KFDM COOP Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 Vidor ground game has been awesome Van Wade The Orange Leader VIDOR — The Wing-T offense has been soaring in “Pirate Country†these days. All the Vidor Pirates have accomplished in two weeks is average 407.5 yards a game, 395.5 of it coming on the ground as they’ve jumped out to a 2-0 start for the first time in six seasons. Paving the way for the running attack are linemen Brian Patin, Calvin Strother, Matt Newby, James Burns, Colton Carr, Chase Graves and center Scotty Utterback along with tight ends James Larramore and Matt Johnson. “Most of those guys are juniors and they’ve been just outstanding,†said Pirate coach Jeff Mathews. “Those kids have been through some fires. They ran as a good scout team as freshmen and learned a lot by playing a lot last year. They’re really clicking well.†Those benefitting the most are fullback Theron Reynolds, tailback Shane Pittman and quarterback Chris Teinert. Reynolds has bulldozed his way to 319 yards and two touchdowns on just 39 carries and had 207 yards in a 26-10 win over Houston St. Thomas last week. Pittman has broke loose for 259 yards on 24 carries, averaging 10.8 yards a tote. Teinert has 76 yards and has acconted for four rushing TDs. “Those guys have been running hard,†said Mathews. “They give such a hard effort and are full blast each play.†Mathews’ biggest concern is the turnover bug. The Pirates have coughed up the leather seven times in two games. “I hope we can get those mistakes out of our system this week,†said Mathews. “The fumbles have been tough because we’ve stopped drives on our own, not by our opponents. We’re still making silly penalties, like lining up offsides on defense or getting false starts. Defensively, what else can I say. We’ve stopped two pretty good offenses the last two weeks. We’ve bent but haven’t broken.†Next on the Pirates’ agenda is a road trip to Sour Lake Friday to face the 0-2 Hardin-Jefferson Hawks. H-J lost its opener 22-0 to Cleveland and fell to Woodville 14-11 last week. “We know H-J is 0-2 but they have plenty of talent and I’m sure their kids want to have a good showing at home,†Mathews said. “They have some good-looking skill people and they have guys on defense that like to fly to the football.†It will be the Pirates’ last non-district contest with District 20-4A starting Sept. 26 at Beaumont Central after a bye week Sept. 19. “With one non-district game left, there are plenty of areas that the kids know they have to improve on,†Mathews said. “District 20-4A is going to be tough and going to Central to start things off is no bargain.â€
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