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The DeLeon Bearcats lost at home to a
strong Valley Mills Eagles team Friday night in a lightening shortened
football game by a score of 27-7. The teams only played three quarters
before the game was called for safety reasons.
“I thought we played great defense at
first,” said head coach John Ward. “We struggled getting our rhythm on
offense. The first game is important to work on the right formula and
the personality of the team.”
Although the first quarter ended 0-0, the third quarter showed the
most promise for the Bearcats, both on offense and defense.
 “We
finally began to get some offensive drives together and get the rhythm
right late in the game,” said Ward. “We also got to see what we need
to work on.”
The Bearcat’s first drive ended after
gaining only four yards.
The Eagle’s first drive ended after a
great defensive stop by Hunter Golden.
DeLeon’s second possession ended on their
own 34 yard line, giving Valley Mills the ball just before the quarter
ended at 0-0.
The Eagles put together a drive starting
on their own 45 yard line that extended into the 2nd quarter. Despite
good defensive plays by Chance Singleton, Tanner Winkles, Josh Beaty
and Mike Reyes, Valley Mills put together a 10 play, 55 yard drive to
score on a Dalton Piske keeper for the final two yards. The point
after failed. The Eagles led with 8:59 remaining in the second period
by a score of 6-0.
The Bearcats showed moments of
effectiveness on the next drive, including great blocking and a good
sweep right by Pedro Calzada for nine yards. After moving the ball
across midfield, the drive stalled. Calzado later left the game with a
sore knee.
After the punt slipped into the endzone,
the Eagles took over on the 20 yard line. Piske threw a flair pass to
the left that actually went backwards. It was missed by the receiver
and Cody Welch recovered the fumble for the Bearcat defense.
DeLeon started the possession on the
Eagle’s 15 yard line. Tanner Welch crashed the ball down to the 10
yard line on the first play, but the next two plays lost yardage. The
Bearcat’s 28 yard field goal attempt was partially blocked.
Valley Mills took over on their 23 yard
line with 4:02 remaining on the clock. They pushed out a scoring drive
that consumed all but four of the remaining seconds in the first half.
The series truly featured Valley Mills strength, Piske, both running
the ball on carries of 12 and 11 yards, and passing for four and 25
yards. Running back Landon Winn finished the drive by dodging tacklers
for a 20 yard scurry for seven points.
Piske kept the ball for a successful two
point after touchdown conversion.
The first half ended on the kickoff and
Valley Mills led 14-0.
The start of the second half was delayed
by the first lightening warning. After play resumed, the Eagles took
the kickoff on the 14 yard line and returned it 70 yards to set up a
short-fielded drive. Valley Mills only took two plays to punch the
ball in on another Winn run for the final 10 yards. The point after
kick sailed through the uprights, and the Eagles led 21-0 after only
31 seconds ran off the second half clock.
DeLeon took the kickoff and Welch advance
it 21 yards to the 46 yard line. On the first play, Kevin Smith took
the handoff and gained nine yards. An unintentional facemask penalty
was called on the Eagles, moving the ball to the Eagle’s 41 yard line.
A bad snap killed the series of plays,
causing the Bearcats to punt from the 44 to the 10 yard line.
Piske was also featured on the two play series that followed. After
carrying the ball for 18 yards on the first play, he completed a 72
yard touchdown pass to Michael Hubbard. The point after failed, and
with 8:23 remaining in the third period, the Eagles led 27-0.
Coach Ward’s coaching staff then began to
put the right pieces together for a successful drive. Placing Clayton
Stokes in as quarterback and Kevin Smith as running back began to pay
off dividends. Taking over on the 41 yard line, the Bearcat put a
drive together. Both Stokes and Smith had carries that sustained the
drive until it stalled on fourth down and three from the Valley Mills
40 yard line. Smith was dropped just short of the first down marker on
the fourth down attempt, but the team had effectively moved the ball.
The defense also stiffened on the next
series, driving the Eagles on a backwards march. After starting on
their own 38, Valley Mills had to punt from their own 19.
With the momentum beginning to change,
the Bearcats began their drive on the 49 yard line. A Stokes pass to
Welch netted 20 yards, and Kevin Smith carried the ball in for the
last 31 yards with 1:53 remaining in the 3rd period. The Eagles led
27-7.
Valley Mills kept the ball for the
remainder of the period, and the second lightening warning was
sounded. Both coaches agreed that the lateness of the hour and the
increasing weather risk called for the early termination of the game.
The Bearcats travel to Hico Friday night
for a 7:30 game against the Tigers. |
