Game photosSaturday, August 30, 2008
By Jason Orts
Tribune-Herald staff writer
As Toylon Clark and the Waco High offense stood on the sideline watching Friday night, their frustration just continued to build.
The San Marcos offense controlled the ball for more than 17 minutes in the first half, not allowing the Lions a chance to get anything going.
But on the first play of the second half, the Lions let all their frustrations out with Clark scampering through a gaping hole on the right side of the line for a 60-yard touchdown run. That jump-started the Lions, who outscored San Marcos 28-0 in the second half of a 35-6 win in the Heart of Texas Kickoff Classic.
“It was hard being on the sideline waiting to get into the game,” Clark said. “We talked about it at halftime that we were (going to score) on the first play when we got the ball. I got the ball and it was open, so I took it for a touchdown.”
The Rattlers came out on the opening drive of the game and immediately knocked a Lions defense playing 10 new starters on its heels.
San Marcos’ slot-T offense functioned like a machine, picking up small chunks of yardage at a time and chewing up clock, until Michael Wilburn broke loose for a 33-yard touchdown run. The extra point missed, but the Rattlers had a 6-0 lead after the nine-play, 80 yard drive that took more than five minutes off the clock.
The Waco High offense went three-and-out, and it appeared the Rattlers were on their way to another slow, efficient march when the Lions’ defense asserted itself.
On a first-and-10 at his own 44-yard line, San Marcos quarterback Ryan Schweers took the snap and tried to get what he could on what appeared to be a busted play.
But as Schweers was wrapped up by two Waco High defenders, the ball was dislodged and flew straight to linebacker Lamarquet Jones, who took it 45 yards the other way for a score. Ernesto Guevara’s extra point gave the Lions a 7-6 lead they never relinquished.
“I thought when we took the lead into the second half, not only did we gain a little momentum, but gained some confidence in ourselves,” said Waco High coach Johnny Tusa. “It was a situation in the first half where we were tip-toeing instead of walking with confidence. In the second half, when (your offense) gets inflated, you inflate your defense. We were fortunate to do that.”
Clark’s run got everyone going.
A San Marcos offense that operated so fluidly in the first half passed midfield only once after halftime, and the Lions had no problem with the Rattlers defense. The Lions racked up 210 yards of offense in the second half — 189 on the ground.
Charles Silmon, who sat out all of last season with a left knee injury, made it a 21-6 Waco High lead with a 64-yard run down the right sideline with 7:00 left in the third quarter.
It was 28-6 after the Lions caught the Rattlers on a blitz from the outside with a quick-hitter to fullback Keyshun Russell. There was nobody left inside, and Russell took the ball 44 yards to paydirt.
On the ensuing kickoff, San Marcos couldn’t field a high pooch kick, and the ball bounced around until Waco High’s Bwight Batts pounced on it at the Rattlers’ 14.
After a delay of game penalty, quarterback Kollin Kahler found Denzel Mitchell open on a fade route against one-on-one coverage in the end zone for a 19-yard score, the last of the game.
Tusa said he was pleased with his team’s performance in the second half and feels the Lions will take plenty from the win.
“I thought the defense for having 10 new faces out there performed unbelievably tonight,” he said. “Our defensive staff worked awfully hard to bring this bunch around, and I thought we got stronger as the game went on.”
Despite the win, it wasn’t all good news for the Lions. Silmon, who missed all of last season with a left knee injury, hurt his right knee on a cut during his touchdown run and was on crutches after the game. Tusa said the extent of the injury was unknown and that X-rays will be necessary.
