Last Friday night at Bulldog Stadium the 4-1 Channelview Falcons came into town to face the 4-1 La Porte Bulldogs in the first game of play in district 21-5A.
Channelview entered the game with the best passing attack in the Houston area. La Porte came into the game with one of the Houston area's best defenses. Something had to give this week.
The first half began with Channelview receiving and three quick incomplete passes and a punt. It seemed from the very beginning La Porte could put pressure on Falcon's Senior Quarterback Averion Hurts whenever they wanted. This was the story of the first half as Channelview managed below 50 yards of total offense and only two first downs. The Bulldogs disguised blitzes and by the time Hurts could read the defense and coverage he was under heavy pressure from La Porte's front seven.
The first drive for La Porte started at Channelview's 48 yard line. Lead by the running of Junior Running Back Keith Whitely and Sophomore Jonathan Lewis. The Bulldogs marched down the field and took a 7-0 lead on Junior Linebacker/Running Back Chad Sutherland's one yard run. That was Sutherland's 4th rushing touchdown of the season.
After the teams traded punts back and forth along with a missed Bulldog's field goal. La Porte commence their second scoring drive of the night in the second quarter with the three headed monster of Whitely, Lewis and Sophomore play-maker Taejon Wearen. After driving inside the 20 yard line Senior Quarterback Josh Vidales rolled to his right and hit Sophomore Fullback/Linebacker Trevor Nelson with an amazing fingertip catch in the end zone. La Porte lead Channelview 14-0 with 6:48 left in the first half.
Just before halftime La Porte fumbled giving the ball to the Falcons at the Bulldog 20 yard line. Two plays later Hurts under heavy pressure found Senior Wide Receiver Stanley Wesley for a 17 yard score after Wesley snuck behind the Bulldogs blitz and took it to the end zone making the score La Porte 14 Channelview 7 going into halftime. After a good start La Porte lost their momentum as the second half started.
La Porte received to start the half, but had a quick three and out. Channelview capitalized when Hurts found Senior Wide Receiver Marquis Johnson for a big gain into Bulldog territory and capped the drive with another Hurts to Johnson pass for a 25 yard touchdown. This made the score La Porte 14 Channelview 14 with 8:33 left in the third quarter. Momentum had shifted completely to the Falcons.
After a La Porte punt, Channelview again with a connection from Hurts to Wesley moved deep into La Porte territory. However this time La Porte's Dark Side Defense decided it was time to take the momentum back. La Porte sacked Hurts on 4th down and the Bulldog's took over.
Bulldogs running backs Whitely-Wearen-Lewis combination gashed the Falcon's defense. La Porte used the outside zone running plays moving the ball down field with ease and Lewis took home the one yard run with 1:31 left in the 3rd quarter the Bulldogs lead 21-14.
Another Channelview punt and a good return for Whitely started the drive at midfield for the Bulldogs. Again the outside running game was unstoppable and Whitely capped off the drive with a 12 yard touchdown giving La Porte a two touchdown lead 28-14.
The teams would trade touchdowns one more time with Hurts finding Johnson over the top for 65 yards and then connecting again for a 8 yard touchdown making it 28-21 La Porte. The Bulldogs would make sure Channelview would not get the ball again as Whitely capped off the game with his second touchdown, this one from 32 yards out and a La Porte 35-21 victory.
The Bulldog's offensive line together with Whitely's 205 yards on 27 carries dominated possession of the ball and kept it out of Hurt's hands for the win. La Porte held Channelview to negative twelve yards rushing and overall slowed down the Falcons enough for the offense to play ball control in the second half. Hurts finished the game with 278 yards passing, mostly in the second half after La Porte dropped more players into coverage and he had more time to throw. The front 7 of La Porte's defense was a destructive force all night.
A win this week over Baytown Sterling will almost lock up a playoff berth for the Bulldogs.
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