Young Pirates aim to slow down Jones

[KFDM COOP]

Young Pirates aim to slow down Jones

Van Wade

The Orange Leader

VIDOR — A few “young guns†got their first taste of Friday night football last week for the Vidor Pirates.

This week, the youthful Pirates will be seeking their first win of the season Thursday night by taking on the Houston Jones Falcons Thursday at 7 p.m. at Barnett Stadium in Houston.

The Pirates (0-1) battled defending TAPPS Big School champion Houwston St. Pius tooth-and-nail last week before falling 19-13 at Pirate Stadium.

“I thought our kids busted their tails on every snap last week against a top-notch football program,†said Pirate head coach jeff Mathews. “It was tough for us because we were basically playing without six starters. We had eight sophomores that really stepped up and met the challenge though and that’s going to make us a better football team down the road.â€

The Pirates actually could’ve had St. Pius on the ropes but four turnovers proved too costly.

“The effort was awesome all night and the kids were pretty much penalty-free,†Mathews said. ‘Defensively, we did some great things to slow them down. Unfortunately for us, the turnovers really hampered us all night because we moved the ball well.â€

Vidor held a powerful St. Pius unit to just 259 total yards. The Pirates managed 207 yards, 185 of it coming via the ground.

Senior quarterback Roman Franklin led the Pirate ground game with 79 yards on 12 totes.

Jones (0-2) ventured to Vidor last year and the Pirates pounded the Falcons 43-0.

The Falcons finished 2006 0-10 but did return eight starters on both sides of the ball. Jones is led by the likes of sophomore quarterback Aaron Taylor, tailback Lamont Wilson, who returns after 612 2006 yards and receiver Titus Johnson.

The Falcons fell to Friendswood 33-0 last week.

“That score they (Jones) had against Friendswood is a little deceiving,†Mathews said. “Friendswood is always pretty darn tough and it was just a 7-0 game at the half. Jones turned the ball over a bunch in the second half though and it would be nice if we could get them to do the same.â€

Mathews is certainly concerned about slowing down the speed of Jones.

“They remind me a bunch of some of those old Lincoln teams,†Mathews said. “They’re extremely fast and strong. They’re capable of making a big play on you at any time so we definitely need to keep them in front of us.â€

The Pirates are just looking for a win and also looking to get healthy before Livingston comes to Vidor Sept. 21 in the Pirates’ last non-district game.

“We think that by next week, we’ll have several kids back that are nursing injuries,†Mathews said. “We’re counting on the young kids to step up again and play just like they did last week. They gave a tremendous effort and they’ll rise up and they can do it again.â€

[raidernaytion]

Pirettes  :

[TradinUp BH]

I think Vidor will suprise some people this year.

[KFDM COOP]

Every team in this District has a shot this year.

[tvc184]

Well if Vidor doesn't beat Jones like a drum, they won't have much of a chance.

Jones has managed 179 total yards of offense in two games and averaging 1.3 yards per carry on the ground. Vidor playing Jones is roughly the equivalent of Nederland playing Forest Brook last week.

[piratefan]

Well if Vidor doesn't beat Jones like a drum, they won't have much of a chance.

Jones has managed 179 total yards of offense in two games and averaging 1.3 yards per carry on the ground. Vidor playing Jones is roughly the equivalent of Nederland playing Forest Brook last week.

I agree

[24 over par]

vidor gets it going this week good luck pirates