Oak no Challenge for Collins in Klein Battle

photo: Justin Pratt toting the rock (chron.com)

Pratt and Edmonds Combine for Four Scores on the Ground

KLEIN MEMORIAL STADIUM - In a battle of two unbeatens and two of the top teams in the Houston area both Nate Edmonds and Justin Pratt ran for 2 touchdowns a piece as Klein Collins cruised by Klein Oak, 53-7.

Coach Drew Svoboda and his Collins Tigers honored offensive line coach Jim Scott as he was diagnosed in June with pancreatic cancer with the win and their theme for the night - “no one fights alone”.  In a show of Klein solidarity, the Klein Oak team presented a donation of $12,000 to Coach Scott's efforts at halftime.

On the gridiron however, Coach Svoboda’s team beat up the all black clad Panthers on both sides of the ball. in regards to his team’s dominance on the lines Svoboda remarks, “ Well, it’s a huge thing, we pride ourselves on being able to stop the run, and run the football, that's just a huge component of it, if you can break someone’s will, by pounding the rock, and keep them from pounding the rock, I think that’s just a huge advantage to you.”

The game started looking like it was going to be a completely different story. Klein Oak sophomore Panther, Bennie Smith took the opening kickoff back 81 yards for the score and the 7-0 lead.

From that time forward, Svoboda's Tigers began their dominance. It took 4 plays and 1 minute and 42 seconds with a huge Pratt 54 yard scoot to even up the score. Nate Edmonds got his first score of the night on a 5 yard keeper.

After trading possessions Klein Oak and QB Brandon Blair drove the field until stalling at the Collins 16 yard line. Linebacker Cameron Goode, who is committed to Cal, made play after play on the night this time making a huge shoe string tackle on Blair on 2nd down. Blair threw incomplete on 3rd down forcing them to try a field goal. Trent Sisco’s kick sailed right.

Edmonds went back to business on the following drive. The play of the drive was an Edmonds to Quinton Newton pass aided by both a facemask and unsportsmanlike play on the tackle. The play with penalty went 64 yards to the Oak 4. Edmonds faked a handoff to Pratt then followed his powerful tailback in for the score. Scott Bazemore missed the PAT, 13-7.

Klein Oak then put together a great drive including a fake punt from 4th and 4 at their on 46. The Tiger defense was beginning to swarm, on one play Diego Gomez, JaCorey Lacy and Donavin Mutin all met Blair on a third down. After 14 plays and another Cameron Goode tackle of Blair this time wrapping up his legs on a nice form tackle. Klein Oak missed another field goal when the drive was snuffed out.

With 4:31 remaining until the break the Tigers put it in overdrive behind their powerful running backs legs. On 2nd and 7 from the Klein Oak 46, Pratt eluded defenders down the right sideline cutting it back to the middle of the field to finish it off. This time the PAT was blocked, 19-7.

Brandon Blair fumbled the ball on the 22 yard line on 3rd down on the next series. Pratt supplied all the offense on this 2 play drive, starting with a 6 yard run and then lowering his shoulder and powering several defenders into the end zone with him on a 9 yard TD run. He has such a low center of gravity that no one can match him in a scrum.

With 59 seconds disaster struck the Panthers as Blair is picked off by Cameron Goode on a beautiful interception as he tipped it to himself. Quinton Newton scored this time, 32-7. The Bazemore PAT was once again blocked, 32-7.

Pratt's best run of the night came on the first play from scrimmage in the second half as he sprinted for an 80 yard touchdown after being slung to the ground but never touching his knee. The beautiful run was nullified because a block in the back. Coach Svoboda elected to ride Pratt on this drive and never passed. Edmonds took a page out of his tailback's book and carried defenders into the end zone on a 7 yard scamper to cap the 9 play drive off, 39-7

Justin Pratt carried 22 times for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns.

by Glenn McCarthy

Players of the Game -

Offense: Nate Edmonds and Justin Pratt
Defense: Cameron Goode

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