Brownsboro coach Greg Pearson has a goal in every game for his defense to force at least two turnovers.

According to Pearson, the Bears were only able to force one Friday against Bullard – a 94-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Kevon by senior Kevon Thompson as part of a 49-35 win at Bear Stadium.

“I guess if we only have one, (that) is a good one to have,” said Pearson who is 2-1 in his first season with the Bears.

Brownsboro is also unbeaten at home with wins over Canton (26-21) and Bullard.

“That’s nice. I wish we could be undefeated on the road too,” Pearson said of Brownsboro’s 49-20 loss two weeks ago at Spring Hill.

“Bullard was a great opponent. I was told (Brownsboro) hadn’t beat (the Panthers) in seven or eight years.”

Brownsboro’s last win over the Panthers came in 2010, a 49-21 victor on the road.

On Friday, the Bears surrendered 353 yards of offense and allowed Bullard to rally back from a 27-7 halftime deficit. With the game tied 35-35 in the fourth quarter, Thompson put Brownsboro back ahead to stay with a 26-yard scoring run.

“They came back with a big charge in the third quarter and we had to earn it,” Pearson said. “We had to fight; to compete; and I was really proud of them.”

Pearson said a big reason for Brownsboro securing the win is taking care of the football. A week after committing six turnovers in a loss to Spring Hill, Brownsboro turned it over once.

Bears quarterback Jonathan Surlet tossed three touchdown passes, which was enough to keep Bullard’s defense honest as the Bears Wing-T attack totaled 328 yards and touchdowns by Saul Williams (12, 1) and Thompson (26) sealed the deal.

Thompson is averaging 153 yards per game and 12 yards per carry.

Brownsboro (2-1) returns to the road Friday to face Mineola (1-2), which grabbed first fin of the season, 34-14 over Wills Point. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Meredith Memorial Stadium in Mineola.

“They are the defending state champs and they expect to win every time they step on the field,” Pearson said. “They will be a very tough test.”

 

CHAPEL HILL FORCES TATUM MISTAKES

The Chapel Hill Bulldogs are 2-1 through three games, and coming off an impressive 38-14 win over Tatum on Friday.

Chapel Hill finished with nearly 400 yards of offense in the victory and also forced four turnovers.

“It really was a complete game in all phases,” Bulldogs coach Jason Hooker said. “Our defense just played lights out. Offensively, we were able to spread the ball around and we made a field goal on special teams.”

Sophomore quarterback Khalan Griffin rushed for 168 yards and scored three touchdowns while also completing 12 of 26 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. The highlight of the night was Griffin breaking free for an 84-yard touchdown run. He now has three passing touchdowns and rushed for 406 yards and three scores on the season.

“It’s early, but he has stepped up in that role and performed well,” Hooker said about his young quarterback. “We knew he could be an explosive runner; where we needed him to develop is in the passing. If we can stay balanced, that is really going to strengthen us offensively.”

After losing 28-14 to Whitehouse in a game Hooker thought his defense “played pretty well” in, Chapel Hill jumped on Tatum in the opening minutes and stayed in control.

“We had a great long drive to open the game with a score and then had an interception early that set up another score for us,” Hooker said of the 14-0 start.

On defense, Adrian Berry paced Chapel Hill with 15 tackles, 10 of them solo while also causing a fumble.

Even when Tatum stopped Chapel Hill, the Eagles were forced to begin possessions from deep in their own territory, thanks to Bulldogs punter Javier Estrada, who punted five times, three of those placed inside the 20.

Chapel Hill now prepares to host Gladewater (1-2). That game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bulldog Stadium. The Bears have lost twice, but those came against Kilgore and No. 1 Carthage. Gladewater won last week 17-3 on the road at Center.

“They are a whole different type of style to prepare for. Everyone is spread and sometimes you may see a tight end, but to actually see someone in the Pro formation with a fullback (like Gladewater does),” Hooker continued. “These guys are basically lining up and running at you. It’s a different practice plan and mindset. It’s a challenge to prepare for, but I am excited about the matchup.”

 

TROUP LIMITS ELKHART RUSHING ATTACK

The Tigers knew the only way to defeat Elkhart would be to find a way to contain their power running game enough to score more points.

Troup’s defense deserves extra credit.

The Tigers held Elkhart -came in averaging over 300 yards rushing per game – to 89 yards on 36 attempts. Troup also stymied the Elks passing game, holding their visitors to 14 yards.

It all added up to a 28-7 win and 2-0 state for John Eastman’s Tigers.

“We answered a few questions for ourselves,” Eastman said of the win. “The kids played hard. We were wanting to be a little more physical, so it was a good game for us.”

Eastman credited his defensive line for standing up to a much bigger Elkhart front which allowed the Tiger linebackers and secondary to fly to the football.

“We just played aggressive and maybe it shocked them a little bit at first,” Eastman said. “The big thing was we kept making (their backs) run East and West. They never could get North and South and that was huge for us.”

Troup led 14-7 at halftime and outscored Elkhart 14-0 in the second half. Weslee Ross tossed two touchdowns in the game, both to Tristan Clark, and also scored twice on the ground.

“We adjusted to some things during the game and was able to get the third receiver open,” Eastman said of the offense. “Weslee made some really good throws.”

With its ground game stalled, any chance Elkhart had of getting back in the game would have to come through the air, but Troup did not allow that either.

“We were bringing six and seven almost every time,” Eastman said. “Their quarterback was never able to stand in the pocket and throw.”

Troup faces Palestine Westwood this week. The Panthers are 1-1 with a victory over Frankston in their opener and a 34-6 loss last week to Kirbyville.

Eastman said Westwood’s speed makes them a challenge.

“They are not as physical as Elkhart on offensive and defensive lines. They are more based on quickness. They have some explosive kids,” Eastman said. “We have to win the ball (up front). The most important thing is for us to prevent the big play. Offensively it’s simple. We have to establish the run and (be physical).”

The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Westwood Panther Stadium in Palestine.

 

JACKSONVILLE HONORS INJURED TEAMMATE IN 15-14 WIN

Indians head coach Wayne Coleman was a little concerned about his team as it went into the locker room trailing Hallsville 14-7.

“We had lost our senior team captain and defensive leader Scooter Baker to a season-ending injury the week before against Palestine, and I felt like we looked like we still had a hangover from that,” Coleman said of the halftime talk. “We told them to honor Scooter with our play in the second half.”

Coleman said Hallsville hadn’t faced much resistance from Jacksonville in the first half, but spurned on by the halftime speech, went out in the second half and blanked the Bobcats.

Jacksonville forced four three-and-outs and also had an interception.

With seven minutes remaining and the score still 14-7, the Tribe used a 42-yard pass play from Dontrail

Session to Cade Chandler to move Jacksonville inside the 10. Coleman said the Tribe went to a Wildcat package with T.J. Ratliffe running it in from 3 yards out to make it 14-13.

The Tribe decided to go for two and put the ball back in the hands of Session, who took the snap and connected with Jaeshun Bush for the conversion and 15-14 lead.

Any chance Hallsville had of answering was stopped when Jacksonville forced its fourth three-and-out of the half.

Despite the win and Jacksonville now 2-1, Coleman admits the Tribe’s offense needs to improve going forward and the defense needs to keep playing lights out.

“We’ve got some things to clean up. We had three dropped passes on third down (against Hallsville) and those are drive killers,” Coleman said. “You have to make those plays.”

Jacksonville is at home Friday against Mount Pleasant. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. from the Tomato Bowl.

“They are talented on the offensive side of the ball and have a great athlete at quarterback,” Coleman said. “Most of their firepower is on the offensive side, so we are going to have our hands full, but (our defensive is ahead of our offense right now, so that works). It’s kind of a good matchup; it’s the matchup we need right now.” 

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