Calhoun Moves to 7-0

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: October 16, 2015

photo: Glenn McCarthy

Sand Crabs win Ground and Pound Battle

Rosenberg - On a pleasant Thursday night the Port Lavaca Calhoun Fighting Sand Crabs traveled North up 59 from the coast to at Traylor Stadium to face and beat Rosenberg Terry, 43-20. The Crabs rushed for a whopping 406 yards and only threw one pass in the 4th quarter on a trick play. They did not need to pass. Terry amassed 284 yards of their own mostly on the ground.

The Sand Crabs remain undefeated at 7-0 and moved to 2-0 in District 24-5A positioning. Terry moves to 2-5 and 1-1 with playoffs looming and only 3 games left in the season. Both teams behind their coaches Tim Teykl (Terry) and Richard Whitaker (Calhoun) love nothing more than to grind out the clock and run the ball right at the opposition. This was a bit of a throwback game as both teams run the Veer Offense. Tonight’s game was the 275th game coached by Coach Tim Teykl.

Terry won the toss and deferred to the second half. After receiving the kick, Calhoun fumbled on its first play from scrimmage at their own 38 yard line. Last week Calhoun and Lamar Consolidated combined for 9 total fumbles.

Terry was quick to take advantage of the turnover. On the second play, Brandon Foster had a nice 27 yard run but the PAT was blocked, 6-0 Terry Rangers.

The Fighting Sand Crab ground game then began to start rolling. It only took four plays and a little over a minute to cover 72 yards. Each run converted a first down too. On first down at his own 28, quarterback, Matt Lerma pitched to junior Isaiah Falcon who raced for 34. J. C. Garcia then gained 18 yards down to the Terry 16. Lerma then carried on a keeper for 14 yards to the 2 with running back, Payton Sanchez finishing it off up the middle for 2 yard TD dive, 7-6 Sand Crabs. (4 runs, 4 different runners)

Terry responded with their best drive of the night which featured eleven plays (all runs.) Brandon Foster finished it off with beautiful cutback as he scooted in from 11 yards out. The 2 point conversion failed for the Rangers, 12-7.

The Sand Crabs showed quickly that they did not need to throw to have a quick strike offense. All they needed was J. C. Garcia and his fleet feet. On 1st down at their 39, J. C. carried for 3 yards and then on 2nd he jolted down the left side and cut smoothly to the sideline for the 63 yard score. Calhoun regained the lead, 14-12.

The other highlights of the half were Brandon Foster scoring his third TD on a 1 yard 4th down score. Payton Sanchez had an 8 yard TD run of his own and the Sand Crabs led 28-20 going in for the break. Calhoun outrushed Terry 262 yards to 182. The Rangers had 5 passing yards.

Both teams high and short kickoffs had to pay off for one or the other, it was Calhoun and their kick to start the second half that did the trick . They recovered at the Ranger 30. Their luck stalled at the 4 and Fernando Almarez-Rodriguez crushed a 21 yard field goal, 31-20 Crabs.

Terry started at their own 32 and appeared lined up to keep it close. One nifty run by quarterback, Vonte Davis and the rest by Foster took the Rangers down to the Calhoun 20. The Crabs moved safety, Raheem Jones closer to the line of scrimmage to take advantage of his ability to be disruptive and the move paid off. On first down, Calhoun's Jones sniffed out a run to his right and forced a 2 yard loss. Again on 4th down, Jones knifed in to make the play of the game and force a turnover on downs.

The Fighting Sand Crabs then outdid the Rangers first half long drive with one of their own. The drive consisted of 20 plays, five different rushers and 9:50 seconds rolled off the clock. It was capped when Lerma scored his second touchdown on a 1 yard plunge. Coach Whitaker called it the best drive of the season.

by Glenn McCarthy
@GlennMcCarthy44

J. C. Garcia (9-127, 1 TD)
Matt Lerma (15-51, 2 TD)
Payton Sanchez (20-137, 2 TD)
Isaiah Falcon (4-59)
Raheem Jones (1-34, 1 TD)

PLC stats provided by @johnrossstapp

Players of the Game- RB Payton Sanchez and DB Raheem Jones