Klein Oak vs. Klein Collins

Freshman Gold

October 16, 2008

Klein Collins runs over Klein Oak Freshman Gold

By Russ Goodall

The Klein Collins Tigers used a stout running game and a solid defense to shut down the Klein Oak Freshmen Gold 27-14 on Thursday at Klein Collins High School.

The Panthers (5-1) managed just 168 total yards of offense in the team’s first loss of the season.

While the Panthers were struggling on offense, the Tigers were chewing up yards in chunks.

Klein Collins used big plays – including 11 for more than 10 yards – to dominate the Panthers from start to finish.

After both teams punted to start the game, Klein Collins got its offense going.

On the second play of the drive, the Tigers struck paydirt on a 70-yard touchdown pass to take the early 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Klein Oak Gold began on its own 23. The Panthers – led up front by offensive linemen Omar Rojas, Derrick Downing, Tanner Choppy and Samuel Vela, marched 77 yards on 11 plays – most coming on the tough running of Blake Ashford and Rock Stevens, with the final two yards coming on a Conner McQueen run. The kick was blocked, but the Panthers had pulled within one at 7-6 heading into the second quarter.

Collins opened the second quarter on the move. The Tigers went right down the field and scored on a 5-yard run on to go up 14-6.

The Panthers and Tigers failed to move the ball on their next possessions, before Klein Oak Gold had a chance on offense to do something again.

This time a holding penalty halted the Panthers before they could get the drive rolling. On the ensuing punt, it appeared that the Tigers had fumbled the kick and the Panthers had recovered deep in Klein Collins’ territory.

But the officials ruled the runner down by contact and put the ball back in the Tigers’ possession on their own 21.

Klein Collins then, despite an incomplete pass and a personal foul penalty, used runs of 65 and 25 yards to put the Tigers in business deep in Klein Oak Gold territory. The Tigers then got a 1-yard plunge by the quarterback with just 11 seconds remaining in the half to take a 21-6 lead into the locker room.

The Panthers opened the third quarter with the football, but after getting a quick first down on an 11-yard run by Ashford the Panthers were forced to punt again.

Collins took the football and after three runs for 10, 13 and three yards, the Tigers struck again with the big play – a 35-yard TD run. The kick failed, but the Tigers were firmly in control at 27-6.

The Panthers were not ready to roll over and give up.

Klein Oak Gold took the kickoff and went on a march of its own.

After a quick 3-yard run by Ashford, Steven broke off four straight runs of 13, 9, 4 and 8 yards, before McQueen went to the air and found Lance Fegan down the middle of the defense for a 29-yard TD pass. McQueen then barreled in on a 2-point try to cut the lead to 13 points at 27-14 with over four minutes to play in the third quarter.

From there, both defenses clamped down.

The Panthers got big stops from Luis Avelino and Adam Walker, as well as fumble recoveries by Jonathan Torres and Adam List.

But while the defense was shutting down the Tigers, the Panthers’ offense could not find their way into the end zone the rest of the way.

The Klein Oak Freshmen Gold will look to get back in the win column when it hits the field again at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday when the Panthers host Spring.

KLEIN COLLINS 27, KLEIN OAK FRESHMAN GOLD 14

Score by quarters

Klein Collins              7          14        6          0          –          27

Klein Oak Gold         6            0        8          0          –          14

Scoring Summary

First quarter

COLLINS: No. 2  70 pass from No. 14 (No. 27 kick), 4:53

OAK GOLD: Conner McQueen 2 run (kick blocked), 0:10

Second quarter

COLLINS: No. 43  5 run (No. 27 kick), 8:23

COLLINS: No. 14  1 run (No. 27 kick), 0:11

Third quarter

COLLINS: No. 43  35 run (kick failed), 6:52

OAK GOLD: Lance Fegan 29 pass from McQueen (McQueen run), 4:04

Team Statistics

                                    KC                  OAK

Firs downs                  15                    10

Rushes-yards               38-268             27-110

Comp-Att-Int              1-3-0                6-14-1

Passing yards              70                    58

Total yards                  338                  168

Fumbles-lost                5-2                   1-0

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: Oak Gold – Blake Ashford 12-34, Conner McQueen 2-2, Rock Stevens 12-78, J’Corey Solomon 1-(-4).

PASSING: Oak Gold – Conner McQueen 6-14-1-58-1.

RECEIVING: Oak Gold – Lance Fegan 2-47, Blake Ashford 2-16, Justin White 2-(-5).