MEXIA's DEFENSE, which asserted itself well last night, stops receiver Kenneth Green. Making the stop were Fightin' Cats Nick Zerkle (54) and Aaron Childs (4). Coming up for the action is Trent Mack (31). Elizabeth Hickenbottom photo
Fightin' Black Cats advance in Bi-District with 36-14 win
by By BOB WRIGHT- Editor
(Posted 11/15/2009 01:55 pm)
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Mexia’s offense was the only one which proved to be fairly high-octane, as the Fightin’ Cat defense came through with some “good stuff” throughout.
That defense had pitched a shutout the first half as a large Mexia following cheered along to watch the Fightin’ Black Cats win 36-14 in the Bi-District match, thus advancing to the Area round next week at Forney. There, they’ll meet the state’s second-ranked team, the Carthage Bulldogs, which easily disposed of the Gladewater Bears last night.
While the defense showed up early and stayed late at Cedar Hill’s Longhorn Stadium, the Mexia offensive machine was again well-oiled, enough to pretty well early on erase any doubt about what the outcome would be.
The Fightin’ Cats now own a season record of 9-2, as the Wildcats go 6-5 while ending their season.
Mexia, after holding the 14-0 lead at halftime, broke loose for 16 points in the third quarter to pretty much decide the issue.
Decked out in their solid blacks, Mexia had been designated the home team (pressbox side), but uncharacteristically didn’t score on its first possession after receiving to start the game. It was an interception which stopped the drive, and was only the second of the season for quarterback Trae Davis.
Davis again guided the offensive attack. He and Doug Gentry combined for 340 rushing yards of Mexia’s total of 375. In addition, Davis hit eight of 18 passes for 101 yards as Mexia racked up 475 offensive yards to go with 24 first downs. The Fightin’ Cats never were in a punting situation.
Gentry was by far the game’s leading rusher, plowing forth for 213 yards, while Davis had 127.
QB Olin Terry turned out to be Palestine’s top ground gainer, but the speedster did run into several scenarios in which he was spilled for minus yardage. Defenders Sam Gee, Bradley Crenshaw, Nick Zerkle, Javoy Gee and Jacob Beachum dogged the Wildcat signal caller throughout.
Adding some other defensive heroics were Trent Mack, Jeff Proctor and Davonta Foreman, both of whom picked off Terry passes in the second and fourth quarters, respectively. Palestine also lost a fumble at the Mexia eight on a fourth-down play. Terrance Simon couldn’t find the handle on that one and Mack did for Mexia.
Foreman’s interception was made on a great play in which he arrived at would-be receiver, timing his leap perfectly at the Mexia one with 4:50 to go in the fourth period. Gentry got ‘em out of a hole with a nine-yard burst on the first play then got two and six yards before Davis burst loose for awhile, running for 17 yards. It was then Gentry for five, Isaiah Pevia for a couple, Davis for three and Pevia for 10 before Davis knelt to run out the clock.
Mexia’s first scoring drive in the opening period was a ball-control type of thing, culminating with Davis’ scoring punch of 22 yards on the eighth play of a 91-yard march with a minute and 44 seconds remaining. Gentry’s run for a two-point conversion was stopped.
Mexia added another TD in the second quarter on a 55-yard gallop by Gentry, set up by Jeff Proctor’s interception. Covering the 87-yard distance needed only two plays and a 15-yard stepoff for a facemask violation. Gentry had picked up 17 yards on a run when the facemask penalty came at the end of the play. Gentry then converted for two points on a run, pushing the score to 14-0.
On the initial possession, Jeramee Strain, on the end-around, bolted to his right for 23 yards. Then came the interception, the only Mexia turnover of the night.
The offensive line again provided some crisp blocking to spring runners. The bunch up front included the two Wills - Padgett and Johnson, Devin Threat, Bradley Crenshaw, Andres Lara and Brandon Allen.
Others in the defensive scheme of things included Aaron Childs, Alaric Strain, Mister Carroll (good secondary work); Gentry, who saw some action at linebacker; Davis, at a safety position; Marquis Melton, Matt Chaney, Diontre Oliver, B.J. Johnson, Pevia, and Jake Cherry.
In the third quarter, Mexia answered quickly after Palestine’s first score of the game. Gentry got the touchdown with a 24-yard run, then tacked on the two-point conversion, raising it to 22-7 at the 9:34 mark. It had taken Mexia only three plays to cover 45 yards. Gentry had figured in all three plays, also running for 10 yards and hauling in an 11-yard pass from Davis.
Mexia stretched the lead to 28-7 to cap a pretty 89-yard drive when Gentry sped the final 15 yards. Davis kept to score the two-pointer, hiking the margin to 30-7.
Mexia closed out scoring in the final period when Davis’ 24-yard run capped a 51-yard drive.
Palestine’s scores came in the third and fourth periods. The first was a Terry keeper and 52-yard run. Kick was good. The score was early in the period - 10:35 left - ending a 62-yard drive in three plays. Kick was again good.
The second Wildcat score was in the fourth period on an end-around of 10 yards by Devin Vannoy at the 10:35 mark, ending a 47-yard drive in 11 plays.
In addition to Gentry and Davis rushing totals, and Jeramee Strain’s 23-yarder on one run, Pevia banged out a dozen yards on three carries.
After losing the ball, Mexia forced a Palestine punt. It was on the second possession that the Fightin’ Cats scored on Davis’ 22-yard burst. In that 91-yard drive, Gentry had runs of 11, two, six and 15 yards; Davis ran for three, one and five, and he hit D.J. Robinson for 26 yards.
Then came the Gentry scoring run of 55 yards after an earlier drive had fizzled at the Wildcat 32 after Mexia had driven from its eight. The closest Palestine came was to pull to within 14-7 before Mexia cut loose again for the 22-7 lead.
As Mexia stretched it to 30-7 in the third, some of the key plays included Davis’ runs of 10 and another for 10 yards on a third-and-nine. Davis hit D.J. Williams with a nine-yard aerial before a Davis-to-Robinson pass of 18 was nullified with a 10-yard penalty. Davis quickly got that back, plus some, with a 31-yard run before again hitting Williams for a 12-yarder. The 11-play drive ended with 2:56 left in the third, with Gentry legging out the last 15 yards on a last-second pitch from Davis.
On the final score, a 24-yard run by Davis, some of the other plays were Gentry’s runs of five, three, five and nine yards. Davis hit Robinson for a five-yard pass in the drive, which ended with 7:43 remaining in the final quarter. It had been a 51-yard drive in half a dozen plays. Aaron Childs’ was stopped short of a two-point conversion.
TOUGH GOING HERE for Trae Davis of Mexia, being downed by some Palestine defenders. Will Padgett (76) tries to assist his teammate. Elizabeth Hickenbottom photo
