Shiner suffers first home district loss since 2002
by Mike Forman, Advocate Sports Reporter
Friday, October 7, 2011
VictoriaAdvocate.com Article | Shiner Comanche Football | Shiner Home Page
SHINER - Trey Thedford knew Ganado had erased a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter, but he wasn't sure how it happened.
Shiner sophomore quarterback Jacob Stafford leaps over players while running the ball during Friday's game. Shiner led for much of the game, but Ganado came away with the victory, 22-21. photo by Jonathan Hinderliter, Victoria Advocate
"A lot was done," Thedford said. "I don't know. Coach talked to us and told us we had to play hard football like we do and we came out and played with a lot of heart and our defense did really good."
The Indians rallied for 15 points in the final quarter to claim a 22-21 win over Shiner in the District 15-1A, Division I opener for both teams on Friday night at Comanche Stadium.
"We told our kids at halftime that opportunity was knocking us in the face and it took us to the fourth quarter, but we answered," said Ganado coach Jimmy Thompson. "We played super in the fourth quarter."
Ganado ranked No. 1 in the state Class 1A poll improved to 7-0 and handed Shiner its first home district loss since 2002.
The win wasn't secure until Shiner running back Caleb Curtis was tackled inbounds at the Ganado 18-yard line and time ran out before the Comanches could get off another play.
"We played as hard as we could and I think both sides did," said Shiner coach Steven Cerny. "I think it was well played, it was physical and we got after it. We probably missed a couple of opportunities early, just some formations we did wrong and just didn't capitalize. But you've got to give them credit at the end."
Ganado scored in the first quarter on a 2-yard run by Josh Labay, who had 189 yards on 23 carries. But the Comanches (2-5) scored the next three touchdowns thanks in part to three Ganado fumbles and an interception.
"Going in we knew they were going to be tough, probably the toughest team we played all year," Thedford said. "We came in and fumbled the ball and that's something we've got to work on."
Shiner scored on a 10-yard pass from Jacob Stafford to tight end Donavan Mardis and a 29- yard run by Zach Lawrence in the second quarter and a 20-yard run by Caleb Curtis, who had 32 carries for 166 yards, with 10:22 left in the fourth quarter.
But Labay returned the ensuing kickoff 37 yards to the Shiner 42, leading to a 12-yard touchdown run by Thedford. Labay ran in the two-point conversion with 9:17 left.
After forcing Shiner to punt, Labay scored on a 65-yard run - his longest run of the game and only third run of 10 yards or more -- and Brian Bubela added the extra point with 5:37 left.
"I think I'm just too hardheaded," Thompson said. "I said we're going to run inside and once we started spreading things out and making them defend the whole field it made it a lot tougher."
Shiner got the ball at its nine-yard line and drove to the Ganado 20 and had 14 seconds remaining after an incomplete pass by Stafford.
Cerny considered going for a field goal, but decided against it because of the wind.
"We would have had to get closer," Cerny said. "But yes, our guy can kick the ball. We would have had to get close, but when you've got some injuries like we have your two- minute offense and everything is kind of out and your personnel is not there and we just had a little trouble."
Ganado struggled for three quarters, but Thompson is proud of the way his team finished.
"Our kids know now," Thompson said. "What, 10 minutes to go in the game we're 14 points down and we just came back and fought our hearts out and were able to win. Great win for our kids."
GAME STATISTICS:
statistics source: http://www.advosports.com/games/3604/
Shiner Ganado First Downs 20 13 Yards Rushing 52-234 40-262 Yards Passing 26 0 Passes 2-6-1 0-2-1 Punts 2-53 1-29 Fumbles-lost 2-1 4-3 Penalties-yards 1-12 2-28 SCORING SUMMARY: 1 2 3 4 -- Final Ganado 7 0 0 15 -- 22 Shiner 0 14 0 7 -- 21 SCORING DETAILS: First Quarter G - Josh Labay 2 run (Brian Bubela kick), 1:51 Second Quarter S - Donavan Mardis 10 pass from Jacob Lawrence (Lucian Blaschke kick), 4:03. S - Zach Lawrence 29 run (Blaschke kick), 1:33no score Third Quarter no score Fourth Quarter S - Caleb Curtis 20 run (Blaschke kick), 10:26 G - Trey Thedford 12 run (Labay run), 9:17 G - Labay 65 run (Bubela kick), 5:37. INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS: Rushing Shiner, J. Stafford 9-31, Z. Lawrence 8-43, C. Curtis 32-166, T. Flowers 2-(-5), E. Jones 1-(-1). Ganado, T. Thedford 9-45, T. Gorman 6-30, J. Labay 23-189, C. Vesely 2-(-2). Passing Shiner, J. Stafford 6-2-26. Ganado, T. Thedford 2-0-1-1. Receiving Shiner, D. Mardis 1-10.
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