A&M Consolidated vs. Oak Ridge: Wrap-Up

STORY BY: BOB WRIGHT COLLEGE STATION — The A&M Consolidated Tiger offense shook off the cobwebs just before halftime to take a 7-0 lead, then scored on their second and third straight possessions in the third quarter, enroute to a 28-7 victory over the Conroe Oak Ridge War Eagles in District 14-5A action. The game was played in crisp, cool weather with 13 mile-per-hour winds which sent the wind chill down to 45 degrees, Friday night at Tigerland.
After a scoreless opening period, the Tigers came out of the offensive doldrums to make it 21-0 before tacking on an insurance touchdown in the final quarter.
The victory lifted A&M Consolidated to a 7-2 season record wrapped around a 4-1 district mark. Oak Ridge drops to 1-7 and 1-3 in district.
The Consol defense kept things under control pretty much throughout, including a fumble recovery and a nice return by Cory Stoll to the War Eagles 32 at the 7:28 mark of the second quarter. That proved to be the springboard for Consol’s first touchdown. Quarterback Weston Garner hit Josch Motley with a 29-yard pass, moving it to the three. After Kerry Thomas zipped for two yards to the one, the Tigers sputtered a couple of times before Xavier Jones legged it across on a fourth-and-goal with a minute and 37 seconds remaining in the half. It was a 32-yard drive that needed five plays. Dillon Moore drilled the extra point.
The Tigers made it 21-0 by scoring on their ensuing two possessions in the third quarter. Jones again scored on another one-yard run, his 12th touchdown of the season, with 9:26 left in the period. Moore again kicked the point. The payoff drive went 63 yards in nine plays, and a 14-0 advantage.
After forcing the War Eagles to again punt, the Tiger offensive machine whirred downfield from the Consol 36. Backup quarterback Gus Miller, a junior, engineered a touchdown drive of 64 yards in seven plays. Miller connected on a 20-yard TD pass to Josch Motley with 4:01 left in the period. Moore again booted the extra point, making it 21-0.
The Tigers made it 28-0 on a fourth down and needing nine for a first at the Oak Ridge 19. The whole 19 yards were covered on a pass from Miller to Daniel Hulse with 7:57 to go in the final period. It culminated a 47-yard drive in seven plays. Moore again did what he does best, booting the extra point.
The War Eagles got their only points with 3:08 remaining on a 25-yard pass to Coby Kellman. Patrick Cole nailed the extra point.
Oak Ridge then pulled off an onside kick to take possession at midfield. The Tiger D again held, defending against a fourth-down pass. The Tiger QB kneeled to run out the clock.
Some major hits defensively came from the Tigers’ Kyle Chism, D.J. Jackson, Ladarius Hill, Danny Ochoa, Josh Hailey, Quinn Haynes, Corey Stoll, Jimmie Gilbert and Randy Whited.
The Tigers registered 16 first downs to 11 for the visitors. Consol’s quarterback duo of Weston Garner and Gus Miller completed 12 of 22 passes without an interception while for Oak Ridge, it was Braden Letney hitting 12 on 21 tries, also without a pick.
The Tigers generated 296 yards of offense, while the War Eagles ran and passed for 169.
It was the Tigers’ last scheduled home game of the season. They finish the regular season at Conroe’s Buddy Moorehead Stadium next Friday night at 7:30 in district action, facing Conroe High.
Then come the playoffs for Coach David Raffield’s Tigers, but not before an open date following the game at Conroe.