Texas Wins The Bayou Bowl Over Louisiana!

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Texas evens the score with Bayou Bowl win

Johnny Thomas returns an INT in the win

By Ahmard Vital

Texas HS Recruiting Analyst

Posted Jun 8, 2008

There were plenty of sacks, interceptions, and hard-hitting action going on Saturday night at Stallworth Stadium for the sixth annual Bayou Bowl. After the performance put on by the Texas team, the Lone Star boys snapped the three-year streak that was held by the Louisiana team. TexasPrepInsider was on hand for the game and talked with Texas coach David Snokhous about the game.

At the sixth annual Bayou Bowl Saturday night at the Baytown Stallworth Stadium, all-stars from the state of Texas and Louisiana faced off in what turned out to be a hard-hitting, state-pride representing battle.

In the end, the team from the Lone Star State evened the series to three apiece, after a three-year win streak from Louisiana, with a 24-14 win over the Bayou state team.

“It’s a good feeling because I thought for a minute we might have lost it, but our kids bounced back and responded well,†Texas coach David Snokhous said. “When you have a bunch of kids out here like this who can play, (he told all of the kids that both teams have equal talent) it comes to the team that makes more plays.â€

And the play that sealed the deal for the Texas team’s victory was a 12-yard interception returned for a touchdown by Derek McGahee (Clear Creek).

But to start off the game it was Louisiana making the initial first noise when Zach Albin (Sulphur, SLU) picked off a pass on Texas first drive. A few plays later Randall Mackey (Bastrop, Ole Miss) connected with high school teammate Edward Patterson (TCU) on a 15-yard touchdown pass.

But Texas responded. About a minute and a half later, Braden Smith (Rockwall, SMU) found Darius Bolden (Cy Falls, Texas State) streaking down the sideline. Bolden caught a 43-yard pass and took it in.

Louisiana’s Champblain Babin (Donaldsonville, McNeese) got loose on the next drive and put the Bayou team in good field position. But the drive was halted when the Lone Star’s Johnny Thomas (Texas City, Oklahoma State) intercepted a pass on the 3-yard line and returned it passed midfield.

After Jeremiah McGinty (North Shore) found Bolden for a first down, McGinty kept the hot streak going when he found Michael Smith (Westside, Connecticut) from 8 yards out for a touchdown.

Defensively, both squads held their opponents and kept each other out of the end zone for the rest of the half. Before halftime Michael Littleton (Galveston Ball, Sam Houston) intercepted a pass in the end zone and Louisiana’s Derreck Dean (MC 35, ULL) recovered a fumble.

Texas went into halftime with a 7-point advantage, but added to that in the second half kicker Colin Baker (Cy Creek, Colorado) made a 21-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-7.

Defense would come through big again for Louisiana when Jamie Payton (Dutchtown, Lambuth) intercepted a Texas pass. The Bayou boys would capitalize when Mackey found Alfred Franklin (Kentwood, JUCO) in the end zone on a 53-yard touchdown.

But when it came down to it, the Texas defense came through big in the second half. Along with the McGahee interception, players like Blake Chavis (Beaumont Westbrook, Texas A&M) and Bernard Obi (Pearland, UTEP) harassed the Louisiana quarterbacks with plenty of sacks and hurries.

According to Snokhous, it was a total team effort and he tips his hat to a tough Louisiana squad. But, he said there is something about playing football in the Lone Star State.

“These kids came to play and Louisiana has great high school football out there and it’s obvious with LSU and the success they have had,†Snokhous said. “And here we are in Texas. I told these kids before we came out here, there’s a reason we are Texas high school football and there is one thing you will be able to walk away and say later on.

“You can tell people I played the best high school football in America because Texas high school football is the best. We had to go and prove that tonight.â€

[82 5A State Champs]

Cool....it's good to see some of our local players have such a positive impact on the outcome of the game. Good job, guys!

[BearWolf]

way to go guys

[bronco1]

Chavis was a beast, I was impressed.

[bronco1]

Chavis was a beast, I was impressed.

By the way it will be televised tonight(6/9/08) on FSN @ 7:00pm