Klein Oak Panthers vs Cy Creek Cougars August 28, 2009
Klein Oak versus Cy – Creek; 2009 season under way.
Good news and bad news for Klein Oak football. The good news is the young panthers have a game under their belt and were in it until the very end against a good Cy – Creek team. Klein Oak Panthers ranked #4 and Cy – Creek ranked #8 in the city gave fans a second half to remember. The bad news; game slips away in the closing seconds of the 4th quarter.
Heavy winds out of the north keep the Panthers pinned deep in their own territory for most of the first quarter. After one first down and six plays the Panthers Michael Shroble punts into the brutal north wind. Cy – Creek has no luck on their first drive turning the ball over on downs after a big hit by corner Cory Abron. Oak starts their second possession from their own 28 yard line. Three short plays later the Panthers are forced to punt again.
From the Panther 47 yard line Cy – Creek starts drive number two. A hand full of plays later it’s first and goal on the Panther 8 yard line. Option right is stuffed by Nick Baratti (loss of one on the play) then an incomplete pass followed by an unsuccessful scramble under heavy pressure from the Panther ‘D’ Line (Nathan Hughes, Tom Call and Marcus McClendon) and Creek is forced to kick a field goal. Oak’s first goal line stand of the year. Creek scores first and leads 3 – 0.
A huge kick return by Cory Waites (following a super fine block by brother Tory Waites) gives Panthers a first and ten on the Creek 49. Unable to take advantage of this great field position Oak punts after 3 downs. Quarter changes Creek punts back and Oak takes the ball first and ten on the 44 yard line of Creek. A fumble gives Creek the ball on the 43 yard line of Oak. Two more plays and it’s first’ n goal on the Panther 1 yard line. BIG defensive stops by Luke Muncie and John Lewis and its goal line stand number two for Klein Oak. A field goal by Creek try goes wide left and the score stays at 3 – 0.
Oak takes over first and ten on their own 20. Walt Williams runs 18 yards off the right side only to have the play called back due to a penalty. Andy Wilson scrambles for a first down and it appears the Panthers may be starting something good. Another punt follows. Creek’s ball on their own 46, three running plays later and it’s 9 – 0. Muncie blocks the extra point.
Panthers start the following possession first and ten on the 20; the ‘O’ Line (Justin Moreno, Arthur Fatu, Jeremy Jones, Skyler Denny and Kyle Bottoms) gives Wilson just enough time to hit Cory for 30 yard pass play, Tory for 15 yards, two penalties help and then connects with Michael Starr for a 15 yard scoring touchdown . Panthers trail 7 – 9 after a successful extra point by Shroble. At halftime Creek leads by two.
Oak comes out in the 3rd quarter ready to rock n roll. Tough team D forces a quick punt by Creek (big hit by Trey Payne and Edward Germany on third down). Starting in Panther territory Cory gains big yardage on a reverse (Wilson key block to seal the corner). Fatu pulls right Bottoms, Denny and Moreno seal down and Wilson runs for 15 more. Starr catches one for 15 yards then Wilson connects with Tory in the corner of the end zone for an 8 yard TD strike. Shroble’s extra point is good and Oak leads 14 – 9.
More good defense from the Panthers to start the 4th quarter lead by a Hughes sack and an excellent open field tackle by Muncie plus great down field coverage by the secondary (Payne, Germany, Baratti and Abron) forces a Creek punt. With the ball deep in Panther territory Oak takes over 1st and ten on the 15. Both teams punt back and forth as the defenses tighten up (Hughes lands another sack).
From the Panther 38 Wilson runs for 30 behind good upfront blocking; Tory picks up a loose ball and rambles for another 10 yards. 1st and 10 for Oak on the Creek 26 yard line. The drive stales and Shroble hits a 42 yard field goal. Oak pushes the lead to 17 – 9. More punts….. with little time left on the clock Creek has the ball on their own 26 yard line. After several runs, a pass and a 2 point conversion and the score is all tied up at 17. Oak starts on the 20 after a deep kick that goes out of the end zone. On the first play from scrimmage an errant pass is intercepted and ran back to the Oak 16 by a Creek defender. Two plays later Creek goes in for the winning score.
With a few precious seconds left on the clock Oaks makes an effort to score again. Time runs out. The final score Creek 23 Oak 17.
