Final La Porte 20 Deer Park 16

The 52nd meeting between the La Porte Bulldogs and the Deer Park Deer did not dissapoint last Friday as the Bulldogs pulled off a 20-16 thriller in a sold out Bulldog Stadium.

La Porte overcame a early 13-0 deficit as Deer Park came out firing on all cylinders.  The Bulldogs punted after their opening possession. Deer Park used a 90 yard, 13 play four and a half minute drive to get on the board as Deer Senior Running Back Noah Cano scored on a two yard run.  Deer Park would miss the extra point after a bad snap.  It was Deer Park leading 6-0 with 4:51 left in the 1st quarter.

The Bulldogs would move the ball well on their next drive a 28 run from Junior Running Back Jonathan Lewis got La Porte into Deer Park territory, however again the drive stalled and a 50 yard field goal attempt came up a little short.

As the game moved into the second quarter Deer Park was again on the move and two consecutive La Porte pass interference penalties moved the Deer deep into Bulldog territory.  Deer Park again would find the end zone as Junior Quarterback Connor Means ran the option and kept it himself for the seven score and Deer Park was up 13-0 with 8:41 left in the first half.

The teams would trade punts and La Porte would take over at the Deer Park 35 yard line after a great punt return from Senior Running Back Keith Whitely.  The Bulldogs changed to a wildcat formation for a couple plays to get down to the 21 yard line.  Junior Quarterback Jordan Jackson got La Porte on the board with a beautiful 21 yard pass to Lewis who was wide open in the end zone.  However they could not convert on the extra point.  It was Deer Park 13 and La Porte 6 with 2:19 left in the 2nd quarter.

La Porte's defense came alive forcing a 3 and out.  Whitely again with a great punt return ran it back 94 yards for the touchdown, however a illegal block made it Bulldogs ball at the Deer 30 with the clock running down in the half.  La Porte took a shot at the endzone on a halfback pass and got a pass interference penalty moving the ball to the 20.  Then with eight seconds remaining Jackson threw a fade into the corner of the end zone for Junior Hoza Scott.  Scott leaped over the Deer defenders and snagged a 20 yard pass with three seconds left in the half.  La Porte tied it up going to halftime with a great 5 minute stretch of play.  The Bulldogs had 10 penalties for 91 yards in the half, yet were able to claw their way back into it.

The Deer would get the second half kickoff, but Senior Cornerback Ellis Hutchinson would get an interception and keep the momentum on the Bulldogs side.  However the Bulldogs were forced to punt.  Deer Park got their ground game going with an 11 play drive and connected on a Zane Gonzalez 30 yard field goal to make the score Deer Park 16 La Porte 13 with 5:16 left in the third quarter.

Midway through the 4th quarter and the La Porte offense was moving the ball into Deer territory.  The drive stalled and La Porte missed the 31 yard field goal attempt with 4:42 remaining in the game.

Hoza Scott would again come up big.  Deer Park ran up the middle on the next play and Scott knocked the ball from the running back's arms, recovered it, and ran it back for the touchdown all in one motion.  It was a game changing play and the Bulldogs would never look back on their way to a 20-16 hard fought victory.

The Bulldogs had zero penalties in the second half.  The running game was impressive lead by the line up front averaged 5.6 yards per carry.  On the other side the defense held the Deer to only 3.8 yards per carry after the Deer came into the game gashing opposing defenses.

Another big victory for La Porte in the rivalry over Deer Park.  Even more important is another big district 21-5a victory.  La Porte and North Shore are the only two remaining undefeated teams in district play.

La Porte will face Channelview this Friday at 7pm at their new stadium in Channelview.