Pirates set to tangle with Jags in 20-4A opener

[Bobcatfan4life]

Pirates set to tangle with Jags in 20-4A opener

Gabriel Pruett

The Orange Leader

BEAUMONT — The Vidor Pirates and Beaumont Central Jaguars have played every year since 2002 and none will be as big as tonight’s battle at Babe Zaharias Stadium.

Central (2-1) holds a 16-1 mark over Vidor (3-0) yet the last seven games have been close and tonight’s game could decide a district championship.

Vidor has all the expectations this year and Central has a great record against three 5A schools so far this year.

Central has outscored Vidor 172-134 since 2002 and has beaten Port Arthur Memorial and Galveston Ball so far in 2009 after losing to Beaumont West Brook. Memorial has not lost since.

Vidor has taken down Beaumont Kelly, Houston St. Thomas and Hardin-Jefferson.

Besides taking on a tough Jaguars’ team, the Pirates will also have to deal with a rough crowd at The Babe.

“It is never easy going to The Babe,†Vidor coach Jeff Mathews said. “Our kids are mentally tough and will not be intimidated. Central won’t be intimidated either. It is like a MMA or UFC fight. Central is a striker and we want the fight on the ground. It is Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar. We want to play our game and get them on the ground before they throw the knock out.â€

And boy does Vidor like the game on the ground.

The Pirates have ran the ball 139 times out of their 148 offensive plays in their first three games.

Vidor leads 20-4A teams with 494 yards a game with Kevin Tate leading the way with 330 yards on 34 carries and seven touchdowns.

Shayne Pitman has 315 yards while Jacob Peevey has rushed for 311 yards and three scores.

Quarterback Nick Dozier has only thrown nine passes, completing eight, with two touchdowns.

Vidor’s defense also leads 20-4A with 196 yards given up a contest in 2009.

Mathews knows the Pirates have not seen a team like the Jaguars though.

Central comes in averaging 283 yards a game while giving up 271.7 on defense.

Running back Keith O’Neal has 216 yards and three touchdowns while Nijel Daw has 195 yards.

Quarterback Donte Wilkerson has thrown for 300 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

“They are scary,†Mathews said. “They have speed everywhere on the field. Even if you look at their offensive guards, those guys explode off the ball. We are going to have to play at a level we have not played at yet. I’ll go into a game with my kids any day of the week. I think we have a shot at the win. The West Orange-Stark scrimmage really helped us see this speed.â€

Mathews has been impressed with his team’s ability to get better week after week this season.

“We are better than our first scrimmage and we are better than when we played Hardin-Jefferson,†Mathews said. “Our kids have never once questioned anything we have asked them to do. It will not take much motivation this week to get them ready to play. I have told them this is what they play for. It is going to be exciting to say the least.â€

[mamajag]

Its not easy going to Vidor for the Jags.

[Long Tall Texan]

Every time i follow the Tribe to Vidor they seem to have a big crowd. Halftime show is great, and they play hard no matter what. Its not an easy place to win but the people are great.

[football04]

Isn't the game at Central, Vidor is very good this year but has to play

@ Central, @ Lumberton, @ PNG, and @ Nederland.

Home games this year for Vidor are Livingston, Ozen and LCM.

[LTrain]

This should be a really good game

[Foyce]

This should be a really good game

Hopefully it will be LTrain! Are you going to try to get a seat at Livingston?