DeKalb Runs Away From Grand Saline, 35-12

The first round playoff game between the Grand Saline Indians and the DeKalb Bears was billed as a match between two ball control teams that would run the ball and the clock. Grand Saline played their part to perfection to open the game, but DeKalb varied from the plan in a 35-12 win. The speed of the Bears resulted in touchdown runs of 63, 12, 20 and 76 yards, with one three-yarder thrown in to boot.

The Bears averaged nearly 9 yards per carry, gaining 311 yards on 35 tries. They were led by Derrick Ganaway who led all rushers with 166 yards on 12 carries, including three of the Bears' touchdowns.

Quarterback Kyle Monty led the way for Grand Saline's more than respectable ground game, as he gained 109 yards on 14 carries. The Indians netted 261 yards on 47 attempts, and took an early 6-0 lead after they drove the first possession of the game 76 yards for a score. Monty bootlegged away from an excellent fake to run it in from 18 yards to cap a five-minute, 13-play drive.

The Bears didn't need that much time. Brandon Holloway took the first pitch from quarterback John Hodges and outran the Indians to the sideline, then down it, for a 63-yard answer. Nick Latoof kicked the PAT through, and the Bears led, 7-6.

Monty loss the handle trying to pull the ball out on a fake on the next possession, and DeKalb fell on it at the Indians 30. Fullback Zach Jones carried the ball six of seven plays, and scored from three yards out, and the Bears led 14-6 with 3:06 left in the first.

The Indians went three-and-out on their next possession, and the Bears went on an 11-play, 80-yard drive, that resulted in Ganaway scoring from 12 yards out

Grand Saline put together another good drive, moving from their own 24 to the Bears 21.

Monty converted a third-and-nine form his own 38 by rolling out and hitting 88 Hayden Hawkins for a 10-yard gain. Andrew Yarbrough had runs of 7 and 1, but it was Sam Dickerson who burst through the middle of the Bears defense, then carried half of them an extra ten yards for a 30-yard pickup to the five. One of his teammates, however, took umbrage at the way he was being treated at the end of the play, and was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct, moving the team back to the 26. They then failed to convert a fourth-and-five and DeKalb took over. The half ended with the Bears leading, 21-6.

They extended their lead on the first drive of the second half. After a 40-yard kickoff return by Ganaway, the Bears moved 48 yards fro a touchdown, the last 20 coming on 6's second touchdown of the night.

The teams traded punts before Grand Saline put together their best drive of the night. Starting at their own 25 with 3:30 left in the third, The Indians moved the ball 75 yards in 14 plays, consuming 8:00 of the clock. Monty was three-of-four passing on the drive. He hit Thomas Miller on a slant, picking up 23 yards on a third-and-five conversion. Bruce Strickland rushed for 10 on the next play, and caught a seven-yard reception from Monty. On fourth-and-one from the 18, Yarbrough picked up two tough yards to keep the drive alive. Strickland finished the drive with a three-yard score. The try for two was short and the score, with 7:30 remaining to be played, was 28-12.

The Indians' Victor Tovar plucked a high bouncing onside kick attempt out of the air, and started to run with before being stopped at the Bears' 44. Grand Saline couldn't move the ball, though, and was forced to punt.

Ganaway putting the final nail in the Indians coffin on the second play after the punt, going 76 yards for a touchdown, and a 35-12 DeKalb lead.

Grand Saline would fail to convert a fourth-down try on their next possession, and DeKalb ran out the clock.

The Indians finish the season with a 4-6 record, while DeKalb will advance to play Melissa, a 49-35 winner over Whitewright, in round two.