Friday, September 7, 2007

Decatur football coach Kyle Story has developed a reputation over the years for fielding one of the best offenses in North Texas. So far this season, however, he is still looking for a way to move the ball as the struggles continued Friday night against 4A Brewer.

In the meantime, Story hopes his defense can carry the load. The group did not disappoint again this week as it held the Bears to 73 yards of total offense in the second half to secure a 31-6 victory in Saginaw.

"We've just got to keep getting better on offense. We didn't do a very good job in the first half, but we turned things around in the second half and wore Brewer down," Story said. "The defense did a great job again. Them, and the special teams helped get us going tonight."

The win was the first of the year for DHS as it moved to 1-1. Brewer remained winless at 0-2.

The Eagles' offense, which was held to 45 yards of total offense and one first down in the first half, did not score its first touchdown of the season until the final 11:56 of the game. That's when Josh Trant bolted into the end zone from a yard out to put his team ahead 21-0.

Lira, who was good on all three point-after tries, put the game out of reach on DHS's next possession with a 49-yard field goal to make it 24-0.

Brewer erased the shutout on the next play when Andrew Shaw returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for the score. The conversion failed and DHS led 24-6.

Justin Unger blasted his way into the end zone on a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:39 on the clock to cap a 17-point fourth period.

"I don't think we passed more than once or twice in the second quarter, but we were effective in other ways so we stuck to it," Story said.

The defense didn't budge in the second half. Jesse King, Jarrod Morris, Sterling Hicks and Matt Schooling smothered the Brewer offense.

Decatur controlled the clock most of the night as it only put the ball in the air six times. However, the locals only managed 17 plays in the first half - seven in the second period.

The defense kept things close early as it did not allowed Brewer inside the red zone. Jake Cobb, Fredy Pacheco, Nick Martinez, Tyler Robbins and Unger were in on 16 tackles in the first half.

The Eagles' first score was a mirror of last week. Lira picked off quarterback Blake Forester and returned it 27 yards for the TD and a 7-0 lead.

Decatur pushed the lead to 14-0 at halftime thanks to the special teams. Reece Madden blocked a 35-yard field goal attempt and teammate Chase Villado scooped up the loose ball and returned it 80 yards for the score.

Trant, who had 49 yards rushing at halftime, finished with 198 to lead the DHS ground game.