Yoakum football: Pirates plunder Yoakum with second-half scores

By Alvin Gomez/Special to the Herald-Times

The Yoakum Bulldogs welcomed the Waco La Vega Pirates this past Friday on Parent's Night. The Bulldogs were able to keep the game close going into halftime 21-14. The Pirates pulled away though in the second half of the game with the final score 42-14.
The Bulldogs opened the game with possession at their own 30-yard line. After a short run by Jayden Jones, the Bulldogs dialed up a pass with Ty Gordon connecting with KaDarius Price for what was thought to be a 68-yard touchdown. Price fumbled the ball and appeared to recover it in the end zone, but referees ruled it a touchback and possession went to the Pirates.
La Vega taking over at the Bulldogs' 20 would drive down the field in a 15-play, six-minute drive finally punching it in from two yards out. The extra point added on gave the Pirates an early 7-0 lead.
Yoakum would answer back with a short scoring drive starting at their 40. A Gordon pass to X'Zavier Barnett for 32 yards brought the Bulldogs to the La Vega 28. Jones then on the ensuing play knifed through the Pirates defense for a touchdown run of 28 yards. Mark Sanchez tacked on the extra point knotting the game at 7-7.
The La Vega Pirates next scoring drive started with 10 minutes left in the second quarter and chewed up over five minutes ending with another Pirates rushing touchdown from three yards. The extra point after gave the Pirates a 14-7 lead.
Yoakum once again answered the Pirates with a scoring drive starting at their 35 and needing only five plays. The drive was capped off with a wild play starting off with Jones rumbling through the La Vega defense from the 10, fumbling then the ball recovered by quarterback Gordon who finished the run for a touchdown. The extra point tacked on tied the game once again at 14 with 2:52 remaining in the half.
La Vega put together a quick scoring drive before halftime using only a minute and twenty seconds and a short field to score. They opened at their 43 and used six plays with a 22-yard touchdown run ending it. Their lead increased after the extra point to 21-14.
The Bulldogs would have one final shot to tie the game before halftime and drove to the Pirates 35 but a Qyion Williams pass was intercepted ending the threat.
The second half saw La Vega scoring three more touchdowns on drives of six, two, and five plays. The Bulldogs offense could not sustain the momentum from the first half and were forced to turn over the ball on downs twice and punt three times.
Yoakum managed just 114 yards rushing with Jones rushing for 77 yards and one score; Gordon scoring once with 15 yards on nine carries. Gordon was 6-of-14 for 140 yards with Barnett getting two catches for 67 yards and Price getting one grab for 68 yards.
Tyjuan Garza (11) and Trey Cuellar (8) combined for 19 total tackles to lead the Yoakum defense.
The Bulldogs open District 12-3A play this Friday with a long road trip to Hitchcock for a "Dog Fight" with opening kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.