Sandies Fall to Warriors, 34-7
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
THE WOODLANDS – When the Sabine Pass Sharks dropped football last season it created a hole in the schedule for teams in District 12-2A DII. As a result, the remaining teams in the district went from a 10 game schedule to a nine game schedule.
One of the teams to drop to a nine game schedule was the Grapeland Sandies. Last year, the Sandies opted not to fill the hole and played a nine game regular season. This year, however, the Sandies opted to fill the void.
Big things are expected of Grapeland in the playoffs this year and to fill the hole the Sandies agreed to a game against a highly ranked TAPPS team – The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors.
Grapeland came into the non-district contest with a record of 7-1 while The Woodlands sported a perfect 8-0 mark.
The game was supposed to be a benchmark for the Sandies to see what they needed to work on as they prepare for the playoffs in two weeks. Grapeland has already locked up the number one seed out of District 12-2A DII and will face the fourth seed out of District 11-2A DII – probably the Frost Polar Bears – during the week of Nov. 15.
The game started off with both teams trying to get a feel for one another. Neither team was able to generate much offense until Warriors’ QB Aaron Monsivaiz connected with wide-out Caedmon Parker on a 20-yard TD. The extra point was good and gave The Woodlands an early 7-0 lead.
The Sandies have been strong defensively all year but one chink in their armor has been the multi-back set, which the Warriors exploited.
During the second quarter, the Warriors continued to mix in the pass with their ground attack, but as they got closer to the goal line, they began to feed RB Austin Boyd who eventually found the end zone from five yards out to make the score 14-0, after the PAT.
That was the way the half ended and when the second half began, things didn’t get a whole lot better for the Sandies. Boyd added another five-yard TD in the third quarter and a 10-yarder to start the fourth, which made the score 27-0.
After a Monsivaiz rushing TD made the score 34-0, Grapeland got it’s only touchdown on the ensuing kickoff. Cadarian Wiley fielded the ball inside his own 10 and worked his way up the middle of the field before he found the edge and took it 94-yards to the end zone. BJ Lamb added the extra point which made the final score 34-7.
The Sandies wrap up the regular season this week as they travel to Saratoga on Friday for to take on the West Hardin Oilers. The Oilers are 4-5 on the season and 2-2 in district play. Last week, the Oilers were shellacked by the Lovelady Lions, 42-6. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
