The La Porte Bulldogs are the 2011 District 21-5A champions!!
This is the first district championship for the Bulldogs since 2000. District 21-5A is one of the most competitive in the state of Texas.
Friday night against the very game and state ranked, undefeated Port Arthur Memorial Titans, the Bulldogs showed heart and had the will to win.
Down 20-17 with 5:17 left in the game, La Porte took possession of the ball at their own 18 yard line. The Bulldogs needed a field goal to tie or a touchdown to win. What happened next was a drive for the ages. Junior Running Back Keith Whitely, who had one of the best games in La Porte history after running for 203 yards and two touchdowns and returning an interception for a touchdown, ran for 51 yards on the final drive and capped it off with a 3 yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs the championship. Senior Quarterback Josh Vidales made a clutch throw on 4th and 9 inside Port Arthur territory to Sophomore Receiver Taejon Wearen for a first down on the drive. The Bulldog offensive line wore out the vaunted Memorial defensive front seven and picked up yards at will and got the game winning score with 28 seconds left for the 24-20 La Porte victory. The 82 yard four minute forty nine second drive was a statement by the La Porte offense that they have arrived.
The game began with both teams getting good drives going, but stalling out. After that the offenses didn't get on track until late in the first half. The Bulldogs finally got on the board after getting the ball into Port Arthur territory and Junior Kicker Eric Medina tied the school record with a 55 yard field goal. It had a couple yards to spare and was a mighty kick! With 2:01 left in the first half it was La Porte 3 Port Arthur Memorial 0.
The Titans took over and had a drive reminiscent of the North Shore drives late in the first half last week. Memorial Senior Running Back Nate Holmes had a huge 38 yard run to get inside LP territory, but he was injured on the play and would not return. On the next play Senior Quarterback Terrence Singleton threw a deep post to Senior Receiver Jhajuan Seales for a 42 yard touchdown. The drive took all of 27 seconds off the clock. Junior Malik Graves blocked the extra point for the second consecutive week.
La Porte drove inside Port Arthur territory with a few seconds left in the half, but had the 49 yard field goal attempt blocked. At the half it was Port Arthur Memorial 6 La Porte 3.
The second half started with La Porte sputtering and looking like momentum had shifted completely to the Titans. Singleton found Senior Receiver Aerian Jackson in the right flat and two Bulldogs missed tackles putting Jackson down the sideline for a 80 yard touchdown. Port Arthur lead 13-3 with 11:45 left in the 3rd quarter.
After a missed La Porte field goal Port Arthur took over and Whitely would take the momentum back for the Bulldogs. Singleton dropped back to pass and Whitely stepped into the passing lane intercepting with only daylight in front of him for a 27 yard interception return for the touchdown. The score was now 13-10 Port Arthur with 4:38 left in the 3rd.
Port Arthur made a statement drive after the interception and Singleton's scrambling lead to a 13 yard score for the Baylor commit and a 20-10 Port Arthur lead with 3:07 left in the 3rd.
Whitely again took over on the next La Porte possession and had a 50 yard run into Port Arthur territory. After a few good runs the Bulldogs were inside the five yard line. Whitely would cap it off with a one yard plunge with no time left in the 3rd quarter and La Porte down 20-17.
The Bulldog's Darkside defense stepped up in the 4th quarter and shut down the Titans offense with big sacks and pressure up front. After both teams traded possessions it came down to the final game winning classic smashmouth football drive for the La Porte win and district championship.
Great performance and heart by all La Porte players this week. The coaches have taken a lot of very special young talent and this team is hitting their stride just in time for the playoffs. The Bulldogs have made the leap into most Statewide top 25 lists after huge back to back wins over state ranked opponents. If you have not made it out to a game this season you are missing out on something special.
La Porte moves to 8-1 on the season and 4-0 in district play. The final game of the regular season will be next Saturday against Beaumont West Brook in Beaumont at 6pm. It appears depending on what happens between the Pasadena schools next week that the Bulldogs will probably get Pasadena High in the first round of the playoffs.
Wow!!! GREAT game- an all-time classic! Seems every game for La Porte is going down to the wire this season, but they've been showing all season that Bulldog fight never dies! I was really impressed by Whitely- and I bet if scouts weren't paying attention to him before, they are now! That said, are we likely getting Pasadena MEMORIAL or the original Pasadena (Eagles)? Once again great report!
ReplyDeleteThey are doing what LP teams do best! Run the ball and defense.
ReplyDeleteWhitely has been recruited pretty heavily for being a Junior. Will be exciting to see what happens over the next year.
It's looking like Pasadena High Eagles unless Sam Rayburn can upset them. Pasadena Memorial would get Port Arthur Memorial unless South Houston pulls the upset on them.