Klein Oak Panthers vs Tomball Cougars
October 9, 2009

Panthers air show slips and slides past Tomball in the ‘Mud Bowl’; 27 – 20.

On a cool Friday night in October Klein Oak meets Tomball in the Mud Bowl of 2009.  Heavy rains all week soaked the natural grass fields at Tomball Stadium.  The drenched field was chalked and ready for play Friday evening as the rain stops just after the start of play.  Early on the sparkling white Panther jerseys turned dark as the turf is ground into a murky slush.  Oh what fun!

The first quarter of play was slow and mired with sluggish offenses and charging defenses.  At the beginning of the 2nd quarter the score is still 0 – 0.  Several big plays on the defensive side of the ball kept the Cougar offense in check through the first 12 minutes.  Collin Russell, AJ Hilliard and Dashone Smith make key plays stuffing up the first series.  Then Nathan Hughes, Hilliard, Luke Muncie, Jaime Garcia, Kilraine Jones, Demetrich Gilliam, John Lewis and Smith (along with the rest of the defense) jam up the next two drives.  A key 4th down effort and the 2nd Tomball series is blasted by Hughes and Muncie allowing KO to take over on downs.  Oak did get a bit of traction in the first segment when Andy Wilson connected with Tory Waites on a seam route and outstanding run after the catch for 33 yard gain. 

Penalties kill the first Panther drive of the 2nd stanza.  The Cougars next possession starts deep in KO territory at the 24 yard line.  Stealth coverage on the outside by Corey Abron followed by a solo tackle in the flat by Gilliam forces a field goal try by Tomball making the score 0 – 3 midway through the 2nd quarter.  Panthers begin the next drive with a short gain up the middle by Nick Baratti.  Seems the Tomball ‘D’ has really got Oaks number when Wilson hits Waites on another seam route.  In a brilliant bit of running after the catch Waites slips and slides by (and through) 4 would be tacklers sprinting 77 yards to pay dirt. The score is KO 7 and Cougs 3 after a successful extra point kick by Oaks Michael Shroble. 

On fire again the Panther defense pounces on the Cougars.  Huge solo tackles by playmaking linebackers Hilliard and Russell force another punt.  Tough running ahead for Wilson and Baratti so back to the air we go…… behind super fine blocking by Jeremy Jones, Kyle Bottoms, Justin Moreno, Greg Flores, Skyler Denny and Brandon McClain; Wilson has time to hit Michael Starr for a 60 yard bomb on a deep fly route.  Starr steams past the Cougar corner and makes a great scamper through the mud into the end zone.  Oak 13 – Tomball 3. 

A TD saving tackle by Shroble on the kick off and Tomball has super field position again.  Exploding TFL by defensive end Lewis and a monster solo tackle in the flat by Trey Payne causes Tomball to try another field goal at the very end of the 2nd Q.  At halftime Oak leads 13 – 6.

Both offensives stutter again in the 3rd.  But then a Cougar punt is fumbled and recovered by Tomball setting up a TD.  Early in the Q3 it’s all knotted up at 13.  Oak punts and Tomball scores again making the score 13 – 20 midway through the 3rd. 

Mixing up the play calling on the next series is critical.  Excellent execution by the ‘O’ line (Jones, Bottoms, Moreno, Flores and Denny); Oak runs and throws through the mud like a dozer moving earth to expand I-45 …. again.  Baratti hits the end zone on a 2 yard dive behind super fine blocking on the left side by McClain, Denny and Flores.  The passing game was priceless (again) on this drive picking up great yardage on nice grabs in traffic by Waites and Starr.  Plus Wilson picked up a big first down on a QB sneak to keep the series alive on a 3rd and 1.  Penalties tried to stall out this TD but the Panthers pushed through the muck to score; the extra point into heavy north winds is not successful KO trails 19 – 20.

Bad – to – the - bone ‘D’ by Oak forces a punt at the beginning of the 4th stanza.  Muncie leads the mission with a TFL followed by serious pressure by the entire ‘D’ Line (Hughes, Jones and Lewis) and a knock – down pass on a fly route by Abron finish up the defensive exercise.  A very short punt by Tomball gives KO 1 – 10 on the Cougar 21.  Baratti makes quick work scoring on the first play from scrimmage on a 21 yard dash behind great team execution.  Oak leads 27 – 20 after a two point conversion by Baratti.

Three turnovers in the final minutes of the game keeps spectator interest high.  Payne picks off a pass on the next possession on a curl route and Oak has the ball again.  Penalties and incomplete passes, KO punts.  3 and out for Tomball after a sack by Hughes and big blast by Russell forcing yet another punt.  Oak picks up a valuable 1st then fumbles and Tomball recovers.  The Cougars try to push in for the game winning score….. but the Panther ‘D’ bows up and Payne snatches another interception.  Smith blitzes in for a TFL, a screen pass is beautifully read by Garcia, Hughes stuffs up a run play then Payne’s second pick on the night turns out the lights for Tomball.

Klein Oak nails down a come from behind win.  Game over and monkey off the Panther’s back as the clock runs out.  The final score is KO 27 and Tomball 20.  An excellent day for OakNation!!!   More district play next week and our Homecoming game.  OAK’ em……..