Moving Preston Hughes #6 to CB has helped the secondary in pass coverage. He has the speed and quickness to play press coverage and stay with his man. #17 jumped a pass route and got a big INT to start the second half. Overall, the secondary lacks a big hitter. I think it was #17 that put a good lick on a TC WR on a sideline crossing play, but other than that big time hit, the TC WRs ran free. The PN-G front seven is not too bad. They have some kids that pursue the football and they will hit you. #47, #34, #4, #26, #90, #37 will all come hit you in the mouth. On TC's long run, they blocked the play well, #26 was tackled from behind or he would have made the play, and our secondary, well, they don't tackle well. On offense, just out of sync. TC had a lot to do with that. Their defense was similar to PAM. Big and fast up front. TC DL and LBs ran every bit as fast as PAM. PN-G was not going to outrun TC to the perimeter. TC was fast sideline to sideline and they hit you. The Indians had two big drops (wide open drops)...one for a TD and one for a long gain. Plus, the QB#2 had two overthrows...one would have been a TD to Riggs, the other a long gain/possible TD down the middle. Also, on a deep out throw to #12, he was in double coverage and the QB#2 missed a wide open streaking #9 for a TD. I mean he was wide open running free and no TC DB was within 20 yards of him. The coaches and QB will see it on tape and think, my Lord, we missed one here. TC was keyed on #2 and #12. It was no secret. #5 ran like a bull. His best game that I have seen. He was tough to bring down and he punished people looking tackle him. I hope he is OK. He was running on the sideline and stretching. I hope his knee/ankle are OK. Tough kid. His back up is small and slender, but he is quick and showed some wheels on the winning TD. #5 and #21 are a nice combo. Thunder and lightning (PN-G's version). I wonder why we have not seen more of this combo? Finally, we need to get the snap right. QB#2 saved a ton of bad snaps, which may have thrown off his timing. Overall, the OL held up well vs a big and fast TC defense. They made some running lanes, protected the QB well, and had few penalties...just the scary snaps. #12 Riggs was money on the deep kick-offs. He put two of them out of the end zone. No more pooch kicks. Let #12 kick them out of the end zone! Good job #12.
On to CS or G'town. Keep it rolling Indians. Nice to see the Marching I inside NRG Stadium.
As an aside, Manvel v. nederland. Give nederland props for fighting, scrapping, and never giving up. Manvel was a miniature college team. Size, speed, and talent across the board. nederland was out-matched and out-talented on both sides of the ball, but those 'ol pesky bulldogs never gave up, kept fighting, and made a game of it until about 7 mins left in the game. nederland QB was slinging the football all over the field...taking shots from the Manvel DL and LBs, but he kept slinging the football...kudos to him...tough kid. Kudos to nederland...they played hard, but Manvel was a 6A team playing a 5A team. Good season nederland.
Go Indians. Peace.
