My dad came to the game and hung out with me. He took a lot of pictures. He also got me some McDonald’s cheeseburgers for dinner!
Church’s chicken also provided us with hot apple pies and chicken sandwiches. They are a main sponsor for TNL!!!
The score was tied at 14 with less than 2 minutes left and I and the people in the truck were preparing for overtime. Marshall had the ball and they were getting closer and closer to field goal range. With seven seconds to go, Marshall called on Julian Buduri to kick a 48 yard field goal! Julian is from Africa and was a soccer player. He told us in the post-game interview that the coach was looking for kickers! Well, Julian nailed the field goal as time expired and Marshall got there 1st victory 17-14. He was our player of the game.
Taft’s quarterback, Jazz Butler, was 7 for 15 passing for 79 yards and 1 interception. He also ran the ball 7 times for 77 yards. Avery Oliver, a defensive back and running back, scored both touchdowns for the Raiders. One was rushing and the other was a 39 yard interception.
Marshall’s running backs, Ricardo Smith and Robert Cevallos, carried the load for the Rams. Smith had 24 carries for 80 yards and 1 touchdown and Cevallos had 18 carries for 85 yards.
It was very windy at the game and this was the first time I lost my dry erase rag! I was holding it and the wind just took out of my hand and it went flying in to the stands. I also almost lost my small dry erase board, but I caught it!!!
I was at the Hammer Bowl last night for the Judson Rockets Vs Wagner Thunderbirds. These are the only high schools in the Judson Independent School District. I had to ask Bobby why they call it the Hammer Bowl! Cory Sears was a former Judson high school football player. His defensive line coach at Judson was Pete Gibbens, who is now the head coach for Wagner! Sears played in the NFL for the Rams, the Cardinals, and the Texans. While with the Texans, he won the most improved player and he dedicated that award to Judson and Pete Gibbens!!!
When these teams play, you can throw everything out the window and let the wind take it! The fans, coaches, cheerleaders, bands, athletes, and teachers have all grown up together. They probably eat at the same places! I heard this game was sold out! Wow!
I arrived at the game around 5:45 and was able to get a close parking space. I kept watching the parking lot and the fans from our press box. Cars were parked on the street, on the grass, and a at a nearby gas station. It was unbelievable!!!
Judson was ranked number 1 and Wagner was ranked number 5 by the San Antonio Express News. I knew this was going to be an electrifying game.
I wasn’t expecting a dominating 1st half performance from Wagner. The T-Birds led 14-0 at halftime. They doubled the Rockets time of possession, plays, and yards. Quaylon Jones, the running back for Judson, had 7 carries for 24 yards.
Wagner got the ball to start the 3rd quarter. This first possession is HUGE. I knew Judson would force a 3 and out and get the ball back and score and make this a game in the 2nd half. But nobody told Derek Kindred, the Wagner running back and defensive back! First play from scrimmage, Derek ran 80 yards for a mind blogging touchdown run and silenced me and the Judson fans! Wow! That was all Wagner needed to seal the victory 20-10.
The Judson running game only had 30 carries for 118 yards and 1 touchdown. Q had 90 of those yards and the lone touchdown.
Wagner’s running game had 52 carries for 238 yards and 3 touchdowns. Derek Kindred had 20 of those carries for 144 yards and 1 touchdowns. He was the player of the game.
It’s very possible that these two teams will face each other again in the playoffs. Just kinda shocked at this performance by Judson. But, maybe this is what they need to motivate them and win there next 4 district games. We will see next Friday at Seguin!!!
Tonight, I will be at Heroes stadium for the Madison Mavericks Vs Roosevelt Rough Riders.