Published September 10, 2005

BAYTOWN — Lee and Clear Lake got into a shootout Friday night and the Ganders ran out of ammunition first.

After going toe-to-toe with the Falcons in the first half to the tune of a 35-32 deficit, REL’s defense proved to be no match for Clear Lake’s Wishbone attack in the final two quarters, as the visiting Falcons rolled to a 63-39 victory at Stallworth Stadium.

Clear Lake (2-1) ran the ball at will, racking up 629 yards rushing. Fullback Geno Blow was the main ground guzzler, scorching the Ganders for 224 yards rushing on 18 attempts. Included in that was touchdown runs of 76, 70, and 11 yards.

Falcon halfback Joe Clark added 151 yards on six carries, while quarterback Jonathan Gilmer had 106.

“We just didn’t play very well,” said REL head coach Dick Olin, who saw his Ganders fall to 0-2 on the season. “Against the Wishbone you have to play assignment football and we didn’t do that.”

But the REL offense contributed its share of fireworks, particularly in the first half. Quarterback Jeremy Moses hit Jonathan Williams for a 42-yard touchdown pass on the Ganders’ opening drive, and later added two touchdown runs of a yard apiece, both set up by big plays in the passing game.

Jarvis Moore also electrified the crowd with a 94-yard kickoff return after the Falcons had taken a 7-6 lead, and late in the first half, Moses hit James Cleveland in traffic for a 21-yard TD to pull REL within 35-32.

But the momentum began to make a subtle swing to the Falcons in the opening series of the second half. REL elected to go for an onside kick to start the half, and the gamble paid off, as kicker Tadeo Cavazos fell on the pigskin to give the Ganders possession.

But moments later, a 24-yard pass from Moses to Williams to the Clear Lake 19 was called back due to penalty. Then two pays later, Moses against Williams on a streak route down the left sideline, but the senior juggled the ball, and when he finally gained possession he was ruled out of bounds.

REL was forced to punt, and the Falcons mounted a 91-yard march to grab a 42-32 lead, and start to put some space between the teams.

“That opening series completely changed things,” Olin said. “We got the onside kick and then had the penalty and the juggled ball and didn’t score. And we had to keep scoring with them. We have no margin for error.”

Moses finished the night 17-for-37 for 333 yards and two touchdowns. He was also intercepted once. James Cleveland led the REL receivers with four catches for 99 yards, while Jamie Nettles caught six balls for 66 yards.

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