Football 10/3/2009 12:00:00 AM

Turnovers Lead to Hoggie Victory

Marcus Sanders forces a key fumble in the fourth quarter.

KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – In a game featuring two of the top teams in the nation it was turnovers that proved to be the difference. Texas A&M-Kingsville forced six turnovers in their 34-20 win over visiting Lone Star Conference South Division rival Tarleton State on Saturday night at Javelina Stadium in front of 13,211. (Box score)

The #9 Javelinas (6-0, 4-0, 2-0) used two late turnovers to take charge of a game that appeared to be leaning toward the #11 Texans (5-1, 3-1, 0-1). With the score tied 20-20 and the Texans nearing field goal range with less than six minutes to play, Marcus Sanders (Houston/Westfield HS) shot through the line and sacked Scott Grantham forcing a fumble that the Javelinas recovered.

Three plays later, the Javelina scored on a 7-yard pass from Billy Garza (Brownsville/Porter HS) to E.J. LeBlanc (Beaumont/Texas State) with 4:11 remaining. Three plays after that, Jeff Edwards (Houston/Westside HS) came up with his second interception of the game for the Javelinas to thwart TSU’s attempt to tie the game. On the very first play from scrimmage Fred “Hollywood” Winborn (N. Hollywood, CA/Grant HS) galloped 42 yards to clinch the win for the Hogs.

The Javelina defense forced three fumbles, picked off three passes and had three sacks in the game. Edwards led the defense with seven tackles, two for loss, two interceptions and a sack. They limited the top rushing offense in the Lone Star Conference to 112 yards on 34 carries.

When the game began it appeared that neither team wanted the ball. First, Derrick Thomas (San Antonio/Jay HS) stripped Devin Guinn and the ball was recovered by Sanders. The Javs drove down to the 11-yard line only to see Matt Knicky intercept a Garza pass and return it 33 yards. Later in the first quarter, Thomas intercepted a Grantham pass. At the end of one quarter the score was 0-0 and the two teams had combined for three turnovers and only six first downs.

In the second quarter, the Hoggies scored first. A key 29-yard pass from Garza to Ryan Lincoln (Bastrop/Bastrop HS) on third-and-7 kept a drive alive. The Javs would score when Garza scrambled past the line of scrimmage and then lateraled back to Lincoln who scored from 21 yards out with 11:01 remaining in the half.

After a quick three and out by the Texans, the Javelinas got the ball back and drove 68 yards in eight plays to take a 14-0 lead. Garza scrambled for a key third down conversion and then connected with Sherman Batiste (Fort Bend/Marshall HS) on a 5-yard scoring strike on third-and-goal with 5:45 to play in the half.
It looked like the Texans would cut the lead in half heading into the break after earning a first-and-goal at the 7-yard line, but the Hoggie defense stiffened. The Texans settled for a Garrett Lindholm 25-yard field goal to cut the score to 14-3 heading into halftime.

The Texans came out fired up in the second half. First, they stuffed the Hoggies on their opening drive and then they drove 56 yards in eight plays taking on 2:23 to score. Grantham found Guinn on an 18-yard post pattern to make it a 14-10 ballgame.

On their ensuing possession, the Javelinas tried to tack on a few points, but a Christian Brom (McAllen/McAllen HS) 38-yard field goal went wide right.

On the next play, Edwards stepped in front of a Grantham pass and rumbled 22 yards to set up the Javelinas with a first-and-goal at the 7-yard line. Winborn would score from six yards out, but Brom’s extra-point was blocked by Dre Jones making it a 20-10 Kingsville lead with 7:11 left in the third quarter.

The Texans fired right back on their next drive. A nice kickoff return by Marcus Phillips set them up with great field position at the Javelina 46-yard line. Grantham completed two passes for 43 yards and then scored on a QB sneak from 1-yard out.

The Javelinas led 20-17 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Texans would quickly erase the lead. Grantham directed the team on a 13-play, 60-yard drive that ended on a Lindholm 40-yard field goal into the wind with 9:16 to play.

The Javelinas drove down to the Tarleton 29-yard line on the ensuing possession, but gave the ball over on downs.

The Texans’ Evan Robertson picked up five yards and then Grantham hooked up with Guinn on a 28-yard gain to give them a first down at the Javelina 34-yard line. Robertson was stopped for a loss of three on the next play by John Reeves (Bay City/Henderson State) and then Sanders came up with the play of the game with he sacked Grantham and forced a fumble that was recovered by Mike Talamantez (Laredo/United HS) with 5:27 remaining.

Garza completed a 27-yard pass to Batiste on first down and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave the Hoggies a first down at the 12-yard line. Winborn picked up five yards and then Garza sent a flare pass to LeBlanc who scored from seven yards out with 4:11 to play.

The Texans started their next drive on their own 22-yard line and quickly picked up 19 yards on two runs. On the next play, a tipped pass ended up in the hands of Edwards. Winborn’s touchdown run sealed the win for the Hoggies.

Winborn led the offense with 138 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. He also added one catch for 14 yards. Lincoln added 65 yards receiving and another 25 on the ground. Garza finished the game 12-for-26 for 151 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. The Javs had a season low 379 yards of total offense against a defense that was ranked fourth in the nation.

The Hoggie defense finished the game with 10 tackles for loss including sacks by Edwards, Sanders and Matt Romig (Bells/Bells HS). Eric John (Miami, FL/UM-Crookston) also had six tackles and a forced fumble.

The Texans were led by Grantham who went 20-for-37 for 256 yards, three interceptions and a touchdown. He also rushed for a touchdown. Robertson led the team with 96 yards rushing on 15 carries while Guinn led all receivers with nine catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. They gained 368 yards of total offense, but were hurt by their six turnovers and 17 penalties for 118 yards.

Winborn reclaimed the Javelina rushing lead with his big game and now has 382 yards compared to 358 for Connell Davis (Gregory/Gregory-Portland HS). Lincoln moved into seventh place in career receiving yards with 1,699 in his career.

The Javelinas are now 6-0 for the first time since 2004 when they started the season 7-0. They are now 18-4 all-time against the Texans. Next week the team travels to Texas A&M-Commerce for an LSC Crossover game at 2 o’clock on Saturday.
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