Published: October 08, 2008 01:47 pm            

Three lake area teams in district play Friday night

Mabank will be without two, possibly three of its top players when the Panthers travel to Red Oak Friday.

Those players will be sitting out a one-game suspension for their conduct during a bench-clearing brawl in last Friday’s 35-21 victory over Terrell in the Panthers’ District 15-4A debut.

The contest “terminated” with 7:48 left in the final period when officials called the game and ran off the field.

Coach Jimmy Cantrell refused to give the names of the suspended players, but admitted it would be obvious to Panther fans once the game is under way.

MISD School Superintendent Russell Marshall said the game-ending scuffle violated Section 1200 of the UIL Contest Rules.

Both Terrell and Mabank must now take corrective action, which Cantrell probably already did when he scolded his team after the game for leaving the sidelines.

The next thing the two teams have to do is take disciplinary action where it’s deemed necessary, and Marshall says those decisions will be made by the two coaching staffs.

The two or three players who are suspended for this game, represent the disciplinary action.

Quarterback Kolton Browning, who rushed for over 100 yards in the game, punished the Tigers repeatedly with a short-passing game in the second half — one that kept the Terrell offense on the sidelines and the chains moving for the Panthers.

The only disappointing area as far as football was concerned, was an off-night by Panther receivers.

They dropped footballs all night long that they usually hang onto.

At the same time, Jake Birch and Brandon Rasco came up with several spectacular catches between the drops.. Birch dropped one on the goal line with no one near him.

Terrell’s all out blitzing attack, hurt Mabank quarterback Kolton Browning’s normal accuracy at times, but he burned them badly on other occasions.

The Panthers scored on their first possession, going 61 yards in seven plays with Browning connecting with Birch for the touchdown.

Later in the first quarter, Browning hooked up with Rasco on an 81-yard scoring strike.

But Terrell countered with still 3:02 left in the first with a 48-yard touchdown pass, Logan Smith to wide receiver, P.J. Morris.

Less than two minutes into the second period, it was a new game at 14-14 after a five-yard run by Marquice Strange.

Terrell threatened to take the lead just before the half, but Nolan Duncan intercepted a Smith pass at the Panthers’ 17 and returned it to the 35.

Mabank went on a 12-play, 65-yard drive coming out of the dressing room.

Browning again hit Rasco for the touchdown, this time from 13 yards out.

Defensive back Darius Robertson picked off a second Smith pass on the next drive, returning it 23 yards to the Mabank 32.

Mabank continued its ball-control passing offense into the fourth quarter.

Anthony Hendrix made it 28-14 with 3:09 left in the third on a nine-yard run up the middle.

With 8:55 left, Browning scored from two yards out to make it 35-14.

That led to the Terrell touchdown drive which consisted of three plays, one a 21-yard completion, Smith to Morris, the other a 51-yard scoring pass, Smith to Josh Winfield.

That led to J. D. Simmons’ successful point after, which led to the brawl at the 7:48 mark.

DOGS PLAY MINEOLA

Doug Wendel’s Eustace Bulldogs have had a week to rest, and an extra week trying to figure out how to stop Mineolas’ elusive No. 34.

He’s 5-8 and weighs maybe 140 pounds. “But he’s fast,” says Wendel. “Not just quick, but fast.”

The Dogs are 2-3 so far. They could be 5-0 right now, give or take a play or two here and there.

They could also be 0-5, and Wendel sees nothing but more of the same as his team enters the second half of its schedule on the road in its district opener.

“We plan to change our road performances,” he said.

Wendel told his team it would have to fight for its life every Friday n night, and so far, that’s just about how it’s been.

The Dogs have lost twice on short-range field goals that were blocked.

Containing No. 34 will prove another stiff test, but moving the ball could be difficult, too.

“They have a very physical, aggressive defense,” said Wendel. ”They very multiple.”

He believes the team Mineola would like to open up its option game, but early in the season, that hasn’t happened, Wendel said.

“This will be an exciting game, obviously for Mineola, opening district at home,” said Wendel. “They made the playoffs last year.

Mineola is 3-2 for the season, losing to Edgewood, 48-40 and to Mount Vernon, 34-6.

Wendel plans to put a lot more on quarterback Chris Compton this week.

“We want him to check a lot of plays at the line of scrimmage.

“A lot of the calls I made were not good because of the adjustments the teams made against us.

“To maximize this offense, you have to have the ability to check to the best play possible,” Wendel explained. “We feel Chris has the ability to do that, and that the line has the ability to adapt.

“He’s very excited, and he’s responded well in every practice,” said Wendel.

Teams have been keying a lot on Trevan Johnson since his quick start, both offensively and defensively.

Teams have been keying on him ever since.

They’ve also been taking away the quarterback’s running.

Instead, they’ve dared fullback Shawn Baldwin to beat them, which sometimes he has.

All three backs have the ability to score from anywhere on the field.

Needless to say, Wendel and his coaching staff have been looking for ways to get more touches for Johnson.

“We need to play field position,” Wendel said. “We need to pin them down deep. They have big play ability but I’m not sure they can sustain a 15-play drive. We need make them go the distance.”

As for the district race, Wendel said Kemp, Mineola, Eustace, Wills Point, Van and Canton, all feel like they have a chance to make the playoffs.

“I feel like these five (non-district) games prepared us as best they can, and we’ll see improvement,” Wendel said.

KEMP GOES TO VAN:

The Cedar Creek Pilot was unable to reach Kemp Coach Greg Anderson for this week’s roundup questions.

The Yellowjackets are in Van Friday night, riding a two-game winning streak.

        

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