STORY BY: BOB WRIGHT
– COLLEGE STATION – The A&M Consolidated Tigers end their regular season schedule Friday night at 7:30, facing another group of Tigers at Belton.
The Tigers, Consolidated variety, are playoff-bound with a 5-4 season mark, wrapped around a 5-1 District 12-5A record as they go against Belton, with a 7-2 mark and boasting a 4-2 district reading.
Coming off the 30-23 overtime win over the Harker Heights Knights at Tigerland last week, Consol enters the district finale at Belton with some Tigers’ having some game-changing plays last week. Defensive line play was exceptionally strong, with some key plays coming from Christian LaCouture, a tackle; end Fredrick Goodman and another end, Jimmie Gilbert, who always seem to make several “big plays” a game.
Put up the names of defensive backs – cornerback Demetrius Willingham, seven tackles while giving fits to the Knights during the OT, and safeties Josue Ordonez (13 tackles) and Brett Mahnke, half a dozen tackles; and never discount senior linebacker Marshall Strain, another gridder who seems to come up with big plays in each contest. Against the Knights, he had 13 tackles.
Offensively, Consol had its standouts – receiver Justin Benden hauled in seven passes for 72 yards, Durasis Nutall rushed for 82 yards on 11 carries; running back Quinton White rushed for 97 yards and caught six passes for 57 yards. In the offensive line, tackle Cameron Cermin had a strong game.
Coach Rodney Southern’s Belton Tigers present wide receiver Derick Bates to give the Consol secondary a test. More receivers in the Belton attack include Levi Jordan and tight end Durham Smythe, 6-5, 215, with 4.8 speed in the 40.
Belton is known for its “sturdy defense,” spearheaded by linebacker Davis Butler, who had 135 tackles and four sacks last season. He took up where he left off for the 2011 campaign. Adding to Belton’s strong linebacker play are Ryan Stinson and Tyler Santellana.
The Belton attack is guided by quarterback Blayten Magana.
Despite the outcome Friday night, the Tigers of Consol will then prepare for their bi-district match, which comes next week.
