KFDM COOP Posted September 28, 2007 Report Posted September 28, 2007 ‘Dogs hope to light up scoreboardPA NEWS GAME OF THE WEEK: VIDOR AT NEDERLANDBy Tom Halliburton The Port Arthur News NEDERLAND -- Place your bets in one of District 22-4A parlor rooms as Vidor's impoverished bingo players visit Nederland's high-roller casino gamblers in Bulldog Stadium. ... It's all about a completely different level of class.... or at least the Vidorians and the Nederlanders have two entirely different looking scoreboards these days. Among Nederland's many football assets which would interest Jeff Mathews, the brand-new jumbo scoreboard in Bulldog Stadium's southwest end zone elicited superlatives from Vidor's ninth-year head coach on Wednesday. Mathews watched as Nederland clicked off barely enough touchdowns to outlast Waller, 21-14, two weeks ago. He also had a chance to observe that brand-new Nederland scoreboard. "I went and saw that new scoreboard," the 40-year-old Pirates boss noted. "It's pretty awesome." If Vidor could duplicate last year's 28-24 victory over Nederland on that scoreboard tonight, Mathews might have enough Orange County followers in his corner to request the Vidor school district to build its own monster board. Vidor (1-2) and Nederland (3-0) stand far apart in season records through this year's non-district schedule. Mathews accented the obvious difference in those records, taking the poor boy's route toward Nederland Ave. Of course, Jeff's counterpart -- Nederland head man Larry Neumann -- totally disregarded those meaningless pre-district numbers. Mathews might have the public believe that Vidor would occupy Poverty Row and Nederland would belong among the richest of the rich. Neumann merely remembers last year's final score. Nederland had trouble at Pirate Stadium. Team leader Micah Mosley got hurt. And the 55-year-old Neumann likely will wear very few smiles on his face prior to the 7 o'clock homecoming night kickoff. "You don't have to look very far to get motivated to play them," Neumann said. Mathews and his Pirates will conduct their annual "Nerd Rally" today at Vidor HS. Don't be surprised if Jeff's team accuses Larry's team of piling on a time or two in this district opener. Jeff already was playfully accusing Larry of piling on by picking the Vidor game for Nederland's homecoming, as well as the 50-year reunion celebration for Nederland's 1957 AAA state champions. "They have both the 50th reunion of the state champions plus homecoming," Mathews said. "That's just our luck.... But really, coach Neumann and that staff have built a great program. Every year, everybody says 'they lost (Micah) Mosley, they lost (Brad) Sullivan and they find a way to get better. This year, they lose their quarterback (Ryan Sampere) and they just find a way to get better." If Nederland truly belongs among the richest of 22-4A's rich -- and that certainly remains to be determined -- the Bulldogs' defense figures to be the primary reason for such upper-class NHS status. Strongside end and UT pledge Dravannti Johnson can play with anybody. Middle linebacker Chris Gutierrez has performed at the caliber of Dravannti and then some in his first three games. Opposite end Wareall Grogan has shown signs of college-level performance, too. Nederland's statistics belong in the middle of 22-4A's pack so far, yet two of its three opponents -- Brenham and Waller -- likely figure to be playoff powers out of 18-4A. The Bulldogs also have sustained two major injuries. Senior QB Ryan Sampere (ankle fracture) likely is out for at least the regular season. Senior defensive tackle Jeremy Stewart (knee strain) is regarded as questionable for tonight.
Recommended Posts