KFDM COOP Posted November 1, 2008 Report Posted November 1, 2008 Cougars handle Yellowjackets Carl Theiss Correspondent Published November 1, 2008 HOUSTON — Crosby traveled to Galena Park ISD Stadium on Friday ready to gain their fourth straight state playoff berth. With the defense playing lights out from start to finish, the Cougars punched their postseason ticket with a 20-7 victory over Galena Park in 19-4A action. Both teams struggled in the opening period to get their offense going. Each team lost a fumble and punted twice before Crosby’s offense came to life. On their first drive of the second quarter, quarterback Dominic Merka and running back Chance Casey moved the Coogs 66 yards in 12 plays, before Casey cashed in on a six yard dive play. Casey, who continued to nurse his groin injury, led all rushers with 83 yards on 12 first-half carries, before turning most of the rushing over to sophomore Forrest Tyler. Forrest ended the game with 61 yards on 19 carries. On the ensuing kick after the Casey touchdown, the Cougar’s set up the next score when Torre Manuel pounced on a Jacket fumble on Galena Park 32-yard line. Xavier Frank, on the first play of the possession, took a reverse 21 yards to the Jacket 11. A few short runs and a procedure penalty stalled the drive, but freshman Sam Fowler pushed the margin to 10-0 with a 25 field goal with 5:47 left in the half. The Galena Park offense continued to struggle in the second quarter, as the Coogs limited the Jackets to only eight yards of offense and no first downs. In the first half, Galena Park managed only 79 yards total offense. In the third quarter, Fowler hit a second field goal from 31 yards after a Chris Corman fumble recovery. Crosby put the game away when Frank hauled in a 29-yard Merka touchdown toss, giving them a 20-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets avoided the shutout by scoring on their last possession when QB Josh Guzman hit Cregory Evans for a 2-yard touchdown with 1:40 remaining. On the Galena Park scoring drive, the Jackets had 70 of their 155 total yards.< Guzman, who was under constant pressure, passed for 104 yards and rushed for 48 yards. Crosby who claimed a Class 4A Division II berth are now 5-3 and 5-1 in 19-4A play. The Coogs close out the regular season next week at C.E. King in a battle for second place in district. Galena Park, now 3-5 and 2-4, travels to Barbers Hill to battle the Eagles.
Recommended Posts