Crockett Dominates Grapeland, 48-8
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
GRAPELAND – In a much anticipated matchup, the Crockett Bulldogs traveled up US Hwy 287 for a matchup with the Grapeland Sandies. Grapeland was riding high after a 38-14 win over the Cayuga Wildcats moved them to a #2 ranking in Class 2A DII.
Crockett, on the other hand, was still smarting from a 38-32 loss to the Garrison Bulldogs in a game they should have won.
The stands were packed at Sandie Stadium in anticipation of a close game, but after the first quarter, it was all Crockett as the Bulldogs blasted the Sandies by a final score of 48-8.
The Sandies came out on fire. Grapeland won the toss and elected to receive which proved to be a wise move. The Sandies marched down the field using a balanced attack while converting some key third down plays to keep the drive alive.
Grapeland opened the game with the ball at their own 23. Cadarian Wiley picked up three on first down but a BJ Lamb incompletion and a delay of game penalty put the Sandies in a third and 12 position.
On the third down play, Lamb connected with Keizion Ashford for 22 yards and moved the ball out to the 40-yard line. Lamb picked up five yards on first down but a Lamb-to-Cooper Ward play resulted in no gain.
Once again faced with third down, Lamb picked up six yards to move the ball into the Crockett end of the field. After Wiley picked up a yard on first down, Lamb found Deco Bryant on the sidelines for 18 yards. Bryant made a spectacular catch as he got both feet in bounds before being hit by a pack of Bulldogs.
A pass interference call on the next play from scrimmage moved the ball inside the Crockett red zone and after Wiley carried the ball down to the one, Lamb slipped through a crack in the Bulldog defense for a touchdown. Lamb also converted the two-point attempt and with 6:29 left in the first quarter, the Sandies led 8-0.
Following the kickoff, the Bulldogs started their first possession of the game at their own 46. A 17-yard run by Joseph Porter, Jr. moved the ball to the Grapeland 37 but on the next play, the Bulldogs fumbled and the Sandies recovered at their own 35.
The Sandies were unable to pick up a first down and were forced to kick. The Bulldogs managed to pick up a first down on their possession but Grapeland’s D held their ground and forced a Crockett punt.
Grapeland took over at their own 31 with 2:17 left in the first quarter and began to drive. Wiley bulled his way for five yards on first down and then Lamb connected with Bryant for 11 more. Lamb sliced his way for 12 on the next play to move the ball to the 42 of Crockett and Dameion Smith plowed his way down to the 37 as time expired in the first quarter.
As the second quarter got underway, the momentum jumped to the Crockett side of the field. With the ball at the Crockett 37, Lamb was picked off by Cristian Brice who returned the ball to the Grapeland 18-yard line. Three plays later, Demuntreon Bedford plunged his way into the end zone to make the score 8-6 with 10:05 left in the half.
The try for two was no good, but on the ensuing kick, the Bulldogs executed an onside kick off attempt to perfection and recovered the ball at the 49-yard line. Just over two minutes later, Bulldog QB Jordan Bedford scored from 19 yards out to put Crockett ahead 12-6. Once again, the two-point conversion attempt was no good.
Grapeland’s next possession went nowhere and the Sandies were forced to kick. Unfortunately, the punt was shanked and the Bulldogs took over at the Grapeland 37.
After Porter picked up 22 yards on first down, the Bulldogs’ running back found his way to the end zone on the next play to extend the Crockett lead. D. Bedford managed to convert the two-point attempt and with 3:40 left in the first half, the Bulldogs now led by a score of 20-8.
Crockett wasn’t through scoring, however. The Bulldogs D held the Sandies on their next possession and forced a punt. Crockett took over at their own 40 and began to work TE Allen Horace down the field. Horace hauled in a J. Bedford pass for 14 yards on first down. After two incompletions and a loss of two, Bedford found Horace once again for 14 yards on fourth and 12.
Horace was unstoppable on the drive as he caught another ball for 12 and then with 52 seconds left, he caught a Bedford pass in the back of the end zone for six. Antonio Cruz knocked home the extra point and brought the first half scoring to a close with Crockett ahead, 27-8.
The third quarter saw both teams struggle offensively. As the clock approached the three-minute mark in the third, the Sandies were unsuccessful on a fake punt and gave the ball to the Bulldogs at their own 49.
From there, Brice picked up 23 and Emanuel Aldaco caught a 16 yard flare from J. Bedford to move the ball to the Grapeland 12. D. Bedford took it the rest of the way while Cruz added the PAT to make the score 34-8 at the end of three.
Brice tacked on a TD for the Bulldogs midway through the fourth quarter and Kar’vondrick Rhodes rumbled into the end zone with 2:03 left in the game to close out the scoring (Cruz made both XPs), as Crockett won by a final of 48-8.
The Bulldogs have a bye week this Friday while the Sandies hope to regroup against the Normangee Panthers at home on Friday, Sept. 20. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
