Texas Southern falls to Prairie View A&M in postponed Labor Day Classic

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 25, 2017) The Texas Southern Tigers drew blood first, with a field goal, but it was not enough to stop Prairie View A&M, as they dropped a 30-16 decision to the Panthers on Saturday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Tigers finish the season with a 2-9 record, while the Panthers head back to Prairie View posting a 6-5 record for 2017. The game, originally scheduled for Labor Day Weekend, was postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Harvey.

Prairie View A&M jumped out to a 14-3 lead at halftime, due to two late second quarter scores. Texas Southern got on the scoreboard at the 4:14 mark of the first quarter when kicker Aaron Cuevas (North Shore HS, Houston, Texas) booted a 34-yard field goal to give the Tigers the early lead. The Panthers came right back and scored twice in the final 2:21 of the game. They scored their first touchdown of the game when senior wide receiver Joshua Simmons (Jack Yates HS, Houston, Texas) caught a 36-yard pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Neiko Hollins  (Hightower HS, Fresno, Texas); to cap a four-play, 54-yard drive. With no time remaining in the half, Hollins connected with redshirt sophomore Ronald Collins (Lamar HS, Houston, Texas)  on a one-yard pass. The drive lasted 1:03, and covered 83 yards in seven plays. Freshman kicker Zach Elder (Johnson HS, San Antonio, Texas) split the upright on both extra points to close out the scoring in the first half.

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Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

After some spirited play in the third quarter, the Texas Southern defense got the Tigers back in the game when a Hollins pass was picked off by senior free safety Archie Rice (Agua Fria HS, Avondale, AZ) and returned 39 yards for the score. Cuevas' extra point was blocked, with TSU cutting Panthers' lead to five (14-9) with 5:52 left in the third quarter.

Prairie View came roaring back 2:32 into the third quarter when Hollis found junior tight end Zarrian Holcombe (Summer Creek HS, Houston, Texas) open over the middle as he plowed his way to the end zone after catching the 12-yard pass. Elder also has his extra point attempt blocked; giving the Panthers a 20-9 lead with 12:28 left in the game. Elder increased the Panthers' point total by three when he booted a 32-yard field goal with 7:18 remaining in the game. They added an addition touchdown with 2:20 left in the game when redshirt senior running back Sta'Fon McCray (Osceola HS, North Kissimmee, Florida) carried the ball the final yard of a 27-yard drive for the score. The Tigers scored their second TD of the game with 24 seconds remaining in the game when junior running back Brad Woodard (Dickinson HS, Dickinson, Texas) rushed 46 yards for the score.

With the win, the Panthers cut Texas Southern's all-time record to 44-28-1; while wining the last three games; 38-11 (2015) and 29-25 (2016).

North Shore downs Clear Springs to stay alive in UIL Football playoffs

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Kristina McKay and Tommy Boatman

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Used with permission.

By Kristina McKay
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 24, 2017) The Clear Springs Chargers faced the North Shire Mustangs in the area playoffs today at Pasadena's Veterans Memorial Stadium.

In the first half, Clear Springs scored on Peyton Sawyer's 80-yard kickoff return following North Shore's first touchdown for a 7-7 tie. The Chargers tied the game again when quarterback Garrett Rooker connected with Michael Gillaspia on a 15-yard touchdown strike.

Clear Springs tied the game for the last time at 21 when Rooker threw a perfect pass on a fly pattern to senior wide receiver Christian Waller to complete a 63-yard scoring play just 5:23 before intermission, but they would not score again and Clear Springs fell to the North Shore Mustangs' 52-21.

North Shore held a 15-3 edge in first downs while limiting the Chargers to two completions and four yards rushing in the opening two quarters.

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Kristina McKay and Tommy Boatman

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Used with permission.

If sophomore sensation Evans wasn't plenty to handle, freshman phenom Davis was just as troublesome for Springs, completing 17 of 25 passes for 252 yards and a score.

Evans scored on runs of five and 79 yards on North Shore's first two possessions of the second half as the lead quickly swelled to 42-21 late in the third quarter. He would add a 16-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and Mustang kicker John Villalobos hit a 34-yard field goal to complete the win.

Zachary Evans scored on runs of five and 79 yards on North Shore's first two possessions of the second half as the lead quickly swelled to 42-21 by the 4:59 mark of the third quarter.

North Shore (8-3) next meets Lamar (10-1) at 7 p.m., Friday, December 1 at Rice Stadium in a regional semifinal.

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Kristina McKay and Tommy Boatman

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Used with permission.

 

Photo by Houston Sports Images

Kristina McKay and Tommy Boatman

Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved 
Used with permission.

Former Houston Dynamo star Will Bruin leads Seattle to a 2-0 playoff win

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Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

By Lou Roesch

Special Correspondent

Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 23, 2017)  Forward Will Bruin (No. 17, shown left) sealed Seattle’s opening leg win over his former team minutes before halftime on Tuesday night in Houston. Traded following the 2016 season after recording his worst scoring output in his six years as a Dynamo, the veteran rebounded with an 11 goal season in 2017. Bruin has become the perfect complement to Clint Dempsey, national team scoring legend.

Seattle, who seeking its second MLS Cup title in as many seasons, opened the scoring behind a Gustav Svennson header in the eleventh minute. The Swede’s unlikely goal was just in second in 32 appearances with Seattle.

Eighteen minutes later, Houston keeper Joe Willis’ stop of a Seattle penalty conversion only delayed the inevitable giving the record crowd of more than 22,000 Dynamo faithful faint hope that Houston would rebound with a win.

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Joevin Jones, pulled down in the box that led to Dynamo defender Jalil Anibaba’s red card departure from the game, delivered a perfect header to the far post. Bruin perfectly position sent a soaring header into the back of the net for his second 2017 playoff goal of the season.  It was also the second goal of the season for the former Dynamo star against his old team this season. His twelfth goal of the season put Houston in a two goal bind from which only five teams in MLS playoff history had ever rebounded to win the match.

“I heard a nice ‘F-U Bruin’ chant, so that was good,” Bruin said with a laugh. “It didn’t surprise me though. I was happy to score and get the win.”

To make matters worse for Houston, Bruin who has scored more goals than any other player at BBVA Compass Stadium raced towards the corner where he would usually greet his Dynamo teammates only this time, no one was there to celebrate the wide-eyed smiling Bruin.

Seattle needs but a 0-0 draw in the leg 2 game on Thursday at home. Bruin, who helped lead Houston to MLS Cup title games in 2011 and 2012 would like nothing more than to eliminate his old team and return the Sounders Major League Soccer’s championship game in 2017. “It would be great to be in Seattle and knock Houston out to go to MLS Cup,” Bruin said with a smile.

Five times in MLS playoffs history has a team come back from 0-2 down to win a game (not series). Never has it been done playing shorthanded.

Houston Dynamo come up short against Seattle Sounders

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Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 21, 2017) The Houston Dynamo conceited two goals in the first half, which led to their 2-0 loss to to the Seattle Sounders in the first leg of the Western Conference Finals at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston on Tuesday, November 21, 2017. The Sounders jumped out to their early lead when defender Gustav Svensson connected off a corner kick in the 11th minute.

In the 29nd minute, Sounder defender Joevin Jones was brought down in the box, by Houston defender Jalil Anibaba. The official, deemed Jones was denied a scoring opportunity and a penalty kick was awarded. Midfielder  Nicolas Lodeiro took the kick, which was blocked by Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis. Anibaba was issued a red card; forcing the Dynamo to continue play a man down. After the red card, Houston defender Alberth Elis was issued a yellow card for arguing (dissent) about the red card.

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The Sounders added an additional goal 13 minutes later when former Dynamo forward Will Bruin headed the ball pass Willis for Seattle's second goal of the game. The Dynamo's woes continued in the first half when midfielder Toma Martinez was issued a yellow card , in the 44th minute, after he clipped a Seattle player, and ran over another. The first half ended with the Sounders up 2-0, and that is where the game ended. Houston now travels to Seattle for the second leg of conference final. They will need to best the Sounders by three goals in order to advance to the MLS final. Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera (shown above left) stated after the game.

“We started off well, we created quick options right away, set pieces with Alberth, but then we conceded the first goal on a set piece, to go behind 1-0. We spoke about if something goes wrong, we just need to keep playing, trying to do our job, and do not make silly mistakes where we have to play with 10 men. But it happened. And that's difficult. When you're losing 1-0 against a team like the Seattle Sounders and even though Joe did very well on the PK, then we conceded the second goal too soon and we went to halftime. I told the guys that we needed to do a different type of job. We needed to defend a little bit better, and we have to take the risk to leave two forwards up front. So Alberth and Mauro went up front just to take a risk and to try to see if we could have got the ball right there and tried to counter attack and try to go at them. I think we have a few options, but we have to put that in. And we didn't punish them and…the game is over and now we have to think that we need; we have to prepare ourselves for Seattle. In Seattle, can we win? Yes. We're going to go with the mentality that we can win that game. Because we have a good team and we can be dangerous. We can defend better; we have to defend better. It's going to be a tough game, but we have to have a good mentality, and we're going to take risks over there. We're going to take risks, because that's the one option. So it's another 90 minutes at their home and we need to prepare ourselves for those 90 minutes. It's going to be the last 90 minutes for us or it's going to be some kind of miracle, and I believe in that.”

Elis discussed the outcome after the game with the press.

“We never expected this would happen. But this is football and there’s 90 minutes left. We are going to try our best and leave everything on the field in Seattle. This is football. We have to recover from this game, give our all and fight for our ticket to the final. They scored a goal from a defensive error during a set piece. I don’t think we have conceded from a corner kick this whole season. Then we get a player sent off and it became difficult for us to get back into the game. For a comeback, we have to play a perfect game if we want to win. We know it will be difficult like the game in Portland. But this is football and we know that anything can happen.”

Tom Savage throws for two touchdowns as Houston beats Arizona 31-21

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Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 19, 2017) Tom Savage (No. 3, shown right) earned the second win of his professional career as the Houston Texans (4-6) downed the Arizona Cardinals by the score of 31-21 at NRG Stadium in Houston. Savage completed 22-of-32 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball one time and was intercepted once.

The Texans scored first, 58 seconds into the second quarter, when Savage connected with Lamar Miller on a seven yard pass for the touchdown. Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked the extra point to cap the 89-yard, 12-play drive that lasted 6:59. The drive was the second possession of the game for Houston. The Cardinals came right back and scored eight minutes later. The Texans, on a  second-and-five play on the own 24-yard line, Savage was sacked by rookie defensive end Budda Baker, causing the Texan quarterback to fumble. Baker, who played his college ball at Washington, recovered the fumble. The Cardinals moved the ball the 17 yards, in two plays, to score their first touchdown. Blaine Gabbert completed a 20 yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald for six points. Phil Dawson converted the kicking extra point to tie the score at seven.

Savage turned over the ball again in the second quarter with 2:32 remaining in the first half, on a pass intended for Stephen Anderson. Patrick Peterson caught the off-target pass, giving the Cardinals the ball on the Texan 15-yard line. Two plays later, Gabbert connected Ricky Seals-Jones for the score. Again, Dawson tacked on the extra point to give Arizona a 14-7 with 1:48 left in the first half. The Texans took possession and drove the the field in nine plays to kick a 34-yard field goal; cutting the Cardinals' lead to 14-10 at the half.

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The Texans took the lead just short of four minutes into the third quarter when Savage hit DeAndre Hopkins (No. 10, shown left) deep on the left side for a 28-yard touchdown pass. Fairbairn added the extra point to give the Texans a 17-14 lead. Arizona rallied right back and scored seven minutes later on a Gabbert to Seals-Jones 28-yard pass and Dawson extra point. They added two more scored in the fourth quarter; a three-yard run and a 34-yard run; both by D'Onte Foreman. Fairbairn kicked both extra points to give him seven points for the day.

Forman carried the ball 1o times for 65 yards while Lamar Miller added 61 yards to the Texans' total on 22 carries and caught four passes for 22 yards and one TD. He currently leads the Texans with 162 carries for 604 yards and two touchdowns. Hopkins caught four passes for 76 yards and his single touchdown; pushing his season total to 62 receptions for 879 yards and nine TDs.

The Texans are averaging 26.7 points per game, which is sixth in the league. They are also averaging 350 total yards (12th), 221 passing yards (17th), and 128.5 rushing yards (6th). They will hit the road for their next two games; Baltimore on Monday, November 27 and Tennessee on Sunday, December 10. Their next home game will be against San Francisco on Sunday, December 10.

HBU scores 33 points in season ending loss to Sam Houston State

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS (November 18, 2017) The Houston Baptist University Huskies tallied 415 yards of total offense and scored 33 points, in their best performance of the season in a 53-33 loss to No. 4 Sam Houston State University at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville on Saturday, The Huskies scored five times; once in each of the first three quarters and twice in the fourth, for their largest scoring performance of the season

Their first score was a 22-yard run by freshman quarterback Bailey Zappe, along with a Alec Chadwick extra point. The TD capped  a four-play, 47-yard drive that lasted 1:15. With 2:06 remaining in the second quarter, Zappe completed a two-yard pass to senior halfback Mev Ajdin for six points. Again, Chadwick split the uprights for the extra point; giving the Huskies 14 points as they headed to the locker room. In the third quarter, Zappe connected with senior running back Terrance Peters with a 23-yard pass for their third score. They added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter; a 12-yard run by senior wide receiver Isaiah Hall and an 11-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Jack Swenson to junior wide receiver David Racine. Defensively, senior linebackers Cody Moncure and Garrett Dolan led the Huskies with 11 and nine tackles, respectively.

Offensively, Zappe completed 12-of-23 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns. in addition to rushing for 25 yards on four carries. Hall tallied seven  carries for 90 yards with Swenson completed six passes for 71 yards. Senior wide receiver Ethan Fry caught four passes for 76 yards.

Peters finishes the season with 126 carries for 452 yards and three touchdowns while Fry 40 passes for  527 yards and two touchdowns. Zappe completed 150 passes for 1.548, yards and five touchdowns.  









The Bearkats  jumped out to a 26-7 lead after 15 minutes of play, In the first quarter, which lasted just over one-hour, Sam Houston tallied 229 of their XXX total yards.

North Shore down Deer Park 48-7; advance to Area Round

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

DEER PARK, TEXAS (November 17, 2017) The North Shore Mustangs stampeded into Abshire Stadium in Deer Park and quickly showed why they are one of the dominant teams in the Houston area; downing the Deer Park Deer by the score of 48-7 in Bi-District action and as a results; advanced to the Area Round of the U.I.L. playoffs. 

The Mustangs put 21 points in the scoreboard in the first quarter and added an additional touchdown three minutes into the second quarter before the Deer could manage to get the ball into the end zone. The touchdown, a one-yard run by Broc Weidner, along with the Cameron Garner extra point were all the District 22-6A champion could muster. The Mustangs posted 519 yards of total offense, with 282 yards coming in the air, while holding the Deer to 228 yards in the air and only 19 yards rushing. Mustang starting quarterback Dematrius Davis completed all nine of his passing attempts for 241 yards and three touchdowns. while Zach Evans rushed six times for 110 yards. 

Texas Southern Tigers drop hard fought game to Southern Jaguars, 33-7

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Kristina McKay and Tommy Boatman

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Used with permission.

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 11, 2017) The Texas Southern Tigers, despite putting up a valiant effort, could not contain the offensive strength of the Southern Jaguars; dropping a 33-7 decision in SWAC football action. The 6,000-plus fans at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium witnessed the Jaguars push their season record to 7-3 (5-1 in conference action), while the Tigers fell to 1-8 (1-4 in conference). Southern holds on to a solid second place standing in the Western Division of the SWAC; behind No. 11 Grambling State. 

It took almost the entire first quarter before either team found the end zone. The Jaguars did it first, on a Herb Edwards 71-yard run with 56 seconds left in the quarter. The score capped a three-play, 90-yard drive that lasted only 57 seconds. They added two Cesar Barajas field goals; both late in the second quarter, of 30 and 18 yards to close out the first half with Southern leading 13-0.

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Kristina McKay and Tommy Boatman

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Used with permission.

Southern came right out in the second half and picked up where they left off; scoring another touchdown after 3:29 of play. Quarterback Austin Howard found tight end Dennis Craig open, and hit him with a 10-yard pass for the score. It took the Jaguars 10 plays to  over the 75 yards to the end zone. They added an insurance touchdown when Demerio Houston returned a Donald Halsltead  TSU punt 74 yards for the score with two minutes left in the third quarter.

The Texas Southern Tigers scored 40 seconds into the fourth quarter to avert a shutout, when Elijah Odom rushed the final 11 yards of their 67-yard drive for their only touchdown of the game. Southern responded with another touchdown when freshman red shirt wide receiver Christopher Chaney, who was not listed on the depth chart, scored from two yards out.  Odem rushed for 118 yards on 23 carries and completed three passes for 50 yards.

Next up for Texas Southern is a Saturday, November 18 road trip to play Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 

HBU Huskies fall short to Lamar fourth quarter surge.

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Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 11, 2017) The Houston Baptist University Huskies were leading a charmed life in the first quarter with two touchdowns within six minutes of each other. However, the Lamar Cardinals found the same charm late in the game; score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to down the Huskies by the score of 23-16 at Husky Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Linebacker Garrett Dolan; in the next-to-last game of his college career; continued his stellar senior year, tallying 16 tackles. Fellow senior linebacker Cody Moncure contributed 11, with junior Kyle Bowling adding eight of his own. 

In the first quarter, the Cardinals had the ball, with a first-and-ten on the Husky 24-yard line. Quarterback Blake McKenzie attempted a pass; which was intercepted by Raphael Lewis, and return 98 yards for the touchdown. Alec Chadwick added the extra point to give HBU a 7-0 lead at the 12:35 mark of the first quarter. They added their second TD of the game when Lamar fumbled a punt return, giving the Huskies the ball on their own 13-yard line. LaDarius Dickens caught a Terrence Peters 13-yard pass for the touchdown with 6:38 remaining in the first quarter. On the extra point attempt, the Cardinals blocked the kick, with Rodney Randle, Jr. picking up the ball and returning it 97-yards for two points. Lamar got their first touchdown of the game with 40 left in the half on a four-yard run by Myles Wanza. Elvin Martinez kicked the extra point. At halftime, both teams headed the to locker rooms with HBU holding a 13-9 lead.The Huskies added a Chadwick 58-yard field goal in the third quarter, but it was not enough to compensate for the Cardinals' fourth quarter scores.

Sophomore Jesse Crebbe completed three-of-19 passes for 21 yards, while Terrence Peters completed one pass for 13 yards and one touchdown. In addition, Peters carried the ball 13 times for 72 yards with LaDarius Dickens added 13 carries for 72 yards.

The Huskies will close out the 2017 season with a Saturday, November 18 game against No. 4 Sam Houston State in Huntsville.

HBU Huskies close out regular season with 3-1 win over Southeastern Louisiana

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By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 11, 2017)  The Houston Baptist University Huskies closed out the regular volleyball season with a 3-1 win over Southeastern Louisiana at Sharp Gymnasium on Saturday. The Huskies dropped the first set 25-22, but rebounded to take the next three by the scores of 25-15, 25-21, 25-9. 

HBU was led by senior middle blocker Blair Gillard (La Grange, Texas) with 15.5 points while tallying 11 kills. Senior outside hitter Bailey Banks  (Missouri City, Texas)  added 14.5 points and 12 kills with senior outside hitter Jessica Wooten (Humble, Texas) contributed 14 points and 13 kills

For the Lady Lions, freshman middle blocker Sam Gomez (Manderville, Louisville) scored 13.5 points and had 10 kills with sophomore outside hitter Chloee Holden (Alvin, Texas) and sophomore Elyssa Purcell both scoring 10 points. Also, junior Lexie Torres (San Antonio, Texas) had 15 digs.

The Huskies will next play in the Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament on November 17-19 at the Dugan Wellness Center in Corpus Christi, against a yet undetermined opponent.

Clear Springs outlasts Clear Lake for 24-6A title

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Kristina McKay and Tommy Boatman
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Used with permission.

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

WEBSTER, TEXAS (November 10, 2017) The Clear Springs Chargers scored two touchdowns in the first quarter in route to downing the Clear Lake Falcons by the score of 35-27 to  capture the U.I.L. District 21-6A football title at Challenger Columbia Stadium on Friday.

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Kristina McKay and Tommy Boatman
Used with permission.

The Chargers waste no time getting on the scoreboard, driving down the field on their first possession. They advanced to the one-yard line; with sophomore Garrett Rooker scoring on a quarterback keeper. With the successful kicking conversion by senior Seth Porter, the Chargers went up 7-0 halfway through the first quarter. After a three-and-out by the Falcons; Clear Springs took the punt on their own 49-yard line. Again, Rooker engineered a successful drive; this time for 51 yards for their second score of the game. He connected with senior wide receiver Peyton Sawyer, down the right side, for the touchdown. Porter again split uprights for the extra point to give the Chargers a 14-0 lead with 3:27 remaining in the first quarter.

The Falcons quickly rebounded from their 14-point deficit on their next possession. After the Clear Springs kickoff, Clear Lake the ball to the Springs 30-yard-line. Quarterback Shae Sulaunoa handed gave the ball to sophomore wide receiver Brendon Holmes and he headed for the end zone. After three attempts, he finally crossed the goal line with 38 seconds to go in the quarter. Junior Nathan Eastin added the extra point, and the Chargers lead was cut to seven.

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Kristina McKay and Tommy Boatman
Used with permission.

Clear Springs jumped right back into the mix; scoring on their very next possession, this time on a Todd Hudson II rush, to again give Clear Springs a 14 points lead. Both teams headed to the locker room at halftime with Clear Springs leading 21-14.

The Falcons scored six points in the third quarter on a 66-yard pass from Suiaunoa to senior wide receiver Ja'Kori Morgan at the 7:37 mark. Clear Springs responded three minute late with another Rooker to Sawyer pass; this time a 80-yarder. They added an insurance TD with 8:50 left in the game with a four-yard run by sophomore running back Isaiah Bibb. Clear Lake posted the final score of the game with 80 seconds remaining on a Suiaunoa to Mason pass. Porter connected on all five extra point attempts while Eastin was 3-of-4 on kicking conversions.

The Chargers (7-2) will host Pearland at 7 p.m., next Friday at Challenger Columbia Stadium in a Division I playoff battle while the Falcons (7-3) will entertain George Ranch in a Division II clash at 7 p.m., Veterans Memorial Stadium in League City.

Houston Dynamo, Seattle Sounders Western Conference Game Sold Out

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Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 10, 2017) A limited number of Standing Room Only tickets are all that remain for the Houston Dynamo's Western Conference Championships match against the Seattle Sounders scheduled for  Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at BBVA Compass Stadium. All reserved seats for the match have been sold out.

The match will be the second meeting in posts season for the two teams.  The two sides met in the 2009 Western Conference Semifinals, with the Dynamo advancing 1-0 on aggregate in the two-leg series thanks to a goal from Brian Ching, in the 96th minute of the second leg.

The Dynamo and the Sounders have met 16 times in regular-season action, with Houston trailing the all-time series 4-6-6. The teams met twice this season, with Houston capturing a 2-1 victory on Opening Day at BBVA Compass Stadium and Seattle garnering a 1-0 victory at Century Link Field on June 4.

The Dynamo closed the regular season with a record of 13-10-11 and 50 points, good for fourth in the Western Conference table. Seattle finished tied atop the West with a 14-9-11 mark and 53 points.

The Dynamo won the MLS Cup in 2006 and 2007, becoming the second team in league history to repeat as champions. Their 31 games played in the postseason are the most by any club since 2006 and their four MLS Cup Final appearances are tied for the most in the league over that time span. This is Houston’s seventh trip to the Conference Championship in its 12-year existence and first since 2013.

HBU hosts Lamar in final home game of season

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Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 10, 2017) The Houston Baptist University Huskies will host the Lamar Cardinals in their final home game of the 2017 season on Saturday, November 11 at Husky Stadium in Houston, Both teams post  identical records; 1-8 for the season and 0-7 in Southland Conference.  

The Huskies have outscored its opponents 50-30 in the first quarter this season. In addition, they have scored a touchdown on their opening drive three times and has led or been tied after the first quarter in seven of nine times. Senior wide receiver Ethan Fry had set new HBU records for receptions (36) and yards (451) with a pair of touchdowns and is the Huskies’ all-time leader with 96 catches for 1,343 yards. On Nov. 4, he posted the second 100-plus yard receiving performance in school history with 111 at #17 Nicholls.

Freshman running back James Brown recorded the sixth 100-plus-yard rushing performance, carrying 14 times for 118 yards and a touchdown in a 24-17 victory over Texas Southern. He opened the Huskies’ final drive with a 34-yard gain, then capped it with a 33-yard touchdown run that essentially put the game away. Brown earned STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week honorable mention for his performance.

Senior linebacker Garrett Dolan, who ranked second in the nation in tackles last year to earn AP and STATS FC All-America honors, has been named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America Team, the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List for the nation’s top defensive player, the College Football Yearbook FCS Starting Lineup and was a Southland Preseason All-Conference First Team selection. Dolan has made 510 career tackles and is a three-time All-Southland pick.

HBU has 13 fifth-year seniors who have been with the program since it’s beginning: Terrell Brown III, Tyler Brown, Garrett Dolan, Ethan Fry, Danny Garza, Christian Guzman, Tyler Helaire, Austin Holley, B.J. Kelly, Kameron Lecoq, Cody Moncure, Eduardo Osegueda and Taylor Thompson

Senior linebacker Garrett Dolan ranks fourth all-time in FCS history with 510 career tackles. He leads the Southland and is ranked third nationally with 12.8 tackles per game.

Lamar leads the all-time series against HBU, 2-1, with the Huskies scoring their first-ever Southland Conference road win last year with a 24-17 victory over the Cardinals on Oct. 29 in Beaumont. HBU will hit the road to take on No. 4 Sam Houston State in the regular-season finale Saturday, November 18 at 1 p.m. at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas.

Houston Texans pass starting QB role to Tom Savage after Watson season-ending injury

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By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 5, 2017)  With a few hours left before Houston faces the Indianapolis Colts, the talk among Texan fans is can backup quarterback Tom Savage fill the shoes left by injured rookie Deshaun Watson (shown right). Beginning at 12 noon CST, those in the stands at NRG Stadium and millions more watching on television will see if the success generated under command of their rookie quarterback, who was injured earlier in the week during practice, will continue with Savage.

Watson, who was having a remarkable rookie season, tore his ACL in a non-contact drill on Thursday. As a result, Watson is out for the season and Savage will take command of the Texans on the field. Texan staff quickly signed Matt McGloin to back up Savage and also were in the process of signing T.J. Yates to also serve in a back up role, according the ESPN's Dan Graziano and Jeff Dickerson.

Savage has seen limited action in 2017, playing in two games, completing seven passes (on 13 attempts) for 62 yards and no touchdowns. After playing four seasons with the Oakland Raiders (2013-2016), he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles on April 10, 2017. He was released by the Eagles on September 1, 2017. In his four seasons in Oakland, he played in 13 games, started in seven, and was 171-of-277 for 1,868 yards and 11 touchdowns, while throwing 11 interceptions. 2017 will be Yates' third stint with the Texans; first playing from 2011 to 2013, and again in 2015. In 2016 he saw action in one game for Miami.

No matter what happens inside NRG Stadium on Sunday, the Texans and their fans are going to miss Watson in the backfield.

Last minute TD by Nicholls State downs HBU 23-17

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Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 4, 2017) In a game that saw the HBU Huskies three seconds from going into overtime;  No. 17 Nicholls State threw a desperation pass that resulted in a touchdown; giving the Colonels a 23-17 win. The Huskies tied the score with on a 44-yard field goal by Alec Chadwick with 23 seconds remaining in the game. With the Huskies' kickoff, the Colonels moved the ball 53 yards in three plays for the score and the win.

Nicholls State scored first with a 50-yard field goal by Lorran Fonseca in the first quarter. HBU followed up  with a one-yard touchdown run by B.J. Kelly and a Chadwick extra point to give HBU a 7-3 after 15 minutes of play. The Huskies added another TD and extra point when Bailey Zappe connected with Ethan Fry on a nine-yard pass for the score while Chadwick added another extra point. That cloed out the first half scoring with HBU leading 14-6. The Colonels added safety and a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 17. before the Husky field goal and Nicholls touchdown in the final 23 seconds.

The loss drops the Huskies to a 1-8 record for the season and an 0-7 mark in conference play. Next up for HBU is a Saturday, November 11 game against Lamar on Senior Day/Military Appreciation Day at Husky Field.

They close out the 2017 season with a November 18 road game against Sam Houston State.