Final La Porte 27 Deer Park 24!

Written by Bulldog Blog Contributor Jonathan Perez! Thank you Jonathan!

It was another hotly-contested, sold out, Friday night crowd in Deer Park, Texas, as the 55^th annual Border War between the La Porte Bulldogs and the Deer Park Fighting Deer clashed at Ashbier Stadium. This time the Great American Rivalry Series recognized the two schools for having a classic rivalry game, and would present a trophy to the winner. But even before thirty minutes before the game started one didn’t need a national spotlight to see that this game was the biggest game of the calendar for both cities, as the stands were nearly full on both sides and as kickoff drew nearer, both student sections were releasing baby powder and confetti bombs in the air!

La Porte received the opening kickoff and returned the ball to the 21 yard line. Running back Cobra Jones then got the call on the first play of the game on a sweep, then turned on his jets and took the ball 79 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game, which seemed to stun the Deer Park fans and sent the La Porte student section into a frenzy! La Porte then took a 7-0 lead with 11:38 in the first quarter.

The Deer then took over and had a nice drive, converting several first downs as they drove into La Porte territory, but eventually settled for a field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3 with 9:18 in the first quarter. 

La Porte then took over and was forced to punt, however punter Sergio Calvillo, who would have a great night for the Bulldogs, made a gorgeous punt that would pin the Deer back on their own 2 yard line! They were able to get out of their own end zone, but would punt, and a sloppy punt it was as it was downed while still in Deer territory. La Porte would then kick a field goal to add to their lead, 10-3 with 2:25 left in the 1^st quarter.

The second quarter began with the Deer driving, but a big sack by senior and Louisiana Tech commit Eric Kendzior ended their hopes. The teams then traded punts, but not without Sergio Calvillo again pinning Deer Park deep in their own territory, this time at the 1 yard line! Nothing came of the ensuing drive, and as time was winding down the Bulldogs attempted a field goal which fell short. However, the Deer Park coaches made a blunder as they called timeout before the kick, which gave La Porte another chance, and on the second attempt the kick was good and La Porte would take a 13-3 lead into halftime

The second half began with Deer Park receiving and it didn’t take long for the fireworks to begin as they connected with a 66 yard pass to cut the lead to 13-10 at the 10:24 mark in the 3^rd quarter. Not to be outdone, La Porte runningback Cobra Jones once again went on a sweep and this time ran the ball 70 yards nearly untouched for a Bulldog touchdown, making it 20-10! After trading punts, and once again La Porte’s Sergio Calvillo pinning the Deer at their one yard line, the quarter ended at 20-10. 

The Bulldogs began driving and at the 10:13 mark of the 4^th quarter La Porte quarterback Austin Upshaw threw a beautiful, floating pass to receiver Hunter Hebert in the corner of the end zone to make the score 27-10, and the Bulldog faithful went wild! But as expected, the Deer were in no mood to surrender on their home turf, which La Porte had not won in since 2004, and on the next drive, led by runningback Sammy Linton, they would score on a 4 yard touchdown pass with 6:29 left in the game to make it 27-17. 

Deer Park attempted an onside kick but La Porte recovered, and as they drove the Bulldogs elected to go for it on fourth and one on Deer Park’s 38 yard line, but were stopped with four minutes left to play. Once again Sammy Linton of Deer Park would take over, and led the Deer to a two yard touchdown run and the score was cut to 27-24 with 3:02 left in the game. However with no timeouts, Deer Park had no choice but to attempt another onside kick, but was recovered by La Porte. Austin Upshaw, Cobra Jones, and Nathan Redd then went to work, ensuring that the Deer would never get the ball again, and as the clock reached 1:29 the Bulldogs began kneeling the ball, killing the clock and sealing the 27-24 victory! 

This win makes two in a row for La Porte over their arch-rival Deer Park and extends their lead in the series to 29-25-1. Next Friday the Bulldogs will come back home against the Baytown Sterling Rangers, and the ‘Dogs will have revenge on their mind. Be sure to get there early and enjoy barbq and great Bulldog football!