|
|
|
|
|
|
CROWLEY — Alvarado senior running back Jermaine Odom was virtually unstoppable as he picked up a career-high 374 yards rushing on 43 carries as Alvarado slipped past Crowley, 38-35, to earn its first playoff berth since moving up to Class 4A.
Crowley took the lead for the first time in the game after senior running back Andrew Shaw’s 5-yard touchdown run gave the Eagles a 35-32 advantage with 3:11 remaining in the game.
But Alvarado marched almost 60 yards in the final two and a half minutes of the game, capped off by a 3-yard touchdown reception by senior tight end Kerrick Hawkins with 30 seconds left on the clock.
“I just want to thank the coaches for believing in us,” Hawkins said. “Also, we wouldn’t have made it to the playoffs without David Farmer’s catch.”
Farmer’s 13-yard reception on fourth-and -long not only kept the late Indian drive alive, but it also saved the season.
Even though that happened to be Farmer’s only reception in the game, he also had a pair of big kick returns to help give Alvarado good field position throughout the contest.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am for these kids,” Alvarado head coach Jeff Dixon said. “They’ve been through so much, from one head coaching change after another, and they have accomplished their goal.”
Dixon said the team had set a goal at the beginning of the season to be the first Alvarado team to advance to the playoffs in Class 4A competition.
Following a sluggish 0-6 start at the beginning of the 2005 football season, the Indians went on to win three out of their last four games.
Some may argue the Indians had one of the toughest non-district schedules in the area, or even the state, but the Tribe is proud of its 3-7 overall record.
“The kids haven’t felt this way in a long time,” Dixon said. “Hats off to our entire coaching staff for a job well done.”
Odom’s 374-yard rushing performance was the second best in Alvarado school history, and only the third time any player from Alvarado had gone over the 300-yard threshold.
Tony Mears still holds the Alvarado rushing record with 389 yards in 1980 (he also had 329 yards rushing in another game the same season).
It didn’t take long for the scoring frenzy to begin as Odom broke loose for a 79-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game to give the Indians an early 7-0 advantage.
Three plays later, Shaw scored on a 49-yard touchdown run just two minutes into the game. Jonathan Lester’s extra-point kick tied the score at 7-7.
Shaw also had a stellar performance, rushing for 222 yards on 20 carries for the Eagles. He also accounted for four of Crowley’s five touchdowns in the game.
Junior running back Corey Holbert supplied the next touchdown for the Indians on a 1-yard run with 3:08 remaining in the first quarter.
Andy Kiser’s point-after attempt fell short, which also changed Alvarado’s overall scheme for the rest of the game.
Nearly midway into the second quarter, the Indians were facing a fourth-and-goal situation on the Crowley 7.
Normally, this would set up a 24-yard field goal attempt, but since Kiser had been shaky on his last few kicks, Dixon decided to call a timeout and go for it.
The gamble paid off as Hawkins scored the first of his two touchdown receptions on a 7-yard pass from senior quarterback Steven Craig. The conversion run failed.
Shaw came through again for the Eagles, this time scoring on a 45-yard touchdown run with 5:55 to go in the first half.
Now it was Odom’s turn to shine again.
On first-and-10 from the 50, Odom exploded for a 45-yard gain to the Crowley 5. He went on to score a touchdown on the ensuing play with only 29 seconds left in the second quarter.
Crowley struck early in the third quarter, scoring on Shaw’s 73-yard touchdown run with 10:53 still on the clock.
Shaw’s score had narrowed Alvarado’s lead to only four points, 25-21.
Odom returned to the field to give another curtain call.
He had a 41-yard carry on Alvarado’s next offensive play from scrimmage, but the Indians were forced to punt for the first time in the game.
Crowley took advantage of the exchange and scored on a 2-yard run by senior running back Chris Moses.
The Eagles’ 28-25 lead was their first in the game until Odom put the Indians back on top with a 7-yard score midway through the third quarter.
Crowley faced its own fourth-down situation toward the end of the game, but Shaw not only converted the first down for the Eagles, but he also scored on a 5-yard run on the next play.
Alvarado methodically marched down the field during the final 3:11 to help set up Hawkins’ winning touchdown catch.
“Our hogs were a big key to our success in running the ball,” Dixon said. “They helped create the creases for our backs to run through.”
Another key to Alvarado’s win was the fact that no one committed any turnovers. The defense, however, caused two Crowley fumbles and recovered one.
Alvarado’s playoff opponent will be Killeen-Ellison, who beat Killeen to reach the postseason.
Odom was humble after the game and didn’t really know he had gained 374 yards on the ground.
“I give all the credit to the offensive line,” he said before retiring to the locker room. “We’re going to the playoffs, and that’s all I really wanted.”
Derik Moore is the AISD Public Information Officer
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
