The Dayton Bronco football team traveled to Bay City on Friday night and begin their 2009-2010 season with a win.

The faithful Bronco fans traveled and filled the small stadium in Bay City ready to see their team play the first game of the year. The Bronco football team did not disappoint them.

The Broncos won the coin toss and elected to kick to the Bay City team.

After only 17 ticks off the clock and a triple reverse play the Black Cats took the lead as their quarterback Derek Brown lined up as a receiver, took a reverse and then threw to his linebacker Robert Taylor for a 75-yard scoring play. The extra point was good and the Broncos were down 7-0.

After several attempts to kick off to the Broncos, the Broncos finally got their chance to begin a drive toward their own touchdown. In his debut as the Bronco quarterback Payton Ploch handed off to N.L. Hines who gained 8 yards. Ploch then kept the ball for the Bronco’s first down at the 40 yard-line. Ploch then handed the ball off to Running back Jakarai Delasbour, who took it to the 14-yard line, a gain of 46 yards. The 8-play, 67 yard drive ended with Payton Ploch tossing the pigskin to Xavier Frank who caught the 13-yard pass right in the end zone. Juan Carranco booted the extra point and the score was tied at 7-7.

After kicking off the Bronco defense, led by nose guard Tony Hill,  pinned the Bay City team back at the nine-yard line. 

Ploch led his team down the field with several nifty plays and got deep into Bay City’s territory. A 56-yard bomb to Gamal Fowler resulted in a 56-yard gain all the way to the one-yard line. However, the Broncos received a five-yard penalty to push them back to the six. On the next hand off to Delasbour a fumble occurred and was recovered by L.D. Stone at the 12-yard line.

The Black Cats were unable to capitalize on the mistake as the Bronco Defense stepped up big. Facing a 3rd down and 4 yards, Chris Young, leveled the opponent with a minus 6.

The Broncos took the kick-off at midfield and begin their second scoring drive of the night. It took only one play for Ploch to zag to the right and outrun several defensive plays to the end zone. The extra point was good and the score was 14-7.

The Black cat quarterback took his team down the line to add 48 yards to their tally. However the Bronco defense, led by Hill, Williams and Bryant stopped the drive.

Ploch and his team began their next drive at the 28-yard line  After a series of run plays with a 26-yard and a 33-yard run by Ploch himself, the Broncos hit pay dirt with 6:40 left in the second quarter. Extra point was good and the Broncos took the 21-7 score into the locker room.

The Broncos took the opening kick in the third quarter but could not capitalize on the field with any points.

Bay City took over at the 31-yard line and the Black Cat quarterback Derek Brown pitched out to the right for a gain of 14 yards. The next play showed a 40-yard run play and the team was at the 15-yard line. On a wing right play they got all the way to the 1-yard line. At the 8:10 mark the quarterback took it in to score – 21-14.

The scoring slowed down as neither the Bronco offense or Bay City offense could make any yards. Many penalties were called and mistakes made at this point.

With 10:43 left in the game, the Broncos put together an impressive drive covering 94 yards and taking only eight plays. The drive culminated with the last 14 yards as Ploch threw the ball to Gamal Fowler who avoided traffic by leaping above all of them. The PAT was good and the Broncos were 28-14.

The Black Cats scored their final points taking the ball at the 50-yard line and maneuvering   their way down to the 10-yard line.  Brown handed to his running back Courtney Finney and 8:45 showed on the clock. Baldwin leaving the score at 28-20 blocked the extra point.

Then Mother Nature stopped the show as lightning began to strike all around the field and the game was delayed for 30 minutes.

The Dayton team came back out ready to play as they scored another 14 points in the final quarter. Ploch run the ball 67 yards to score at the   8:28 mark.

The Black Cats made their final mistake of the game as Brown fought for extra yards and fumbled into the waiting arms of Gamal Fowler who picked it up and ran it back the 6 yards for the final Bronco touchdown. Extra point was good and the final score was 42-20.

Ploch in his debut ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more in the game Friday. Ploch amassed 292 yards rushing and passed for 110 yards on 6-of-15 passing. The Broncos as a team had 439 yards of total offense.

Other players that stepped up to shine were Gamal Fowler, Chance Young, Robert Edwards, Bryan Kimmy, Derek Powell, Chance  McCormick, Juan Carranco, Tony Hill and Chris Young.

The first home game for the Dayton Broncos will be Friday, September 4, when the Friendswood Mustangs come to town. The game starts at 7:00 p.m.

Hardin Hornets defeat H-D ‘Cats

by Van Thomas

Hardin and Hull-Daisetta football players and their fans who couldn’t sleep Thursday night, August 27, should know they weren’t alone.

Game officials and press photographers and writers invited to Hornet Stadium Friday night for the grand opening of the new stadium that features artificial turf were also.

Hardin ISD is the second UIL Class AA school in the Lone Star State with the new turf. However, there are many 3A, 4A and 5A, junior colleges and major universities that have artificial turf.

Texas Longhorns

The University of Texas’ Royal Memorial Stadium installed artificial turf this past June. The Texas High School Coaches All-Star players played on the new turf in July.

“I’m very sorry our bleachers on the home side wasn’t completed,” said Mr. Robert Parker, superintendent of Hardin ISD. “I think we will look a lot better by October. We did a lot of work from early June until now. This is going to be nice when finished. Our people are so proud of our school and athletic programs,” he said.

For Athletic Director and head football coach Larry Haynes, just starting a new season is enough to give goose bumps.

School bands

School officials seated the school bands in chairs in the north and south area of the stadium. The bands were very impressive. On the Hull-Daisetta side the fans were also seated in chairs. Yes, it did look impressive. Folks, they thanked the Good Lord for being alive after Hurricane Ike came through Liberty County, Hull-Daisetta and Hardin, on Saturday morning, September 13, 2008.

Stadium packed

Hardin Hornet stadium was packed with fans lined up on the sidelines and wire fences. Yes, it was a fun night for two outstanding schools in Liberty County.

About 8:04 p.m. the game officials informed the two schools the game must be halted because of flashing of lightning. Both teams, coaches and game officials checked into the Hornet field house.

 Fans went to their cars and trucks or to the school gym.

At 8:45 p.m. the teams reported back on the field.

When the teams left the field because of lightning, Hardin was leading 7-0. The game was completed at 11:05 p.m. and Hardin had posted a 48 to 17 win over kissin’ cousin Hull-Daisetta.

Both schools have impressive football teams with size, speed and quickness.

Coach Slack

Joe Allen Slack is in his second year as head coach and athletic director at Hull-Daisetta. He is a graduate of Bobcat Country and an all-around athlete. He enjoyed running track and playing football. Coach Slack’s good close friend, Jason Henry, is an assistant on his staff and head basketball coach. Henry was an All-State basketball player at West Hardin High School.

Hull-Daisetta is blessed with a number of talented athletes.

Hull-Daisetta will host Tenaha on Friday night, September 4 and Hardin will host the Tarkington Longhorns.

The players, coaches and fans will remember Friday night, August 28 for many years. Yes, history was made in Hardin Friday night by some wonderful people. When God made Texas, he gave Liberty County some black oil. It is going to be a good year for the Bobcats and the Hornets.

Special night

Hardin ISD retired football jersey number 32 Friday night. Christopher Dwayne Pate, 17, was killed in June in an auto accident. A most popular student/athlete at Hardin, he was a star on football, baseball, power lifting and track.

Pate’s close friend, Mitch Villemez, was given the honor by Pate’s parents to wear jersey No. 32 Friday night. Villemez is an all-round athlete and a honor student.

First quarter

Hardin game captains won the coin toss and elected to kick off to the Bobcats.

Hardin’s senior Mitch Villemez kicked off and the pigskin rolled out of bounds at the 13. So, Bobcats elected to take ball at their own 30 with 12 minutes on the clock.

Quarterback Chisholm Marberry started barking the signals. Hardin’s Villemez, Cory Davis and Thomas Carrell forced the Bobcats to punt. So, Andy Tanner got off a 36 yarder to the Hornets 43 with 9:34 left on the clock.

Quarterback Myles Taylor found wide receiver Hunter Davis for a 25-yard bomb to Daisetta’s 32.

Three players later, quarterback Taylor fumbled and Hull-Daisetta recovered the ball at the Bobcat 8-yard line with 9:01 on the clock in the new period.

Bobcats took over at their own 8. However, the ‘Cats fumbled and Luke King recovered for Hardin with 8:56 on clock at the H-D 14.

Q-back Taylor went to the air. H-D was charged with pass interference and given a 7-yard penalty. Villemez gained four on first try to H-D 3. On next play, Taylor hit wide receiver Marquis with a three-yard TD pass in the left end zone with 8:06 on the clock. Carlos Aguilar kicked the extra point and Colt Joyner was the holder.

Villemez kicked off and Bobcats took over at their own 25 with 8 minutes on the clock. Seven plays later Bobcats fumbled and Thomas Carrell recovered for Hardin at the Bobcat 43 with 3:28 on the clock in the first period.

Q-back Taylor hit James with a 31-yarder to the Bobcats 12. Three plays later Hunter Davis caught a 6-yard pass to H-D 6. So, on fourth and four, running back Villemez went around the left side to the three. He was short a yard with 2:34 left in the opening quarter.

Hull-Daisetta took over at the three. Two plays later, the flashing of lightning forced the game to be halter, 8:04 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Interception

When action resumed, H-D Quarterback Marberry’s pass was intercepted at the Hardin 8 by speedster D.J. Hall and he returned the ball to the Bobcat 5.

From the five Marquis James scored with 28 seconds left in the first quarter. Carlos Aguilar kicked the extra point.

Hardin went into the second period leading 14-7.

Second Quarter

Running back Tim Taylor – one of the best – scored from the four with 5:56 on the clock in the second quarter to get the Bobcats in the game. The kick was good, 14-7.

Hardin q-back Taylor scored from the one over right guard with 51 seconds left before half, 21-9.

H-D was awarded a safety with 10:39 on clock in third quarter, 21-9.

Q-back Chisholm Marberry scored from the one with 9:16 on clock in the third quarter and he also scored the two-point conversion play, 21 to 17. 

Marquis James scored for Hardin from five yards out with 6:14 on the clock in the third. Taylor hit Villemez for the 2-pointer, 29-17.

Taylor found Colt Joyner for a 16-yard TD pass with 2:28 left in the quarter. Taylor’s pass for 2-pointer failed, 35 to 17. With 2:06 left in the third, Taylor found DJ Hall for a 7-yard TD pass, 41 to 17.

Q-back Marberry’s pass was intercepted by Luke King on the 35-yard line and returned the ball for a TD with 6:55 left on the clock. Carlos Aguilar kicked the extra point, 48 to 17.

Hardin kicked off to H-D and the Bobcats took over at the 16. On first play, running back Tim Taylor gained 27 yards and was tackled by several Hornets.

Taylor had to have the trainers from H-D and Hardin to check him out. Hardin’s running back Mitch Villemez also aided. Showed a lot of class.

Other area teams didn’t fare as well as the Broncos and the Hornets. The Cleveland Indians also won  defeating  Hardin-Jefferson, 35 to 7. Coming up short was the West Hardin Oilers who were defeated by Warren, 18-14. The Liberty Panthers were also on the short end of the stick as Bridge City defeated them 23-15.