Klein Oak Panthers vs Klein Collins Tigers
October 16, 2009

Turnovers and penalties hurt Oak in loss to Collins.

Klein Oak Panthers hit the field hotter-than-rocks-in-a-forest-fire moving the ball down the field at will ……. and then ……  like water dousing flames of hope four first half turnovers cool their jets.

Mixing run and passing plays we march down the field on the first possession; you could feel it….. seven points on the way.  Collins takes over 1 and 10 after an interception deep in Tiger territory.  OAK Team ‘D’ hits Collins square in the jaw.  Linemen Nathan Hughes, Marcus McClendon and John Lewis stuff up a couple runs by KC.  Coverage by Trey Payne and Corey Abron force incomplete passes plus Collin Russell and Luke Muncie make strong hits against the run.  Collins punts.

The OAK offense picks up where it left off moving the ball at will; marching straight down field and scoring.  Andy Wilson connects with Max Stevenson for 9.  A couple plays later Nick Baratti runs left behind super up front blocking gaining 30 down to the Tiger 34.  The ‘O’ Line (Justin Moreno, Arthur Fatu, Skyler Denny, Greg Flores and Kyle Bottoms) give Wilson tons of time to throw hitting Tory Waites in the flat for a 36 yard TD.  A beautiful downfield block by Brandon McClain and Michael Starr then Waites does the rest.  Oak 6 and KC 0 the extra point was no good.  A few seconds later KC scores on the kick off; KC 7 Oak 6.

Another interception follows the quarter changes and KC scores; KC 14 Oak 6.  Michael Shroble punts on the next Panther possession.  KC next drive is stalled due to excellent ‘D’ by the entire KO unit.  BIG stops inside by McClendon and Lewis.  And BIG stops outside by Tyler Jones, Hughes and Payne.  The Tigers punt.  KO starts 1 and 10 on the Tiger 46 yard line.  Super fine field position!!!   A first down follows things are looking good…. you could smell another OAK TD in the air.  KC picks another INT…...  More great play by McClendon, Demetrich Gilliam, Jones, Dashone Smith and Payne.  Panther ‘D’ forces a quick 3 and punt.  On the punt OAK is flagged for a roughing the punter granting KC a new set of down and new life.  ‘D’ by the Panthers forces Collins to punt several plays later.  Huge plays on the edges (and in secondary) Abron and Jaime Garcia step up with big open field pops.  Gilliam and Hughes slam a screen pass for a loss.  Oak ball again.  Oak fumbles Collins recovers.  The 1st half ends; Oak 6 - KC 14.

The 3rd quarter starts with more super fine team ‘D’ by the hungry Panthers.  On a 4th and 3 from the KO 10 yard line McClendon and the D-line prevent a Tiger first down…..  Oak takes over on downs; 1 and 10 their own 10.  Wilson hits Starr on a quick 5 yard curl route.  Starr shakes and bakes down the right sideline all the way to the KC 45.  Picking up another 1st the drive stalls; Shroble comes in to try a 45 yard field goal (longest of the year).  With 1:39 seconds left in the 3rd KO makes the score 9 – 14.  Then……. 2 plays and 41 seconds later KC scores a TD.  Now KO trails 21 – 9.

 Penalties (the 4th quarter starts) then another INT and the Panther ‘D’ is back on the field.  KC punts.  Oak punts.  The Tigers score with 3:42 left in the game.  Time runs out on the clock.

The game is much closer than the score indicates; final score is KO 9 and Collins 28.    Next up is the Spring Lions. OakNation will be ready.  OAK’ em!!!