October 31, 2009

Matt Stepp
TheOldCoach.com Staff Writer

EVERMAN- It wasn't easy and certainly wasn't pretty but Everman HC Dale Keeling will take it as the Bulldogs improved to 7-2 and 5-1 in District 8-4A play with a hard fought 27-20 win over Mansfield Timberview (5-4, 3-3) on Friday. The win clinches Everman's 11th straight trip to the postseason which is a school record but it was a war from the start as a desperate Timberview team gave a supreme effort on Friday.

The banged up Bulldogs who were without starting DT James Austin continued to get pummeled by injuries as DB J.T. Gales missed time during the game along with their all-purpose start James Bailey who left early in the second quarter and did not return. Bailey the team's leading receiver and third leading rusher also starts in the secondary along with returning punts and he's the team's punter in addition to his other duties.

Cory Franklin after missing last week's game with a shoulder injury was outstanding rushing for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and he returned a third quarter kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown as well. Timberview's two headed monster of Terrance Davis and Christian Stevenson combined for 250 rushing yards and two touchdowns to pace the Wolves offense.

The game started out looking like a shootout as Everman took the opening kickoff and in just six plays scored on a six yard run by Franklin making it 7-0. Timberview quickly had an answer as on their second play Davis broke through the middle on a zone read and sprinted 54 yards to paydirt and a tied game at seven.

Everman dominated field position during the remainder of the first quarter and most of the early second quarter but they could not muster a score as twice they were stopped on downs including once on a fake punt. The Bulldogs would finally take the lead with little more than five minutes left in the half as Franklin scored on a scintillating 57 yard run to make it 14-7. Franklin twice made breath-taking open field cuts leaving THS defenders in his wake en route to the score.

Everman would hold that lead at halftime as the Bulldogs snuffed out a fake field goal attempt late in the half by Timberview.

After muffing the opening kickoff of the second half Timberview's defense stepped up and forced an Everman three and out, however the Wolves were pinned inside their own ten yard line. However this didn't faze Timberview as they embarked on a sensational 15 play 92 yard drive that took over eight minutes off the clock ending with a six yard touchdown pass from Davis to Chuck Tann. The PAT was blocked but the lead was cut to 14-13.

Franklin would step up on the ensuing kickoff returning it 90 yards the other way giving Everman their seven point cushion back at 20-13 as the PAT was wide right. The Wolves would snatch momentum right back in the see-saw affair as Stevenson broke off a fifty yard run putting the Wolves in business to tie things up. Davis would get the game tying touchdown scoring from two yards out late in the third quarter to make it a 20-20 game.

After the teams traded punts the Bulldogs went on a march of their own starting with a huge 23 yard pass from Barry Browning to Shawn Sanders on 3rd and 12. Ruben Fletcher would cap the drive scoring on a one yard run on fourth and goal with 5:41 remaining to put the Bulldogs up 27-20. Everman then needed a defensive stand to preserve the win and clinch the playoff spot and after allowing two first downs on 4th and 14 from just outside midfield Terrance King picked off Davis to clinch the win for Everman. Browning would run for 11 on first down and after two knees the Bulldogs closed out their third consecutive undefeated season at home with the 27-20 win over Timberview.

Timberview is still alive for a playoff spot but they must knock off Mansfield Legacy next week and get some help to advance. Everman will close out the regular season with a visit to Granbury who ended a 24 game losing streak with a 13-9 win over Joshua.