Final Clear Springs 32 La Porte 8

The La Porte Bulldogs were doomed from the beginning last Friday against the Clear Springs Chargers at Bulldog Stadium, falling 32-8.

Clear Springs would win the toss and elect to receive.  The kickoff traveled two yards deep in the end zone and the Chargers ran a quick reverse hand off at the goal line.  Junior Ladamian Coney took the ball and did the rest as he raced down the right side 100 yards into the end zone.

La Porte would get more bad news on their first drive of the night when Junior Quarterback Jordan Jackson, leading the team down the field and inside the 20 yard line, was intercepted and injured making the tackle.  He would not return to the game.  Sophomore Quarterback Nick Brown, who was thought to be out injured, got his uniform on and played very tough through the rest of the night considering the circumstances.

Clear Springs would take the ball down the field again and get a 27 yard strike from Junior Quarterback Zach Cripps to Senior Receiver Byron Jones.  However, on the extra point La Porte would strike by picking up the botched kick and Senior Safety Garrett Green would take it back for two points.  The score was 13-2 Clear Springs with 1:58 left in the first quarter.

Momentum seemed to be changing in the Bulldogs favor as the defense held strong in the second quarter and La Porte drove into Chargers territory as the half was winding down.  However the Bulldogs were held to a Senior Kicker Eric Medina 38 yard field goal as time expired in the half.  La Porte trailed at halftime 13-5.

The second half started and La Porte had a chance to get the game back in control. After trading punts Bulldogs would get the ball at the Chargers 41 yard line and three nice runs from Senior Running Back Keith Whitely (86 yards rushing) would get the ball to 25 before the drive stalled and the Bulldogs player of the game Medina again knocked through a field goal, this one from 42 yards away.  The game was now Clear Springs 13 La Porte 8 with 4:11 left in the 3rd quarter.

Momentum was clearly favoring La Porte and the Bulldogs forced another 3 and out, but Clear Spring had been struggling with their punts.  This one was no different as the ball traveled about 20 yards in the air where it hit a La Porte player in the back and bounce right into Clear Springs Junior Jeremy Hunt's hands.  What momentum the Bulldogs had was lost. Clear Springs would get a nice drive capped by a 11 yard Cripps to Senior Receiver Matt Wymyczak pitch and catch.  Springs would miss the extra point, but the damage was done and the Chargers had a 19-8 lead with :51 left in the 3rd.

La Porte took over after a good kickoff return by Senior Receiver Jahvey Marks to the Springs 48 yard line.  Two plays later it was the Chargers' Hunt again with another big play intercepting the pass.  Springs would waste no time with one play Cripps to Senior Receiver Devin Armstrong, who made a beautiful adjustment on the ball through good coverage, for a 57 yard touchdown.  Now Clear Springs lead 26-8 with :23 second left in the 3rd quarter.

The game would continue to spiral with the Bulldogs fumbling the kickoff and the Chargers recovering.  Sophomore running back Matt Guidry would take the next play 33 yards for the score.  The extra point was no good.  Clear Springs 32-8 with :08 left in the 3rd and three touchdowns scored in the last minute of the 3rd quarter by the Chargers.

That was all she wrote as Clear Springs killed the clock in the 4th quarter to take the much needed win.

La Porte's Eric Medina had a great game averaging 36.5 yards per punt and drilling his two field goal attempts with plenty of room to spare.

La Porte (2-1) will take on Brazoswood at Hopper Field in Freeport this Friday and hope to heal some injuries and get back on track.