|
By Brandon Williams, The
Daily News, Published October 9th, 2005
LEAGUE CITY — Darrell Warden’s Clear Creek
Wildcat football team started the week with a 20-game losing
streak.
They ended it by taking a share of first place in District
24-5A.
Jeremy Brooks’ 8-yard touchdown run with 8:04 remaining put
Clear Creek ahead to stay, and the Wildcat defense stopped
Clear Lake on downs to preserve a 31-27 win Saturday night at
District Stadium, giving Creek a 2-0 start in league play.
“Our kids have been getting better every week,” said an elated
Warden. “We saw in practice, but now we’re starting to see it
between the lines.”
The win improved Clear Creek to 2-4 ove-rall, leaving them a
half-game behind Pearland, which defeated Ball High, 17-14,
Saturday afternoon. The two teams will play Oct. 28.
Brooks’ game-winner came just 24 seconds after Austin Yancy’s
1-yard run closed the gap to 27-24. Two plays after the
ensuing kickoff, Falcons running back T.J. Brown committed the
seventh fumble of the night for Clear Lake (2-5, 0-3). Brandon
Burton picked up the loose ball and ran the ball back to the
Falcon 15, setting the stage for Brooks’ heroics.
Clear Lake rolled up 460 yards on the ground and marched
downfield on a 15-play drive that put the Falcons at the
Wildcat 13, but fullback Geno Blow was held a yard short on
4th and 3 with 1:06 remaining, allowing Clear Creek to run out
the clock and deliver a crippling blow to the Falcons’
postseason hopes.
“The defense had just one day to prepare for them,” said
Warden. “They did a tremendous job of coming up with turnovers
and setting our offense up to score.”
Clear Lake led 20-10 late in the third quarter and appeared to
be on the verge of pulling away when Burton blocked a Ken
Tabata 28-yard field goal attempt. The play sparked the
Wildcats, who then waltzed 64 yards on seven plays, capping
the drive with Keegan Malbrough’s second touchdown of the
night, a 5-yard jaunt that closed the margin to 20-17 with
2:12 left in the period.
The Falcons responded by hammering the ball with their ground
game. Runs of 20 by Blow — who finished with 232 yards on the
night — and 15 from Joe Clark set up quarterback Jonathan
Gilmer’s third touchdown of the game, a 8-yard run on the
first play of the fourth quarter to give Clear Lake a 10-point
lead for the second time.
“This team goes about their business,” said Warden. “They stay
focused and don’t let things bother them. They’re maturing as
a team.”
 Save
 Mail
 Print
|
