Go Friday Night

'04 Score Correction

I made a mistake on the score of last year's Llano vs Early game. The correct final score was 17 - 14, Llano.

• Tracy Ebarb
• August 29, 2005 6:17 PM
• Comments (1)

Week 0 - Early Longhorns 14 Cisco Loboes 21

Early 14 Cisco 21

Longhorns are definitely improved, last year’s score was 44-12 in favor of the Loboes.

Offense:
Coach Tindol used a very limited game plan, not really running too many different plays. The Horns scored first after a great opening kickoff return by Tim Chandler and face-mask penalty set up the offense at the Cisco 37. Junior QB Eric Skaggs hit Justin Cadenhead on a 9-yard scoring strike.

Throughout the night Skaggs showed flashes of brilliance on some passes, and appeared to be throwing on the JV level at other times. (Skaggs 14 of 31 with 4 picks, 132yds and 2 TDs)During a drive late in the second quarter, Skaggs was picked-off, only to have the Cisco Loboes fumble the ball back to the Longhorns at the Cisco 7 yard line, 4 plays later Skaggs hooked up with Blake Reid for the score.

Overall the Longhorns looked balanced, although 6 turnovers were ultimately too much to overcome. The Horns blew an opportunity to tie it up in the fourth quarter with Skaggs hitting Josh Conley on a long scoring strike that was subsequently brought back on a holding call.

The Horns operated out of the “spread” most of the 2nd half, so the running game didn’t get much of an opportunity to get started. However, Junior Josh Conley proved that he has speed, toughness, and the ability to make people miss. (Conley 15 rushes for 54 yds) Ultimately, the Longhorns’ offense had too little time in the 2nd half (6:19) after allowing the Cisco offense to consume almost 7 minutes of the 3rd quarter with their opening drive.

The Loboes controlled the ball 17:41 of the 2nd half. Longhorns looked fast on offense, but didn’t execute well.

Defense:
Early’s defense looked very strong on the first three Cisco possessions, allowing only 10yds total, and forcing the Loboes 3 & out on the first drive, then getting a pick on third down of the second drive, then forcing a punt on the third possession.

An Early fumble on the Cisco 24 early in the 2nd resulted in a 76 yard scoring drive by the Loboes to tie. After the ensuing kickoff, Skaggs was picked-off again at the Early 21, and the Loboes went up 14-7, 4 plays later. The Longhorns defense tightened up again and forced an interception and a fumble that would give the offense a short field with under a minute in the half, which resulted in a TD pass by Skaggs to Blake Reid to tie the score at 14.

Aside from the Cisco scoring drive to open the 3rd quarter, the Longhorn defense allowed only 34 yards in the 2nd half. Defensive standouts were Brandon Anderson with 5 solo tackles, Joey Neely and Kyle Kunkel each with 4 solo tackles.

Summary:

The Early Longhorns are a team that never really seemed to “peak” during last year’s season. With 16 returning starters, and significant senior leadership, they appear to be picking up right where they left off.

The Horns are bigger, stronger, and more experienced than last year’s squad, and were certainly in position to beat this Cisco team that they were outclassed by last year.

It is clear that the Longhorn coaching staff has determined to do whatever is necessary during these 5 pre-District games to prepare the Horns for a playoff run in ’05.

Next week:

Early plays host to the Llano Yellowjackets, 7:30pm kick-off @ McDonald Field in Early. Last year the Horns gave Llano all they could handle in a 19-16 loss. Expect a different result this year! Llano has a new coaching staff, the Horns defense will make adjustments, and the offense will continue to mature.

Early 21 Llano 6.
8/29/05

• Tracy Ebarb
• August 29, 2005 5:42 PM