Freshman “A” Team

Clear Lake

VS

Pearland

9.23.04

District play began this week with the Clear Lake Falcons hosting the Pearland Oilers. The early threat of heavy rains due to the presence of what was Hurricane Ivan, now a Tropical Storm, caused a concern as to whether the storm would make its way to the Clear Lake area, perhaps canceling the District match-up. But contrary to predictions, it turned out to be a very pleasant evening for High School football.

After winning the coin toss the visiting Oilers elected to receive the opening kick-off. A good kick saw Spencer Hayes and Michael Grant stop the Pearland runner at the 35 yard line.  On the first play from scrimmage middle linebacker Eric Alsop turned the Pearland running back to the inside where Trevor Riser put a hard hit on him knocking the ball loose. Free safety Michael Grant scooped the ball up and took it untouched into the end zone. The extra point was good by Phillip Crouch giving CL an 7-0 lead with less than a minute off the clock.

The following kick-off by Crouch sailed past the Pearland receivers into the end zone for a touchback. Starting on their own 20, Pearland mounted a drive primarily keeping the ball on the ground. Good tackles by Trevor Riser, Spencer Hayes, Daniel Moore and Cody Worthen along the way couldn’t stop the big runners from Pearland from working the Ball down to the CL 40 yard line. Then on a third and long, after stops on 1^st down by Michael Casavecchia  and 2^nd down by  Hector Ruvalcaba, and Michael Grant, the Pearland halfback broke loose from Ruvalcaba behind the line and took it up the middle for a 40 yard touchdown run. The extra point was good making it a 7-7 tie.

The following kick-off was dropped but recovered on the on the 20 yard line. After an 8 yard keeper on the option by QB Drew Decker, blitzing linebackers from Pearland stopped Decker and halfback Michael Grant behind the line for consecutive 2 and 3 yard losses forcing a punting situation. Drew Decker dropping back to punt got off a great punt, aided by a CL roll taking the ball all the way down to the Pearland 20, a net 50 yard punt.

Again Pearland mounted a drive despite good defensive plays by Riser, Hayes, Moore, Nick Adams and cornerback Sean Starling to end the first quarter with the score deadlocked at 7-7.

The first play of the second quarter saw Cody Worthen breakup a pass in the end zone followed by a running play with Daniel Moore and Eric Alsop slowing the Pearland halfback down long enough for free safety Michael Grant to deliver a crushing blow to make it third and 8.  On third and long, the Pearland QB, lined up from the shotgun formation, threw a good pass hitting his receiver on a post pattern between the CL defenders for a touchdown. The point after was good making the score 14-7 Pearland.

The kick-off was fumbled but picked up by Drew Decker and returned to the 35 yard line. The Falcons were three and out after Decker was tackled behind the line, fullback Kyle Powers after also being hit behind the line fought hard for a well deserved 3 yard gain, and Michael Grant again hit behind the line by another blitzing linebacker. The following punt went off the side of Decker’s foot giving Pearland the ball at the CL 45 yard line.

The first play from scrimmage following the punt ended up with Pearland receiving a huge break. After a pass to a Pearland Receiver on a post pattern was caught, CL corner back Cody Worthen hit the receiver knocking the ball loose with CL recovering the fumble. Even though clearly shown on film that the ball was loose long before the receiver hit the ground, the play was ruled down and the ball was given back to Pearland at the CL 22 yard line.

Strong safety Hector Ruvalcaba, obviously upset with the call, took it out on the Pearland halfback on the next play by delivering a bone jarring hit stopping him for a small gain. Unfortunately the next play yielded a run up the middle for a touchdown. With the extra point try good the score was now 21-7 Pearland.

Obviously still upset by the bad call, Ruvalcaba took the following kick-off all the way to the Pearland 20 yard line for a 50 yard return. The first play saw Grant pick up 8 yards on a good run after a pitch from Decker off the option. Worthen picked up 10 more on the next play running a counter to the left. On first down another blitzing linebacker coming in untouched hit Grant behind the line for a 3 yard loss. The next play was executed to perfection when QB Drew Decker turned the ball up field on the option and just prior to getting hit pitched out to the trailing back Spencer Hayes who turned on the afterburners and took it in for a score. The extra point was wide left making the score 21-13.

On the kick-off Kyle Barras and Daniel Moore stopped the Pearland runner at the Pearland 22 yard line. After a completed pass to the right flats with Starling making the tackle, an incomplete pass to the left side, the big Pearland halfback broke up the middle for a first down.  The next play was a pass to the left side that was deflected by Ruvalcaba falling incomplete. That was followed by another completed pass on a post pattern with Worthen making the stop. An in-complete pass on first down from the CL 25, followed by a completion took the ball to the 12 yard line. With time running out in the half Pearland threw an incompletion in the end zone on first down, then completed another pass to a receiver in the right flats before being knocked out of bound at the 1 yard line by Starling.  Back to back “Alley Oop” passes to the left corner of the end zone were broken up by Cody Worthen. On third and goal the Pearland QB kept the ball on a QB sneak into the end zone for an Oiler touchdown. Again the extra point was good making the score now 28-13 Pearland.

Austin Kirby took the kick-off to the CL 48 yard line, a return of 18 yards. With less than a minute on the clock CL attempted a halfback pass with Grant at QB and Decker at the halfback position. Not finding an open receiver Decker dumped the ball off incomplete towards fullback Kyle Powers. The last play of the half saw Grant take a pitch on the option around the right side for a 10 yard gain as time expired in the first half.

The second half started with Michael Grant returning the kick-off 20 yards to the CL 45 yard line. Back to back keepers by Decker on the option picked a few yards followed by an 11 yard gain for a first down by CL’s hard running fullback Kyle Powers. Three consecutive keepers on the option by Decker yielded another CL first down. After two more QB keepers by Decker picking up 7 yards, Spencer Hayes took the third down pitch on the option around right end for his second touchdown of the game. CL converted two points as Cody Worthen went in untouched after a pitch from Decker making the score 28-21.

The pursuing kick-off  by Crouch went to the 20 and the Pearland Return-man was met by Austin Kirby and Tyler David and taken down hard at the 37 yard line.  On the first play Pearland dumped off a short pass to the right side where Hayes and Starling made the stop for a 4 yard gain. The second down play was stopped at the line of scrimmage by Nick Adams, Aaron Martinez, Moore and Hayes. On third and 6 a pass in the right flats yielded 15 before being stopped by Worthen, Grant, and Ruvalcaba. Several running plays despite good tackles by middle linebackers Austin Kirby and Kyle Powers yielded two more first downs. A QB sack by Kirby and Michael Casavecchia, followed by another hard hit by Kirby put Pearland in a third and long. On third and long Pearland ran a well executed boot-leg pass play hitting a receiver for a touchdown. And for the fifth time of the game the extra point was good making the score 37-21.

After Austin Kirby returned a short kick-off to the 45, the Falcons went four and out turning the ball over to Pearland on downs.

Pearland kept the ball on the ground as good defensive tackles were made by Westly Tupa, Hunter Hicks, Nick Adams, Trevor Riser, and Aaron Martinez. Yet despite the efforts of the determined defensive front, Pearland was able to run the clock down to end the game with the score 35-21.

The CL Freshman “A” Team made big improvements this week allowing no turnovers and having only two minor penalties, which is what has hurt them in the past. This week they ran up against a very good Pearland Team. If our guys keep their heads up and continue to improve on understanding the difficult offensive/defensive system being taught to them by the CL Coaching Staff, this writer believes they will go undefeated the rest of the season.

Tom Worthen
QB Club Staff