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Brazoswood set to clash with North Shore
Published November 20, 2009
CLUTE — There’s been no stopping the Brazoswood football team for more than a month. And now playing in the second round of the playoffs, the Buccaneers hope to continue their winning ways today against the North Shore Mustangs.
“The kids have been excited to get back into the playoffs after missing out last year and have made the most of our opportunity,” Brazoswood coach Dean DeAtley said. “We talked this week, and they’re proud to be one of the eight teams in the school’s history to win a playoff game. We’re happy being here. We excited, but we don’t want this to end.
“I feel good for our seniors that get to make a playoff run before they’re gone, and its good for the younger kids to get that experience and build on it for the future.”
Brazoswood (8-3) will face North Shore (8-3) at 7 p.m. today on the Mustangs’ home field at Galena Park ISD Stadium in the Class 5A Division I area round.
The Mustangs have a storied program with a history of playoff berths, winning a state title in 2003 and making a regional semifinal appearance in 2007. But the Buccaneers are not phased by their opponent’s postseason experience.
“They are a very good team and a very good program,” DeAtley said. “They’ve had a lot of success, but we have to play the 2009 North Shore team, not any of those other teams.
“It’s going to be a game between two playoff-caliber high school football teams. We’re confident, and we’ve made it this far for a reason. We’ve beaten some very good football teams this year.”
With its 52-29 win last week over Fort Bend Kempner, Brazoswood has won five straight and has scored at least 35 points in the last four games — breaking the 50-point barrier twice in the last three weeks. It has been a big turnaround for the Buccaneers’ offense since it failed to score more than 28 points in each of their first seven games of the season.
“No question, the offense is working,” DeAtley said. “The guys are doing a good job, and the defense has been setting us up into situations that help us score and has set the tone by causing fumbles and holding teams to three-and-outs. That’s given our offense a lot more opportunities and they’ve been doing a great job capitalizing on them.”
North Shore dropped its final game of the regular season against Beaumont West Brook, 35-28, but rebounded with a playoff victory and a stout defensive effort last week over Pearland. In the 24-6 win, the Mustangs picked off four Pearland passes and built a 17-0 lead before the Oilers were able to score late in the fourth quarter.
North Shore is led by running back Tim Cornett, who has 1,510 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season and is averaging 10.49 yards per carry. Cornett ran for 354 yards on 17 carries with four touchdowns Sept. 18 against La Marque.
Mustangs’ quarterback Keenon Gibson has thrown for 1,307 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. Receiver DeAndrew White leads the team with 38 catches for 575 yards and nine touchdowns.
“Our defense will be tested, and again we need a complete effort,” DeAtley said. “They have some good players with speed and we have to do our best to contain them and not allow the big play.”
Brazoswood junior tailbacks Marqualle Davis and Ricky Lunford each ran for more than 130 yards and scored two touchdowns in last week’s playoff win. Junior Jacob Keith added 86 yards on the ground and another score as the Buccaneers totaled 440 yards rushing.
“We’ve been running a tailback-by-committee, and Marqualle and Ricky have been doing a great job as our two-headed monster. And with Jacob’s performance last week, we might have a three-headed monster now.”
Adding to the Brazoswood offense has been an improving passing attack led by senior quarterback Chase Matzke, who threw for 81 yards and three touchdowns last week. Two scores went to senior tight end Bradley Peters.
Matzke has thrown for 13 touchdowns on the seasons, and in the last game has five scoring tosses and just one interception.
“This game is no different for us than any other — we have to play our game,” DeAtley said. “We have to get a good defensive effort, control the ball when we have it and we can’t turn the ball over. We can’t make mistakes in the kicking game.
“It’s the 65 kids all playing together and doing what they need to do that is working and leading us to wins.”
The winner moves on to meet either Aldine or Alief Taylor.
Jim Levesque is a sports writer for The Facts. Contact him at 979-237-0161.
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