Wishbone Attack
Buries Oilers 40-20
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By: TED DUNNAM, Pearland Journal, 10/05/2006 |
New
technology will allow Tony Heath to micro-analyze his team's 40-20
loss to Clear Lake last Friday.
But the Pearland head football coach doesn't need detailed
printouts. He doesn't need photographic color imaging.
He doesn't need the latest zoom tool to determine what happened to
the Oilers in front of a homecoming crowd.
All the state-of-the-art gadgetry in the world isn't necessary to
sum up Pearland's shocking start in its District 24-5A opener.
"We weren't ready to play," Heath said. "If we were, it was under
false pretenses."
Clear Lake scored on its first six possessions, running roughshod
over the Oilers with the seldom-seen wishbone.
The Falcons needed to punt only once in the game, and put the ball
in the air only twice. It was that easy.
"We missed assignments on defense, had eight penalties, we weren't
physical," Heath said. "You can make all the excuses you want to,
but the bottom line is that Clear Lake beat us.
"But you can't dwell in the past or you'll live in the past. We've
got to get ready for Brazoswood."
As far as the big picture is concerned, the Oilers are still in
great shape. They have five district games remaining, and after all,
four teams from District 24-5A area playoff-bound this year.
While a district title may be out of reach unless Clear Lake loses
twice or a multi-team tie occurs, the Oilers should still
comfortably make the playoffs. Unless they come out flat
again.
That's not likely, though. The Oilers travel to play Brazoswood this
week - the fourth unbeaten team Pearland will have faced this
season.
"We had a great workout Monday, and the kids have moved forward,"
Heath said. "Brazoswood's a very good team. Scheme-wise, they're not
doing anything different from last year.
"They've got a good running back and a good quarterback. They're
just doing everything better."
Hopefully, not as good as the Falcons did.
Pearland opened the game with an impressive 17-play, 80-yard drive
that consumed almost eight minutes and ended with James Williford's
one-yard touchdown plunge.
Then came a 45-minute lightning delay. Soon after, Clear Lake's
thunder would take its toll.
The Falcons responded with a 15-play, 61-yard march that culminated
in quarterback Andrew Decker's 2-yard touchdown run for the
equalizer, leveling the game at 7-7 with 8:42 left in the half.
Pearland came right back to take a 13-7 lead on a 25-yard touchdown
run by Foswhitt Whittaker, who finished with 165 yards rushing.
However, the PAT kick was blocked and returned for two points for a
13-9 score.
"I thought that turned the game around," Heath said after the game.
The Falcons then scored on drives of 65 and 61 yards to close out
the first half, collecting the latter touchdowns just 12 seconds
before intermission. The momentum of that 23-13 halftime lead
carried over into the third quarter.
The Falcons took the second half kickoff and need just four plays to
cover 71 yards, highlighted by a 60-yard run by Richard Porfirio.
Ronnie Feaster's four-yard TD run capped the drive and Lake was well
in control with a 30-13 lead with 10:04 left in the third quarter.
A Pearland fumble set up another Falcon score with Decker leading
Lake's relentless wishbone attack down field. The Lake quarterback
capped the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run for a 37-13 lead with
5:49 remaining in the third quarter.
Pearland closed the gap to 37-20 on a 12-yard run by Whittaker, who
gained 63 yards in the 74-yard drive, with 3:47 showing in the
third.
Lake, though, turned back any thoughts of a Pearland comeback by
holding the ball for 10 plays before settling for a 20-yard field
goal by Dylan Dement at 10:25 of the fourth quarter.
"The kids played great on both sides of the ball," Clear Lake head
coach Troy Aduddell said. "Drew (Andrew Decker) did a great job of
reading the option all night. We just had a great offensive scheme."
Five running backs gained at least 58 yards for Clear Lake, led by
fullback Michael Grant's 99 yards on 16 carries. Decker finished
with 77 yards on 21 attempts and scored three times on runs of 2, 2
and 8 yards.
The Falcons hammered the Oiler line 55 times for 365 yards rushing.
Lake's only completion in two attempts covered 37 yards.
"We knew going into the ballgame it would take a great effort to
beat Pearland," Aduddell said. "A lot of people had said we had
played kind of a soft schedule coming into district, but I think the
kids showed that wasn't the case.
"I thought we did a good job of having the right people in the right
places tonight." |
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