Published: October 21, 2009 08:44 pm      

District Showdown

Palestine faces Brownsboro for first place

By SCOTT TYLER

Sports Editor



Earlier in the season, Palestine head coach Booker Bowie talked about how non-district games on the road at Jacksonville and Kilgore were going to help his Wildcat squad down the road.

That time has come for the Wildcats who go back on the road this week with a chance to take a complete grip on District 20-3A.

Palestine faces the other undefeated District 20-3A team when the Wildcats travel to Brownsboro Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

“This game is real important because the winner is in the driver seat for the playoffs and the district title,” Bowie said. “This is one of the biggest games in our schedule.”

Palestine (2-0, 4-3) has had to battle in its three road games this season. The Wildcats came up short trying to rally after first-half deficits against Jacksonville and Kilgore. Then in the district opener, Palestine let a first-half lead slip away against Fairfield and the Wildcats scored the final 10 points of the game, including a field goal with six seconds left for the win.

“We have had some big tests on the road,” Bowie said. “We have had our moments, but we need to play more than just a half.”

After dropping two straight games to Jacksonville and Kilgore to end non-district play, the Wildcats have opened district with wins over Fairfield and Crockett.

“The biggest difference is that we have been healthy since we started district,” Bowie said. “The offensive line battled sickness during non-district play, but they are back to health and are starting to gel again.”

The offensive line coming back together was evident in Palestine’s 525 rushing yards against Crockett last week in a 54-35 win.

“We have gotten back to having consistent blocking and we have three good running backs behind them that can carry the load,” Bowie said.

Quarterback Olin Terry rushed for 200 yards and six touchdowns against Crockett. Terrance Simon added 168 yards and one touchdown and DeCory Chivers had his first 100-yard game, rushign for 135 yards on 18 carries.

“DeCory showed sparks early on the season but was hampered with an injury,” Bowie said. “This was the first time he was healthy and he showed what he could do.”

The question for Palestine Friday night will be on the defensive side. The Wildcats have not been able to stop both the run and the pass in the same game this season. Last week, against Crockett, the Wildcats held the Bulldogs to 83 rushing yards but allowed 263 passing yards.

Palestine now faces a Brownsboro team that has the ability to both run and throw the ball.

“Last week we knew we had to stop the run and we did that,” Bowie said. “This week, we know we have to stop both the run and the pass.

“We have a big challenge ahead of us.”

The Brownsboro passing game is based around the combination of Zack Bailey and Ryan Owens, who split time at the quarterback position. The duo have combined to throw for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.

“They have two quarterbacks who both dow the same thing and both do it real well,” Bowie said.

The Bears (2-0, 6-0) also showcase returning running back Cameron Warren, who has over 800 yards this season.

“He is a quality running back and we have to make sure we wrap up and gang tackle,” the Palestine head coach said.

Bowie said the biggest thing his team will have to stop this week will be Brownsboro’s screen packages. The Bears like to throw screen passes to multiple positions and have a lot of success doing it against aggressive defenses.

“We have to be disciplined on defense,” Bowie said. “It goes back to reading our keys and reacting. We don’t want to be unconsious were we just take off at the snap and have no idea of where we are going.”

Notes: Brownsboro has defeated Palestine in the three meetings between the two teams. Last year, the Bears topped Palestine 37-7. Brownsboro also won a pair of games in 1996 and 97 when both teams were in the same Class 4A district. ...Terry surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the second straight season. He has rushed for 1,063 yards on 113 carries and has scored 13 touchdowns. He is only 33 yards and three touchdowns from matching his totals from last season. ...Simon is right behind Terry looking to crack the 1,000-yard mark. The junior has rushed for 922 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

————

Scott Tyler may be contacted via e-mail at styler@palestineherald.com





PALESTINE STATISTICS



Team

Offense

First Downs: 150

Rushes-Yards-Avg: 311-2,295-7.38

Passing Yards: 910

Total Yards: 3,205

Comp-Att-Int: 65-126-8

Fumbles: 5

Penalties-Yards: 34-282



Opponents

First Downs: 112

Rushing-Yards-Avg: 449-1,537-3.4

Passing Yards: 785

Total Yards: 2,322

Comp-Att-Int: 46-108-10

Fumbles-Lost: 5

Penalties-Yards: 26-79



Individual Stats

Offense

Rushing

Att-Yards-Avg-TD

Olin Terry, 113-1,063-9.41-13; Terrance Simon, 133-922-6.93-9; DeCory Shivers, 50-273-5.46-1; Sam Wren, 4-15-3.75-0; Kenneth Green, 4-14-3.5-1; Kyle Cargill, 4-11-2.75-2; Joe Anthony, 2-3-1.5-0.



Passing

Comp-Att-Yards-Yards/Att-TD

Olin Terry, 65-126-8-910-7.22-8.



Receiving

Catches-Yards-Avg.-TD

E.J. Spurlock, 27-415-15.37-3; Kenneth Green, 18-235-13.06-2; Eric Robertson, 10-169-16.9-1; Kyle Cargill, 4-42-10.5-1; Terrance Simon, 3-16-5.33-0; Meschach Willliams, 1-32-32.0-1; Sam Wren, 1-8-8.0-0; Devin Venoy, 1-4-4-0; DeCory Shivers, 1-2-2.0-0.



Scoring

Olin Terry, 78 (13 rushing TDs); Terrance Simon, 58 (7 rushing TD, 2 conversion); Travis Atkinson, 21 (1 field goal, 18 PAT); E.J. Spurlock, 18 (3 receiving TDs); Kenneth Green, 18 (2 receiving TDs, 1 rushing TD); Kyle Cargill, 18 (2 rushing TD, 1 receiving TD); Eric Robertson 6 (1 receiving TD); DeCory Shivers, 6 (1 rushing TD); Meshach Williams, 6 (1 receiving TD); Eric Martinez, 6 (1 field goal, 3 PAT); Deon Davis, 2 (1 conversion).



Defense

Tackles (Solo-Assist)

Ryan Pardue, 45 (23-22); Sam Wren, 37 (25-12); Bobby Walker, 28 (16-12); Kenneth Green, 23 (17-6); Colin Turner, 22 (14-8); E.J. Spurlock, 22 (13-7); Michael Smith, 20 (11-7); Carlos Bryant, 19 (12-7); Kyle Cargill, 18 (10-8); Jatavian Powell, 18 (5-13); Sammy Calhoun, 12 (7-5); Olin Terry, 11 (7-4); Randle Johnson, 6 (3-3); Deon Davis, 5 (4-1); Alex Owens, 4 (3-1); Michael Walker, 4 (2-2); Meshach Williams, 3 (3-0); Davian Simpson, 3 (2-1); Terrance Simon, 2 (0-2); Booker Winn, 2 (2-0); Issac Moya, 1 (1-0); Eric Martinez, 1 (1-0).



Interceptions

Bobby Walker, 3; Olin Terry, 2; E.J. Spurlock, 2; Sam Wren, 1; Kyle Cargill, 1; Carlos Bryant, 1.



Sacks

Sam Wren, 3; Bobby Walker, 1; Colin Turner, .5; Michael Smith, .5.



Fumble Recoveries

Sammy Calhoun, 2; Colin Turner, 1; E.J. Spurlock, 1; Michael Smith, 1; Olin Terry, 1; Ryan Pardue, 1.



Forced Fumbles

Ryan Pardue, 2; Sammy Calhoun, 2; Olin Terry, 1.