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McKeown, Sherman pace Dogs
  
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By Howard Roden
One more play. It’s what Magnolia High’s Sean McKeown and Andrew Sherman were thinking as the Nederland Bulldogs drove toward the end zone in the closing seconds Saturday.
Exhausted with hands on hips, the defensive duo summoned their remaining strength and, on fourth-and-one at the Magnolia High 23, stopped burly running back Wareall Grogan inches shy of a first down with 27 seconds left in the Class 4A Division I area round slugfest.
It appeared Grogan – Nederland’s primary weapon – fumbled the football and that the host Bulldogs recovered, but, either way, their quest was fulfilled.
“That’s it! That’s it!” Sherman screamed as he joyously jumped toward the Magnolia High sideline.
It was an oh-so-fitting conclusion to a triumph that may be the greatest in Bulldogs football history. Some long-time Magnolia High fans suggested the team’s trip to the third round of the 4A state playoffs is its first ever.
The magnitude of the achievement was not lost on McKeown or Sherman.
“I can’t describe the feeling,” said McKeown, a senior.
“It’s amazing,” added Sherman, a junior. “We haven’t been here in a long time.”
Whether or not it was the Bullodogs’ intentional scheme, McKeown and Sherman made stopping Grogan their personal goal. The 5-foot-10, 230-pound Grogan came into the contest with 1,470 yards and 16 touchdowns, but wound up with 124 hard-earned yards on 25 carries.
As Magnolia High’s middle linebacker, McKeown roamed the field in pursuit of Grogan. Sherman, an undersized tackle, seemed to be at the point of contention every time the Nederland runner reached the scrimmage line.
A 37-yard gain in the first half was Grogan’s lone breakaway.
“They were the best I’ve gone up against this season,” Grogan said, as he tried unsuccessfully to hold back tears.
“They had a good, physical defense and McKeown made their biggest play on that fumble,” Nederland head coach Larry Neumann said. “Their defense just overpowered us in the fourth quarter.”
Leading 27-21, Nederland was on the march midway through the fourth quarter. But McKeown stripped Grogan of the football on third-and-one at the Nederland 41.
“We knew we had to stop No. 2 (Grogan) and we could stop the big play,” McKeown said. “He is a great competitor and a great player and I’m sure he’ll go somewhere nice (to college). But today (Saturday) was our day.”
McKeown and Sherman did more than excel on defense. After the fumble recovery, the pair were inserted into Magnolia High’s “jumbo” alignment on offense. With Sherman and Alex Smith clearing a path, McKeown raced 16 yards to the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with 3:38 to play.
“It was the greatest of feelings,” McKeown said. “Sometimes we’re needed. If not, we stick to defense. It doesn’t matter, because we’re never going to stop trying.”
The big plays on defense weren’t limited to McKeown and Sherman. Nederland faced third-and-goal at the Magnolia High six late in the third quarter. But lineman Addison McClellan broke through to sack quarterback Ada Cardenas for a 21-yard loss.
Instead of a touchdown, the visitors from the Golden Triangle settled for a 44-yard field goal that kept Montgomery County’s Bulldogs within striking distance at 27-14.
“Our defense is solid,” McClellan said. “I had no doubt we could come back.
“No doubt.”
Exhausted with hands on hips, the defensive duo summoned their remaining strength and, on fourth-and-one at the Magnolia High 23, stopped burly running back Wareall Grogan inches shy of a first down with 27 seconds left in the Class 4A Division I area round slugfest.
It appeared Grogan – Nederland’s primary weapon – fumbled the football and that the host Bulldogs recovered, but, either way, their quest was fulfilled.
“That’s it! That’s it!” Sherman screamed as he joyously jumped toward the Magnolia High sideline.
It was an oh-so-fitting conclusion to a triumph that may be the greatest in Bulldogs football history. Some long-time Magnolia High fans suggested the team’s trip to the third round of the 4A state playoffs is its first ever.
The magnitude of the achievement was not lost on McKeown or Sherman.
“I can’t describe the feeling,” said McKeown, a senior.
“It’s amazing,” added Sherman, a junior. “We haven’t been here in a long time.”
Whether or not it was the Bullodogs’ intentional scheme, McKeown and Sherman made stopping Grogan their personal goal. The 5-foot-10, 230-pound Grogan came into the contest with 1,470 yards and 16 touchdowns, but wound up with 124 hard-earned yards on 25 carries.
As Magnolia High’s middle linebacker, McKeown roamed the field in pursuit of Grogan. Sherman, an undersized tackle, seemed to be at the point of contention every time the Nederland runner reached the scrimmage line.
A 37-yard gain in the first half was Grogan’s lone breakaway.
“They were the best I’ve gone up against this season,” Grogan said, as he tried unsuccessfully to hold back tears.
“They had a good, physical defense and McKeown made their biggest play on that fumble,” Nederland head coach Larry Neumann said. “Their defense just overpowered us in the fourth quarter.”
Leading 27-21, Nederland was on the march midway through the fourth quarter. But McKeown stripped Grogan of the football on third-and-one at the Nederland 41.
“We knew we had to stop No. 2 (Grogan) and we could stop the big play,” McKeown said. “He is a great competitor and a great player and I’m sure he’ll go somewhere nice (to college). But today (Saturday) was our day.”
McKeown and Sherman did more than excel on defense. After the fumble recovery, the pair were inserted into Magnolia High’s “jumbo” alignment on offense. With Sherman and Alex Smith clearing a path, McKeown raced 16 yards to the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with 3:38 to play.
“It was the greatest of feelings,” McKeown said. “Sometimes we’re needed. If not, we stick to defense. It doesn’t matter, because we’re never going to stop trying.”
The big plays on defense weren’t limited to McKeown and Sherman. Nederland faced third-and-goal at the Magnolia High six late in the third quarter. But lineman Addison McClellan broke through to sack quarterback Ada Cardenas for a 21-yard loss.
Instead of a touchdown, the visitors from the Golden Triangle settled for a 44-yard field goal that kept Montgomery County’s Bulldogs within striking distance at 27-14.
“Our defense is solid,” McClellan said. “I had no doubt we could come back.
“No doubt.”
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