sticky Posted September 30, 2006 Report Posted September 30, 2006 Turnovers the difference in RSS loss This time it wasn’t a miraculous comeback or a last-minute goal line stand that sent the Sterling Rangers to defeat. No, this time it was that ancient bugaboo that’s been haunting football coaches since the game was invented — turnovers. Two Ranger fumbles proved to be the key plays, as RSS dropped a hard-fought 17-7 decision to Humble in the District 21-5A opener for both teams Friday night at Stallworth Stadium. One of the miscues turned into seven points immediately for the Wildcats, when linebacker Cordell Riggins scooped up a Justin Armstead fumble and raced 26 yards for a 7-0 Humble lead with 4:26 left in the first quarter. Then early in the fourth quarter with Sterling trailing 17-7, Riggins fell on another Armstead fumble at the 5-yard line, stopping a 12-play march when it appeared RSS was poised to cut the deficit to 17-14. Armstead had rushed for a first down on the play, but dropped the ball when he was blindsided. Sterling also lost an interception in the third quarter, when Jason Tanner’s shovel pass bounced off Manasah Davis and was snared by Humble’s Justin Weinand at midfield. The interception led to the Wildcats’ final points, a 39-yard field goal by Brady Faggard. “You have to be able to protect the ball at all times,†Sterling coach Herb Minyard said. “The way the game was going, it played into our hands. But when we had the opportunity to make it a one possession game, we didn’t protect the football.†On Armstead’s first fumble that was returned for a score, it appeared that he might have already been down when the ball came out. “Only the video will tell,†Minyard said. “We don’t have instant replay so we just have to live with whatever they call.†Sterling (1-3, 0-1) outgained Humble (4-0, 1-0), as the Rangers racked up 281 yards on the night. The Wildcats managed just 162 yards, with all of that coming on the ground. Humble quarterback Kenneth Bowman was 0 for 4 the first half, and didn’t attempt a pass in the second half. It was a good night through the air for Sterling senior signal-caller Jason Tanner. Tanner was 18 of 27 for 225 yards, with one interception. He spread the ball around, with four receivers catching passes. Terrell Zeno led the way with seven catches for 112 yards, while Davis had eight catches for 60 yards. “Our receivers did a great job, they’re all stepping up,†Minyard said. “All of our receivers are very unselfish and will do whatever it takes to help us win.†After Riggins’ fumble return put Humble ahead 7-0, the Rangers went on their best march of the night, going 69 yards in nine plays to knot the score at 7-7. Tanner completed three passes for 52 yards to Davis on the drive, including a 16-yard gain on a screen pass on third-and-8. That play set up Sterling’s only touchdown, a 3-yard run up the gut by Stephen Guillory, who finished with 24 yards on eight carries. Humble took the lead for good with 30 seconds left in the first half, as the Wildcats drove 79 yards in 2:18. The drive, which was aided by a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty on the Rangers, was capped off when Reggie Brown burst 32 yards up the middle on a trap play on third-and-5. Brown, the district’s third-leading rusher coming in, led all rushers with 94 yards on 17 carries. “I’m proud of my team tonight, we played 48 minutes of football,†Minyard said. “It’s district now, so everybody is playing for keeps. There’s seven district games and you’ve got to win four to get into the playoffs and that’s still our goal.†Sterling will take on crosstown rival Lee next week, while Humble will host Channelview, REL defeated Kingwood Friday night, while Channelview dropped to Port Arthur Memorial.
KFDM COOP Posted October 1, 2006 Report Posted October 1, 2006 http://baytownsun.com/story.lasso?ewcd=2bbec5a44f886b2a
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