and took it.

"I worked out a lot this summer. I had the agility but I needed the speed. I worked on speed and I guess the hard work has paid off."

Clear Lake fullback Geno Blow added two rushing touchdowns and Ronnie Feaster added a touchdown run for the Falcons.

"In the first game, we fumbled seven times, then five in the next game and to just have one (fumble Thursday night) is good," Aduddell said. "It was a total team effort. The guys did a nice job out there."

Lee (1-1) scored first when Tadeo Cavozos connected on a 24-yard field goal with 9:07 on the clock in the first quarter.

After Clear Lake fumbled the football on its first drive after Lee's game-opening scoring drive, the Falcons' defense made up for the offense's gaffe by causing a Ganders turnover and setting up the offense at the Baytown Lee 44-yard line.

The Falcons needed seven plays to score, with Oswald hitting a wide-open Jeff Giesenger on a 13-yard touchdown pass.

"He does a good job running their wishbone," Baytown Lee coach Dick Olin said. "He's a good athlete.

"He's good for their offense."

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