STORY BY BOB WRIGHT (A&M CONSOLIDATED)
KYLE FIELD – Quarterback Kobe (Gus) Miller connected on four first-half touchdown passes with fine protection behind a crisp-blocking line, and the A&M Consolidated Tiger defense pretty well held the Bryan Vikings at bay Friday night in their annual Crosstown Shootout at Kyle Field.
Although the Tigers were designated as the “visitors” for Shootout-2013, they made themselves quite at home in taking a 56-20 decision over the Vikes. The Tigers lifted their season record to 4-2 and 2-1 in the District 14-5A race, while the Vikings fell to 2-5 while going winless in three district games.
A&M Consolidated amassed 408 total offensive yards while giving up 389 to Bryan High. However, Bryan held the advantage in first downs 24-18. Consol didn’t have a turnover, while two lost fumbles by Bryan played havoc with its attack. Those fumbles, along with a blocked punt by Consol’s Corey Stoll, led to a couple of Tiger scores. Those bobbles came with 45 seconds to play in the first quarter at the Viking 21, while the other miscue came in the fourth period with 2:52 remaining. The blocked punt came early in the second period, paving the way for a four-yard scoring run by Brandon Jackson at the 8:07 mark. The blocked kick had set up the Tigers at the Viking 12. Daniel Zivney’s kick stretched the lead to 28-0.
Sophomore quarterback Mason Hickson came in for the Tigers late in the third period and showed great promise in directing the Consol offense. He didn’t chunk a pass, while the total passing “stats” belonged to senior starter Miller, who completed 13 of 20 aerials. His counterpart at Bryan, sophomore B.J. Ross threw 22 passes and completed 14.
About the only thing to slow down Coach David Raffield’s club were 10 penalties for 90 yards. That phase of the game will receive some attention in workouts next week.
A lot of guys got into the game, gaining valuable experience for the Consol Tigers, who held a 14-0 lead at conclusion of the first period before exploding for 28 points to lead 42-6 at halftime. It was 49-13 by end of the third quarter.
In the first period, after Bryan received but had to punt, Consol’s offense began to roll and came to a halt on the opening series when Brandon Jackson zipped over the goal from the one to complete a 42-yard drive in half a dozen plays. Zivney nailed the extra point.
Later in the period, at the 3:47 mark, Miller hit Derrick Dick for another TD, writing finish to an 80-yard drive that needed seven plays.
The second period suddenly became bountiful for the Tigers, registering 28 points. The avalanche started when the Tigers overcame two holding penalties to eventually score when Miller again connected with a payoff strike to Cory Dukes early in the period. The score came after a Bryan fumble, giving the Tigers a short field at the 21. After the score, it was Ryan Anderson’s time to kick. It too, was true to the mark at the 10:17 mark.
The Tigers’ next touchdown came after that blocked punt when Jackson logged the final four yards, making it 28-0.
Miller’s arm provided the impetus for another score, hitting Rodney Jernigan on a pass-and-run play. Anderson booted the point, making it 35-0 with 6:20 to go before halftime. The pass play covered all but six yards in the 79-yard drive.
B.J. Ross’ pass to Cory Johnson got Bryan onto the scoreboard with a five-yard strike. The extra-point kick was blocked with the score 35-6. Bryan had driven 79 yards on eight plays.
Consol fashioned a 55-yard march on seven plays and ending it with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Miller to Kerry Thomas with 32 seconds remaining before the half. The payoff drive covered 55 yards on seven plays. Anderson kicked the point, leaving it 42-6 at intermission.
The Vikings, after forcing Consol to punt early in the third period, drove 64 yards in just three plays, cutting it to 42-13 with 3:11 to go in the period. The score came on fullback Josh Gibbs’ one-yard plunge, writing finish to a 91-yard drive. Cory Johnson booted the point.
Consol scored in the period with 2:03 remaining on that long pass-and-run play from Miller to Jernigan. Ryan Anderson kicked the point, lifting the score to 48-13.
Ben Thornton zipped in from the two with 9:03 left in the game after a 54-yard march to close out Consol scoring. Anderson’s kick made it 56-13.
Bryan’s final score came when Josh Gibbs swept to his left from the three with 5:56 remaining. The score came on the heels of an 84-yard drive in six plays. Cory Johnson nailed the extra point.
Consol had numerous defensive standouts, including K.J. Dukes, Riley Garner, D.J. Jackson, Will Raffield, D.J. Jackson, Quin Haynes, Sherman Wilder, Ryan Bevans and Corey Stoll.
Some good defensive plays for Bryan came from several, including Cedric Johnson, Bryan Ward, Antwone Wallace, G. Donhalik, Trea Blue, Dedrick Davis and Darius Ross.
Consolidated hosts College Park next Friday night at 7:30 at Tigerland in another district game. Bryan High heads for the Piney Woods to play the Lufkin Panthers at Abe Martin Stadium.
STORY BY KEITH KANE (BRYAN)
KYLE FIELD—The Bryan Vikings suffered their ninth loss in a row to the A&M Consolidated Tigers Friday (10/11) night at Kyle Field, 56 to 20.
The Vikings took the opening kick-off and after a couple of successful plays committed a holding penalty and took too much time. Following a 37 yard punt and an 18 yard return, A&M Consolidated had a short field to work with. They put together a drive which ended in a Brandin Jackson two-yard run for a touchdown. Daniel Zivney’s extra point made it a 7 to nothing game.
From then on, the Tigers would score quickly and often. An 80 yard drive was capped off by a 27 yard pass from Kobe Miller to Ben Thornton to make it 14 to nothing. A rare stop by the Vikings defense resulted in a punt on the next series, but a V-J Banks fumble gave the ball to the Tigers at the Vikings 21 yard line. Moments later, A&M Consolidated would score again on a 16 yard pass from Miller to Corey Dukes to make it 21 to nothing.
The Tigers kept the pedal to the metal and put up two more touchdowns on a 4 yard Brandon Jackson run and a 73 yard pass by Miller to Rodney Jernigan to make it 35 to nothing before the Vikings could respond.
Bryan would put together a 75 yard scoring drive to cut the lead to 35 to 6 on a 5 yard pass from B-J Ross to Bobby Johnson. But, A&M Consolidated would stretch it to a 42 to 6 halftime score with an 18 yard pass from Miller to Kerry Thomas with 32 seconds left in the half.
The Vikings would trade touchdowns with the Tigers in the second half scoring first on a one yard run by KeeKee Johnson to make it 42 to 13. A&M Consolidated would come back to stretch the lead to 49 to 13 on a 47 yard run by Brandon Jackson.
The Tigers would add a one yard touchdown run by Ben Thornton to make it 56 to 13 before the Vikings would score on a three yard run by KeeKee Johnson to bring it to the finals score of 56 to 20.
The final game stats were not so lopsided with Bryan picking up 20 first downs to A&M Consolidated’s 21. The Vikings would also have 397 total yard to the Tigers 510. But, in the end it was the 325 passing yards and four touchdowns by Kobe Miller that would be the difference in the game.
Next week, the Vikings will play at Lufkin on Friday night. The game will be broadcast on 1150 The Zone beginning at 7 pm with Keith Kane and Zach Taylor.