11/10/2004

Falcons host La Porte in playoff opener

By: CHUCK HLAVA , Citizen Staff

Second meeting for teams this year

Surviving a big test in Galveston on the last day of the football season, Clear Lake now turns its attention to the upcoming playoffs.
In their last opening round post-season games, the Falcons have had to contend with perennial state powerhouse North Shore. But Pearland's re-appearance in District 24-5A and boasting a larger student enrollment than Clear Lake has changed all that.
The Falcons are now in the smaller school Division II-5A while Pearland (9-1) is paired against unbeaten (10-0) North Shore in the first round in Division I-5A. The Oilers will have a difficult time but are playoff-tough and equal to the challenge.
The switch doesn't mean that Clear Lake (9-1) gets a breather, because Friday's post-season opponent in District Stadium is always-dangerous La Porte (5-5). Kickoff is 7 p.m.
The fact that the Falcons played the Bulldogs earlier in the season and won 35-17 means little. That was only the second game of the season and both teams have added some touches, especially La Porte.
Clear Lake is known for its running game (3,422 yards) with the passing thrown in when least expected or when most needed (428 yards).
La Porte's offense has been far more balanced this season (1,450 rushing, 1,700 passing).
Maybe the answer lies in the defense, where the Bulldogs have allowed opponents 254 yards per contest. Lake's defense gives up an average of 285 per contest.
Falcon coach Troy Aduddell knows that La Porte is savvier about Lake's offense and how to defend against it. Alvin did it by having its defense storm Lake quarterback Scott Oswald at every opportunity in the Jackets' 31-13 triumph on Oct. 15.
"They've got a great quarterback (in Boogie Anagnoston) and a solid overall game," Aduddell said. "We're going to have to play well if we want to win."
Anagnoston led District 23-5A in passing, throwing for nearly 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns. He completed 81 of 146 tosses and only had four intercepted.
Both teams are coming into the contest with close wins.
The Falcons overcame three turnovers to clip Ball 20-17. The Bulldogs downed Deer Park 27-20.
Clear Lake might have put more points on the scoreboard in Galveston if it hadn't been for three fumbles lost.
"Those fumbles happened at crucial times and you have to give our offense credit for coming back," Aduddell said.
Clear Lake had over 300 yards on the ground (10 in the air) against the Tors but those fumbles were momentum stoppers.
"We were moving the ball but that (fumbles) really hurt us," Aduddell added.
Ball took leads of 7-0, 10-7 and 17-13 before the Falcons rallied on Daniel McCalib's 26-yard run to make it 20-17 with 8:13 left to play. From there the Falcons hung on with their defense keeping Galveston out of the end zone.
"Our offense and defense played pretty good," Aduddell said.
It's the turnovers that worry Aduddell.
"I don't think we can put three on the ground in the playoffs and expect to win," he said.
In Galveston, the Tors tested Lake to the max.
"Some of the things like their speed option hurt us," Aduddell said.
Oswald had 128 yards rushing and scored the other two Lake touchdowns on scampers of 22 and 25 yards. His first TD tied the score 7-7 in the second period. Oswald led all 24-5A rushers with 1,500 yards and 24 touchdowns.
The Tors went ahead 10-7 on a 24-yard Logan Jackson field goal that ended the first half.
From there, however, Oswald went those 25 yards to put the Falcons up for the first time 14-10 in the third period. Galveston's Avery Curry then gave Galveston the lead back 17-10 when he went in from the four with 3:57 remaining in the third period. Curry scored the Tor's initial touchdown in the first quarter on a 26-yard pass from Reginald Thompson.
Clear Lake scored its winning touchdown by McCalib in the fourth quarter while keeping the Tors off the scoreboard. Geno Blow had 87 yards rushing for the Falcons while teammate Elrick Jones had 41.
Galveston managed 138 yards on the ground and another 111 in the air.
The Tors finished the season 1-5 in district and 2-8 overall.