10/27/2004

Brook-Lake contest highlights gridiron slate

By: CHUCK HLAVA , Citizen Staff

Winner assured of post-season spot

The scenario Friday's Clear Brook-Clear Lake football game is quite different than in the past few years.
That's because the winner is assured of a spot in post-season. The loser may not make it.
But hold on. Because of the tightness of the District 24-5A race and what happens during the next two weeks, it's possible that, no matter who wins, both Brook and Lake will be in the playoffs.
So the game actually does mean something to both teams since a win will send either the Falcons or the Wolverines to post-season.
Brook (4-1, 6-3 overall) and Lake (3-1, 7-1) are part of a group of four teams, each with one loss in 24-5A. The other two are Alvin (3-1, 5-3) and Pearland (3-1, 7-1).
And, unlike last season when the Falcons cut a swath through district to finish unbeaten, projecting a winner between Lake and Brook isn't exactly crystal clear. That's because Lake defeated Pearland, but the Oilers downed Brook. Alvin whipped Lake but, last week, the Wolverines upended the Jackets.
The Wolverines would like nothing better than to triumph over Lake and secure the playoff spot because Friday is their last regular season game. All other teams in 24-5A will play next week. This year everyone had a bye week and Brook drew the card for the final week of play.
The game is also Clear Lake's homecoming. Festivities will begin at 7 p.m. and kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. in District Stadium.
Clear Brook spotted Alvin a brief lead last Friday before roaring back for 21 straight points to inflict the first district loss to the Jackets, 24-13.
The Falcons, well rested, had a bye week.
Clear Lake has completely dominated the Wolverines for the last several years. Brook has scored a total of only nine points against the Falcons in the previous four games.
That's little comfort for Clear Lake coach Troy Aduddell who hopes the Falcons will play much better than they did in the 31-13 loss in Alvin on Oct. 15.
"We worked on some things and got some people healthy," Aduddell said of Lake's bye week
"We watched the game films of our loss to Alvin and saw what mistakes we made. We didn't block and we did other things poorly."
The blocking was a main concern during this week's preparations.
"We have an unselfish offense, but we need to block at each position," Aduddell added.
Aduddell and his staff are well aware of how far Clear Brook coach Edward Arledge has brought the Wolverines in his two-year tenure. Prior to 2003 Brook had won only one game in two seasons.
"They are coached well, have very talented kids and great weapons. We can't play like we did against Alvin and expect to win," Aduddell said.
The Wolverine's win over Alvin in District Stadium was Brook's homecoming and the players weren't sidetracked by the weeklong celebration. Aduddell feels the Falcons will react the same way.
"The kids are pretty mature and know this could distract them, but they know what is at stake in this game," Aduddell said.
On the other side of the Gulf Freeway, coach Arledge also has watched game films, but these are from last year's 14-3 loss to the Falcons.
"We gave up the ball on fumbles on several occasions and we can't do that," Arledge said.
Therein lies the strategy to defeating Clear Lake.
"We have to play well on offense and not make any turnovers," Arledge said. "On defense we can not give up the big play.
"Clear Lake is a well balanced team. Fundamentally, they're very sound. I feel like if we can stay with them in the fourth quarter we have a shot."
The Wolverines will have to stop the district's No. 1 rusher, Lake quarterback Scott Oswald, who has 1265 yards for the season.
In the big win over Alvin, it looked like the Wolverine defense did give up the big play on the Jackets' second drive in the first quarter when Dwight Goffney bolted up the middle for 80 yards, offsetting Brook's early 3-0 lead. That run put Alvin up 7-3 only three minutes into the game but the Wolverines basically shut down the Jackets from then on.
But that was actually Goffney's last hurrah in the game as the Wolverine defense limited him to only 38 more yards the rest of the night. That included Goffney's four-yard scamper for the final touchdown of the night midway through he fourth quarter after Brook already attained a 24-7 lead.
Brandon Valovich kicked his fifth field goal of the season, a 31-yarder for Brook's early 3-0 lead. He was also successful on all three PAT's.
Alvin actually retained that 7-3 lead into halftime until the Wolverines began throwing more and enjoying it a whole lot more, showing that they can be unpredictable.
Brook quarterback Corey Sonnier hooked up with Matt Bandini for three scoring strikes, two in the third period and one in the fourth. The second touchdown was set up by Carlos Frank's 29-yard gallop for a first down. Frank had 24 carries for 101 yards on the evening. Frank is also heading for the 1,000-plus yard plateau and has 955.
In the third period the Sonnier to Bandini touchdowns covered 45 and 23 yards and, a 54-yarder in the fourth where he was wide open. Bandini shook off two would-be tacklers and rambled into paydirt territory on his second score.
The Wolverine aerial show caught Alvin flat-footed, as Bandini hauled in five passes for 152 yards. Several times he was wide open.
"We knew we had to throw the ball," Arledge said of Brook's second-half change of pace. "To be a complete team you have to throw the ball and we haven't beaten anybody throwing all season long so this was nice."
Sonnier completed 6-of-15 for 175 yards and those three touchdowns. That's more yards and scores than in his previous games combined.
Clear Brook received stellar play from its defense, which never allowed the Jackets back in the game after Goffney's long run. Cory Barlow blocked an Alvin field goal attempt in the second period after the Wolverines committed what could have been a costly error. Because of a high snap forcing Barlow, Brook's punter, to fall on it on his own 9-yard line. Barlow, who also leads the district in punt returns, then blocked the Alvin field goal try.
A second high snap over Barlow's head in the third period could have been costly and even a game-turner but Alvin was flagged with a penalty and Brook held on to the ball.
"The kids did a great job in the game," Arledge said. "Our offensive line blocked well."
Alvin may have the toughest road to climb the next two games. The Jackets host Galveston Ball (0-3, 1-6) on Friday and end the regular season at Pearland on Nov. 5. Clear Lake ends the regular season at Ball on Nov. 5.