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Battle of Bulldogs: Magnolia aims to put bite on Nederland
By Jay Langley
In an age where spread offenses and throwing the ball all over the field are becoming more popular, the Magnolia High Bulldogs are happy using a talented group of running backs to grind it out on the ground.
“We are never going to line up with four wide outs,” Magnolia head coach Andy Sexton said. “It might not be the prettiest, but it’s worked for 10 games now and it’s gotten us where we are.”
Where Magnolia (7-3) is is in an area playoff battle against Nederland (5-4) at 1 p.m. today at Buddy Moorhead Memorial Stadium. The winner of today’s game will play either Friendswood or Westbury in a Class 4A Division I regional next weekend.
Magnolia heads into the game on a four-game winning streak including a 26-14 victory over Hays last week in the bi-district round.
The bi-district victory a week ago was the first playoff win for Magnolia since 2002. That same year it was the Nederland Bulldogs who ended Magnolia’s season with a 20-19 win in the area round.
The second-year Magnolia coach said finally getting over the playoff hurdle can only help his team today.
“It wasn’t something we talked about before last week’s game,” Sexton said. “But hopefully finally getting past the burden of winning that first playoff game can give us a lot more confidence going forward.”
Against Hays the Magnolia defense intercepted five passes. Senior Dai’Jon Chaney led the way with three picks and he returned one 70 yards for a touchdown.
Magnolia finished with 318 yards on the ground. Seven different players carried the ball, led by Arnold Nevarez, who had 114 yards on 18 carries.
“They do what they do really well,” Nederland head coach Larry Neumann said of Magnolia. “Their offensive line is better and bigger than any we’ve played this year. It will be a great challenge for our defense.”
Nederland is led by running back Wareall Grogan, who has 1,470 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.
The 5-foot-10, 230-pound Grogan started the season at defensive back but filled the void when starter Justin Kraus left the team to concentrate on a track career.
In a 35-34 bi-district win against C.E. King a week ago, Grogan finished with 220 rushing yards on 15 carries. He also returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
“We haven’t seen a kid with that size,” Sexton said of Grogan. “You can’t rely on one kid to try and make the tackle. When he gets it the defense needs to fly to the ball.”
Nederland quarterback Kirby Bellow has thrown for 1,527 yards and 17 touchdown passes in 2008. While the QB was injured last week, he is expected to play today.
“You have to pick your poison with them because they can beat you through the air or on the ground,” Sexton said. “It’s going to be a chess match between what they call and what defenses we run.”
One factor Sexton hopes to take advantage of is a slight home-field advantage at the Conroe ISD stadium.
“There are not too many Conroe teams left in the playoffs,” he said. “So hopefully there are a lot of people in the area who just want to come out and see a good football game and cheer us on.”
“We are never going to line up with four wide outs,” Magnolia head coach Andy Sexton said. “It might not be the prettiest, but it’s worked for 10 games now and it’s gotten us where we are.”
Where Magnolia (7-3) is is in an area playoff battle against Nederland (5-4) at 1 p.m. today at Buddy Moorhead Memorial Stadium. The winner of today’s game will play either Friendswood or Westbury in a Class 4A Division I regional next weekend.
Magnolia heads into the game on a four-game winning streak including a 26-14 victory over Hays last week in the bi-district round.
The bi-district victory a week ago was the first playoff win for Magnolia since 2002. That same year it was the Nederland Bulldogs who ended Magnolia’s season with a 20-19 win in the area round.
The second-year Magnolia coach said finally getting over the playoff hurdle can only help his team today.
“It wasn’t something we talked about before last week’s game,” Sexton said. “But hopefully finally getting past the burden of winning that first playoff game can give us a lot more confidence going forward.”
Against Hays the Magnolia defense intercepted five passes. Senior Dai’Jon Chaney led the way with three picks and he returned one 70 yards for a touchdown.
Magnolia finished with 318 yards on the ground. Seven different players carried the ball, led by Arnold Nevarez, who had 114 yards on 18 carries.
“They do what they do really well,” Nederland head coach Larry Neumann said of Magnolia. “Their offensive line is better and bigger than any we’ve played this year. It will be a great challenge for our defense.”
Nederland is led by running back Wareall Grogan, who has 1,470 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.
The 5-foot-10, 230-pound Grogan started the season at defensive back but filled the void when starter Justin Kraus left the team to concentrate on a track career.
In a 35-34 bi-district win against C.E. King a week ago, Grogan finished with 220 rushing yards on 15 carries. He also returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
“We haven’t seen a kid with that size,” Sexton said of Grogan. “You can’t rely on one kid to try and make the tackle. When he gets it the defense needs to fly to the ball.”
Nederland quarterback Kirby Bellow has thrown for 1,527 yards and 17 touchdown passes in 2008. While the QB was injured last week, he is expected to play today.
“You have to pick your poison with them because they can beat you through the air or on the ground,” Sexton said. “It’s going to be a chess match between what they call and what defenses we run.”
One factor Sexton hopes to take advantage of is a slight home-field advantage at the Conroe ISD stadium.
“There are not too many Conroe teams left in the playoffs,” he said. “So hopefully there are a lot of people in the area who just want to come out and see a good football game and cheer us on.”
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