What a difference a week makes. The Texas A&M-Kingsville football team found that out in a good way on Saturday night as the romped over East Central University, 44-14 at Norris Field. Game Stats
The Javelinas (1-1) used a strong running game that ground out 123 yards in the first half, more than double the yardage they had the previous week in a 40-14 loss at the University of North Dakota. The passing game was also very efficient as senior quarterback Billy Garza (Brownsville/Porter HS) completed 10-of-18 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown.
The defense showed their mettle in the first half as well as they held the Tigers (0-2) to minus-1 yards rushing while forcing Lone Star Conference South Division Preseason Player of the Year, Marcus Johnson, into two interceptions. Junior Stuart Moffitt (Riviera/Kaufer HS) picked off the first pass at the Javelina 5-yard line and returned it 15 yards with 4:15 remaining in the second quarter. Senior Jabir Perkins (Irving/Nimitz HS) intercepted the second pass late in the half and returned it 39 yards.
The Javelinas opened the scoring on their second drive of the game after a Clavens Charles (Miami, FL/Southwest HS) 25-yard punt return set up the team with great field position at the ECU 35. Three plays later, Garza found senior Jareko Taylor (Detroit, MI/Ford HS) on an 18-yard scoring strike with 9:19 remaining in the first quarter.
The Tigers responded on the ensuing drive with an 8-play, 52-yard drive that ended in a 29-yard pass from Johnson to Tyrone Gibbs. ECU missed the extra point to make the score 7-6 Javelinas with 5:50 left in the quarter.
The Javelinas would take the lead for good on their next drive when they drove 80 yards in nine plays. The Tigers kept the drive alive twice with crucial penalties that A&M-Kingsville made them pay for. Senior Ray Hudson (Wharton/Wharton HS) scored the first touchdown of his Hog career on a 19-yard scamper with 1:42 to play in the first quarter.
The Javs tacked on a Garza two-yard touchdown run and a Christian Brom 21-yard field goal in the second half to take a 24-6 lead heading into halftime.
In the second half, the Javelinas kept pouring it on. Garza added a second rushing touchdown from 1-yard out early in the third quarter. Sophomore wide receiver Ryan Lincoln (Bastrop/Bastrop HS) scored later in the period on a 20-yard reverse, his first career rushing touchdown.
Senior defensive end Tyrrell Herndon (Copperas Cove/Copperas Cove HS) picked off Johnson late in the third quarter to thwart a scoring drive and returned it 40 yards past midfield. The return set up another Javelina score as Garza found sophomore Damian Couthren (Bastrop/Bastrop HS) for an 18-yard strike early in the fourth quarter.
Garza finished the game 13-for-25 passing for 184 yards and two touchdowns. In all, he accounted for four touchdowns on the night while not committing any turnovers.
Javelina special teams expert Eric John (Miami, FL/Miami Senior HS) made the most of his night with four tackles, one fumble recovery and a 25-yard kickoff return from his up back position.
The Javelina offensive line continued its stellar play by opening up huge chunks of yardage for the running game and did not allow a sack for the third straight game. A&M-Kingsville had two senior running backs rush for career high totals. Billy Martin (Pittsburg/Pittsburg HS) ran for 67 yards on eight carries and Hudson finished the game with 9 carries for 48 yards. Junior Joe Williams (Houston/Forest Brook HS) ran for 56 yards on 10 carries, all in the first half. Overall, the Javelinas ran the ball 45 times for 253 yards.
The win for the Javelinas avenged a 21-17 loss the team suffered against the Tigers last year in Javelina Stadium. The Hogs welcome Central Oklahoma University to Javelina Stadium on Saturday, September 13 at 7 o’clock for the 2008 home opener. The game is available to watch online via live webcast and can be listened to online at www.javelinaathletics.com. The game is also available on ESPN 1230 AM, KOPY-FM (92.1), KTAI-FM (91.1) and KNAL (1410).
