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Conroe gives strong effort in tough loss to Klein Forest
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| Klein Forest’s Vernon Rogers is tackled by Conroe’s Chris Parks with Blake Cavil closing in during third-quarter play Friday night at Buddy Moorhead Memorial Stadium. To view or purchase this photo, and others like it, visit http://hcnonline.mycapture.com. |
By Howard Roden
Former Conroe High football coach W.T. Stapler was at Buddy Moorhead Memorial Stadium Friday night to watch two of his proteges meet in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.
It was a performance that no doubt made Stapler proud.
In what was a throwback to a previous era, Klein Forest prevailed over the host Tigers 13-7 in a classic defensive battle.
The Golden Eagles limited Conroe High to 128 total yards, 68 of which came on the Tigers’ lone touchdown drive. The District 13-5A co-champions made several stands, including one on fourth-and-one at the KF five that would have resulted in a go-ahead score at the start of the fourth quarter.
“It was a defensive struggle,” declared Forest head coach Kenny Hammock. “Our kids got after it, especially in the second half.”
Dominic Wilkins, the second-leading rusher in 13-5A with more than 1,200 yards, had only 56 yards by halftime, including his one-yard touchdown with 3:16 in the second quarter. But the durable senior runner finished with 155 yards on 28 trips.
“They (Conroe) were tough. We had to come out harder in the second half,” Wilkins said.
Hammock and Tigers head coach Roger Holtkamp were teammates at Conroe High in the late 1970s, when they played for the legendary Stapler, who accumulated more than 200 wins in his career..
“One thing Coach Stapler told me was that you put your best 11 players on defense,” Hammock said. “I’m an offense-minded coach, but like Coach Stapler said, ‘If they can’t score, they can’t beat you.’”
Now 9-1 on the season, the Golden Eagles advance to the area round of the Region II-5A Division I bracket against the winner between Georgetown and Cy Woods. Those two teams meet at 2 p.m. today in College Station.
Conroe High (6-4), of 14-5A, ends its season in the bi-district round for the second year in a row. The Tigers lost to Klein 19-13 last year.
“I thought our kids played hard,” Holtakmp said. “I appreciate the effort of our seniors. We just have to find a way to get past the first round.”
The Tigers thought they found a path to victory late in the third quarter. After Jacob Decker nailed a 35-yard field goal -- his second kick of the night -- Conroe High’s Rodney Kellow returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to the Forest 25.
The Tigers worked their way down to the five, where on fourth-and-one, Lou Greenwood tried to take a quick toss around left tackle. But the running back was met by Tronte Robinson and Trey Hall for a one-yard loss.
“That was a big stop for us,” Hammock said.
Although stymied for most of the night, Conroe High got one more shot at victory with less than three minutes to play.
On fourth-and-nine at the Conroe 31, Golden Eagles quarterback Vernell Caldwell hit Christian Evans on a crossing route. Just as Evans was to reach the end zone, he lost the football and Conroe’s Bookie Sneed snatched up the ball and returned it out of the end zone for the Tigers’ 16.
A 21-yard scramble by quarterback Ryan Glaspie and a 20-yard tackle eligible ramble by Jordan Wilson brought the Tigers to midfield. But the pressure applied by the front four of Hall, Jamar Phillips, Trevon Garcia and Simon Morgan resulted in three incomplete passes -- the last on fourth down with five seconds left.
Conroe High strung together the lone long-distance drive in the first half, that was in response to Decker’s 37-yard field at 5:51 of the opening quarter.
Lou Greenwood, who finished with 39 yards on 15 carries, capped the 68-yard, 11-play march with a 16-yard burst around the left end 30 seconds before the half.
Blake Cavil’s block on the safety at the five-yard line on the third down play sprung Greenwood into the end zone.
The Golden Eagles regained the lead for good with their second-quarter drive of 44 yards.
It was a performance that no doubt made Stapler proud.
In what was a throwback to a previous era, Klein Forest prevailed over the host Tigers 13-7 in a classic defensive battle.
The Golden Eagles limited Conroe High to 128 total yards, 68 of which came on the Tigers’ lone touchdown drive. The District 13-5A co-champions made several stands, including one on fourth-and-one at the KF five that would have resulted in a go-ahead score at the start of the fourth quarter.
“It was a defensive struggle,” declared Forest head coach Kenny Hammock. “Our kids got after it, especially in the second half.”
Dominic Wilkins, the second-leading rusher in 13-5A with more than 1,200 yards, had only 56 yards by halftime, including his one-yard touchdown with 3:16 in the second quarter. But the durable senior runner finished with 155 yards on 28 trips.
“They (Conroe) were tough. We had to come out harder in the second half,” Wilkins said.
Hammock and Tigers head coach Roger Holtkamp were teammates at Conroe High in the late 1970s, when they played for the legendary Stapler, who accumulated more than 200 wins in his career..
“One thing Coach Stapler told me was that you put your best 11 players on defense,” Hammock said. “I’m an offense-minded coach, but like Coach Stapler said, ‘If they can’t score, they can’t beat you.’”
Now 9-1 on the season, the Golden Eagles advance to the area round of the Region II-5A Division I bracket against the winner between Georgetown and Cy Woods. Those two teams meet at 2 p.m. today in College Station.
Conroe High (6-4), of 14-5A, ends its season in the bi-district round for the second year in a row. The Tigers lost to Klein 19-13 last year.
“I thought our kids played hard,” Holtakmp said. “I appreciate the effort of our seniors. We just have to find a way to get past the first round.”
The Tigers thought they found a path to victory late in the third quarter. After Jacob Decker nailed a 35-yard field goal -- his second kick of the night -- Conroe High’s Rodney Kellow returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to the Forest 25.
The Tigers worked their way down to the five, where on fourth-and-one, Lou Greenwood tried to take a quick toss around left tackle. But the running back was met by Tronte Robinson and Trey Hall for a one-yard loss.
“That was a big stop for us,” Hammock said.
Although stymied for most of the night, Conroe High got one more shot at victory with less than three minutes to play.
On fourth-and-nine at the Conroe 31, Golden Eagles quarterback Vernell Caldwell hit Christian Evans on a crossing route. Just as Evans was to reach the end zone, he lost the football and Conroe’s Bookie Sneed snatched up the ball and returned it out of the end zone for the Tigers’ 16.
A 21-yard scramble by quarterback Ryan Glaspie and a 20-yard tackle eligible ramble by Jordan Wilson brought the Tigers to midfield. But the pressure applied by the front four of Hall, Jamar Phillips, Trevon Garcia and Simon Morgan resulted in three incomplete passes -- the last on fourth down with five seconds left.
Conroe High strung together the lone long-distance drive in the first half, that was in response to Decker’s 37-yard field at 5:51 of the opening quarter.
Lou Greenwood, who finished with 39 yards on 15 carries, capped the 68-yard, 11-play march with a 16-yard burst around the left end 30 seconds before the half.
Blake Cavil’s block on the safety at the five-yard line on the third down play sprung Greenwood into the end zone.
The Golden Eagles regained the lead for good with their second-quarter drive of 44 yards.
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