Eustace Ground Game Grinds Out 41-30 Win Over Wills Point

EUSTACE—The defensive coordinators for the Wills Point Tigers and the Eustace Bulldogs were probably left shaking their heads after the offensive numbers posted by both teams Friday night.

In the end, the Bulldogs outlasted the Tigers 41-30 at Eustace to clinch a position in the upcoming Class 3-A state playoffs.

With one regular season game remaining, Eustace (5-4 overall and 3-1 in District 14-3A) will travel to Van’s Memorial Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday against the district leading Van Vandals (8-1, 4-0) in a contest that will decide the district title.

Regardless of Friday night’s outcome, the Bulldogs and the Vandals are in the state playoffs.

Wills Point falls to 0-9 overall and 0-4 in district play as they will close out their 2008 schedule Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the Mineola Yellowjackets (4-5, 1-3) in Wills Point.

Eustace and Wills Point combined for 71 points, 47 first downs and over 800 yards of total offense.

The Tigers finished the contest with 28 first downs and 432 total yards including 282 passing and 150 rushing.

Eustace registered 19 first downs and 392 total yards including 332 yards rushing.

Wills Point received the opening kickoff and moved from its own 3-yard line to the Tiger 45 in seven plays mainly on the strength of two 13-yard pass completions from quarterback Trent Jurica to wide receiver Marquis Burch.

After a Tiger punt, the Bulldogs also started at its own 3-yard line but their initial drive ended with a touchdown.

Running back Trevan Johnson (eight carries, 93 yards) ended the 11-play, 97-yard march with a 25-yard TD run. Jesse Contreras added the extra point to give Eustace a 7-0 lead with 3:49 remaining in the first quarter.

Running gains of 11 yards by Johnson and 27 yards by QB Chris Compton (16 carries, 130 yards) in addition to two 11-yard pass completions from Compton to Jo Jo Bradburn were key plays in the initial Bulldog scoring drive.

Wills Point moved from its own 30 into Bulldog territory in five plays including pass completions from Jurica to Burch for 13 yards and Evan Padilla (six receptions, 84 yards) for another 13 yards.

On second down and nine at the Eustace 46, Jurica completed a 15-yard pass to Padilla but the Tiger receiver fumbled with the Bulldogs recovering at the Eustace 29.

Seven running plays later, Johnson ended the 71-yard march with a 41-yard TD run. Contreras added the extra point giving Eustace a 14-0 lead with 11:21 remaining in the second quarter.

Wills Point then moved 58 yards in 11 plays to cut the Bulldog advantage.

Lewis Battles ended the Tiger drive with a 4-yard TD run. Padilla added the extra point to pull the Tigers within seven points, 14-7, with 5:33 remaining in the second quarter.

An 18-yard run by RB Austin Teel and an 18-yard pass completion from Jurica were key plays in the Tiger scoring drive.

Eustace responded by moving 63 yards in two plays to extend its advantage.

Following a 33-yard run by Compton, fullback Shawn Baldwin (10 carries, 86 yards) raced 30 yards for a TD. Contreras added the extra point to give the Bulldogs a 21-7 lead with 5:13 to play before halftime.

Wills Point then moved from its own 36 to the Bulldog 15 in 12 plays including pass completions from Jurica covering 10 and 11 yards with the 10 yard completion going to Brett Bradshaw.

Facing fourth down and seven at the Eustace 15, Padilla was sent in to attempt a 32-yard field goal.

The kick was good as the Tigers cut the Eustace advantage to 21-10 with 10 seconds to play before intermission.

A 25-yard return of a short Wills Point kickoff to open the third quarter by Jacob Petillo of the Bulldogs gave Eustace excellent field position at the Tiger 25.

Three plays later, Compton connected with wide receiver Zach Keeling on a 24-yard TD pass play. Contreras added the extra point to expand the Eustace lead to 28-10 with 10:20 remaining in the third quarter.

Following a 37-yard kickoff return by Cyle Henderson, the Tigers started on the Eustace end of the field at the 46.

Ten plays later, Battles ended the scoring drive with a 2-yard TD run. Jurica then connected with Bradshaw on the two-point conversion to cut the Tiger deficit to 28-18 with 7:05 remaining in the third quarter.

Pass completions from Jurica covering 12 yards to receiver Steve Cunigan and 11 yards to Henderson were key plays in the Wills Point scoring march.

Following a Eustace punt, the Tigers threatened to score again as they moved from their own 28 to the Bulldog 26 in 12 plays including a 13-yard pass completion and a 12-yard run from Jurica.

The drive stalled on fourth down and 15 at the Bulldog 26 when Jurica’s pass to Battles was incomplete.

Following a personal foul penalty against the Tigers, Eustace moved 59 yards in 11 plays to extend its lead.

Compton ended the march with a 1-yard TD run. Contreras added the extra point giving Eustace a 35-18 lead with 8:34 to play in the fourth quarter.

Key plays in the Bulldog scoring drive running gains of 15 and 14 yards by Compton and a 14-yard pass completion from Compton to Johnson.

After a 29-yard kickoff return by Henderson, the Tigers moved 56 yards in four plays.

Jurica connected with Padilla on a 33-yard TD pass play to cut the Wills Point deficit to 35-24 with 7:39 remaining. The extra point attempt failed.

Pass completions from Jurica covering 11 yards to Padilla and 12 yards to Bradshaw set up the TD pass play.

Following an attempted onside kick by the Tigers that was recovered by Eustace, the Bulldogs put the game out of reach as they moved 41 yards on seven consecutive running plays.

Baldwin ended the drive with a 9-yard TD run to give Eustace a 41-24 lead with 3:24 to play in the game. The extra point attempt failed.

A 15-yard run by Compton was a key play in the Eustace scoring drive.

The Tigers responded by moving 85 yards in 12 plays.

Jurica ran 1-yard for a TD to cut the Eustace lead to 41-30 with 35 seconds remaining. The two-point conversion pass attempt from Jurica was incomplete.

Key plays in the final Tiger scoring drive included 15-yard pass completions from Jurica to Teel and Padilla in addition to running gains of 30 yards by Jurica and 15 yards by Teel.