Defense staves off Industrial at end of 45-42 shootout win for Bulldogs

  • YHS Bulldog X’Zavier Barnett (11) makes a catch against the Industrial Cobras Sept. 6. Photo courtesy of Raymond Rosas.
    YHS Bulldog X’Zavier Barnett (11) makes a catch against the Industrial Cobras Sept. 6. Photo courtesy of Raymond Rosas.
  • YHS Bulldog Donovan Toussaint (1) runs past an Industrial Cobra defender at the football game Sept. 6. Photo courtesy of Raymond Rosas.
    YHS Bulldog Donovan Toussaint (1) runs past an Industrial Cobra defender at the football game Sept. 6. Photo courtesy of Raymond Rosas.

    The Yoakum High School (YHS) Bulldogs were once again on the road Sept. 6 visiting Vanderbilt and taking on the Industrial Cobras in a closely-contested game.

    The Bulldogs were able to withstand the physical rushing attack of the Cobras and once again the defense made a game-saving play as Cayson Gamez picked off a pass with 1:15 remaining in the game to seal the Bulldogs’ 45-42 victory.

    Trae Cuellar led the Bulldog offense with 198 rushing yards and also through the air a c c o u n t i n g fo r 1 2 2 yards. Cuellar had five total touchdowns on the night with three coming on the ground, one through the air, and a kickoff-return touchdown of 60 yards. Donovan Toussaint also accounted for two rushing touchdowns with 91 yards rushing to help balance the Bulldogs’ ground game.

    The Bulldogs will head into this week’s “DeWitt County Showdown” against the Gobblers of Cuero High School with a 2-0 record. Cuero bounced back after a humbling loss to Columbus last week with a victory against La Vernia to bring their record to 1-1 heading into Friday’s game.

    The Bulldogs won the toss but deferred giving the Cobras the opening possession at their 32 yard line. It was a quick three and out for the Cobras and after the punt Yoakum would take over at midfield.

    The Bulldogs came out with a bruising seven-play drive as they ran the ball all seven plays featuring Toussaint exclusively.

    Toussaint would run 50 rushing yards on this drive alone and finish it off with a 4-yard touchdown run. After the point after, Yoakum would be ahead 7-0 with 7:02 remaining in the first quarter.

    Industrial's next drive opened at their 26 and fizzled out at their 45, following a fourth down incompletion.

    The Bulldogs taking over from the Cobra 45, drove down in three plays and once again Toussaint would do the honor of scoring for the Bulldogs as he ran in from 4 yards out for the touchdown. A missed extra point made the score 13-0 Yoakum with 2:38 remaining in the first quarter.

    Industrial's third drive of the quarter would be a lengthier one but once again end on a fourth-down play at the Yoakum 43. The Bulldogs took over and drove down to the Industrial 25 before a fumble recovered by Industrial stopped the drive.

    Industrial took over at their 26 and used the miscue to begin a 12-play scoring drive that took over five minutes and ended with a 1-yard plunge by the Cobra’s quarterback. The Bulldogs now led 13-7 following the extra point with 3:36 left in the first half.

    On the ensuing kickoff, Cuellar fielded ball at his own 40 and weaving through the Cobras defenders darted into the end zone for a 60- yard return for a touchdown.

    The Bulldogs now led 19-7 following a missed extra point.

    Industrial took over at their 40 with 3:16 in the first half drove down to the Bulldogs’ 14 and scored on a passing touchdown with 0:32 remaining before halftime.

    The extra point tacked on now brought the score to 19-14 with the Bulldogs set to get the ball back before halftime.

    The Bulldogs could not score before the half but did receive the ball to open the second half at their own 47.

    The Bulldogs scoring drive was a quick and efficient drive using five plays with Cuellar scoring a 2-yard rushing touchdown.

    The Bulldogs attempted a two point conversion but could not convert it. The score now had Yoakum ahead 25-14 early in the third quarter with 10:28 remaining.

    Industrial begun at their 20 and were able to make it into Bulldogs’ territory but once again had a turnover on downs as an incomplete pass on fourth down gave the Bulldogs the ball at their own 27.

    Yoakum used only three plays to go the length of the field. Cuellar, after a couple of moves, took the ball 65 yards to pay dirt for the touchdown for his second rushing touchdown of game.

    The Bulldogs now led 31-14 after a failed two point conversion with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter.

    The Cobras started at their 25 and used a physical running game mixed with a few passes to drive down the field and score. The Cobras 2-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion now cut the Bulldog lead 31-22 with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter.

    Industrial, sensing a shift in momentum, executed and recovered an onside kick at the Yoakum 49 and used eight plays to score a rushing touchdown by the quarterback. The extra point tacked on now trimmed the Yoakum lead 31-29 early in the fourth quarter.

    The Bulldog offense was stymied on the next possession and forced to punt. Following a short punt, Industrial took over at the Bulldogs’ 25-yard line; the Cobras only needed three plays to score with a 9-yard rushing touchdown by their running back to cap the drive.

    The Cobras’ twopoint conversion failed, giving them a narrow lead at 35-31 with 8:14 left in the fourth quarter.

    The Bulldogs started at their 25 following the kickoff, used four plays to take back the lead as Cuellar found receiver Jamar Hopkins for a 52-yard, catch-and-run touchdown.

    The extra point added on now gave the Bulldogs a 38-35 lead with 6:48 remaining in the fourth quarter.

    The Cobras begun their next drive at their 38, used a long drive of eleven plays and over five minutes trying to give the Bulldogs little time to use.

    The Cobras would score from 6 yards out and with the extra point once again would be ahead 42-38 with 2:45 left in the game.

    It turned out the Yoakum offense would have all the time they needed as they began their drive at the Cobras’ 44 following the kickoff.

    The Bulldogs used two quick rushes by Toussaint and Cuellar to get to the Cobras’ 34 where Cuellar sprinted in for the touchdown giving the Bulldogs the lead.

    The extra point now added on gave the Bulldogs a 45-42 lead with 1:52 remaining in the game.

    The Cobras would have one final chance to win the game but after two plays Gamez would make the game saving interception giving the Bulldogs a chance to set up “Victory Formation” and escape the “Snake Pit” with a win.

    BULLDOG STATISTICS

    Rushing: Trae Cuellar, 17-198, 3 touchdowns; Donovant Toussaint, 15-91, 2 touchdowns.

    Passing: Cuellar 6-8- 0-122, 1 touchdown.

    Receiving: X’Zavier Barnett 4-29, Jamar Hopkins, 2-93, 1 touchdown.

    Defense: Colby Jendrzey, 11 tackles; Raul Lopez, 10 tackles; Kanin Jacobs, 9 tackles; Cayson Gamez, 8 tackles, 1 interception; Jaden Caka, 7 tackles; Ryder Harris, 6 tackles; Alyas Dominguez, 5 tackles; Tay t e n C raw fo rd , 5 tackles; Camdyn Cockroft, 5 tackles; Stavant Murphy, 4 tackles; Jack Meyer, 4 tackles; Isaiah Lopez, 4 tackles; Logan Jacob, 3 tackles; Trae Cuellar, 3 tackles; Jamar Hopkins, 1 tackle; Gutierrez. 1 tackle; Elyjai Barnett, 1 tackle; Bradley Jacob, 1 tackle.

    P u n t i n g : C u e l l a r 1-2.0.