Aaron Bell eludes a Sam Houston tackler in the first quarter. Bell would leave the game in the third quarter with an injury after being clipped. (Record photo)
Gobblers roll Sam Houston 46-12
by Richard Morton
(Posted 11/18/2009 08:00 am)
The Cuero Gobblers made sure to send a statement to the rest of Region IV Friday night, and that message was that the Road to a Region IV Championship will most certainly come through Cuero. After being knotted at 12 apiece during the first quarter, the Gobblers scored 34 unanswered points to run away with their bi-district contest against the San Antonio Sam Houston Hurricanes 46-12.
The Hurricanes struck early with two touchdowns in the first quarter, and Trent Jackson responded with a 1 yard and 6 yard touchdown run, giving Gobbler fans the impression that this game may be close.
Andrew Thibodeaux rumbled across the goaline early in the second quarter, and that would be as close as the Hurricanes would get to upsetting the Gobblers.
Later in the second quarter, Thibodeaux found a whole and excellerated away from the Hurricane defense for the 52 yard touchdown run. Then before halftime, the Gobblers struck again when quarterback Tyler Arndt found an open Tanner Hoffman who broke a tackle to race 75 yards for the touchdown. At halftime the Gobblers held a 32-12 lead.
The Gobbler rushing attack saw seven different Gobblers carry the football. All Cuero ball carriers earned every yard they rushed for against a big, physical front four by Sam Houston. Trent Jackson led the way for the Gobblers with 190 yards on 21 carries and four touchdowns, including a magnificent 81 yarder in the early third quarter to put the game away for Cuero. Andrew Thibodeaux carried five times for 76 yards and two touchdowns.
The air attack was business as usual, with Tyler Arndt going 11 for 18 for 148 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Hoffman led all recievers with 75 yards receivng and a touchdown. Aaron Bell snagged three passes for thirty six yards.
The story of the night for the Gobblers was the dominant performance by the defense over the final three quarters. In the first half, the Gobblers held the Hurricanes to just 4 yards on 15 carries on the ground. In the second half, the Gobblers held the ‘Canes to zero yards through the air, after giving up 217 in the first half.
Tyler Arndt, Mason Blaschke, Adam Hengst, and Jonathan Ybarra all recorded interceptions in the game, and the defensive pressure was relentless all night, recording sacks and forcing a fumble which was later ruled a forward pass. A questionable call to say the least.
This Friday night the Gobblers renew a rivalry with the Sealy Tigers who come into the game with a perfect 11-0 record, playing in arguably the toughest district in 3A, district 25-3A. The Gobblers and Tigers have met thirteen times since 1988 with Sealy leading the series 8-5. The Gobblers however have won the last four contests and five of the last seven.
The game is scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Friday night in San Marcos at Bobcat Stadium.
A host of Gobblers including (#5) Andrew Arguellez, (#33) Maison Rickman, and (#18) D'Colby Green bring down a Sam Houston ball carrier (Record photo)
