Hornets end Vipers' season with 35-28 win
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S.A. East Central 35, Memorial 28
SAN ANTONIO - Memorial has played its final football game.
The Vipers, needing a win over San Antonio East Central to make the playoffs, fell 35-28 at Hornet Stadium on Friday to end their season and the program.
"We killed ourselves early in the season with mistakes, and we killed ourselves with the same mistakes in this game," said Memorial quarterback O.J. Hughes. "We made some good plays against them, but we coughed up the ball and I made mistakes not reading the right receiver on a number of plays. Everyone made mistakes and it's just unfortunate that we won't be able to overcome them and play again."
Memorial, which splits into Victoria East and Victoria West next year, ends its season at 4-6 and its program's history with a 41-66 record and without a trip to the postseason this year. The Vipers made the playoffs five of the 10 years it played football, but couldn't overcome two turnovers and 181 yards rushing from East Central's Chris Johnson in their loss on Friday.
Memorial (3-4 District 27-5A) and East Central (4-6, 4-3) were in the same position last season with the winner of the season finale advancing to the playoffs. Last year, Memorial won 38-28 at Memorial Stadium to advance to the playoffs, but this year it is East Central who spent Friday night after the game making plans for next week. The Hornets will host San Antonio Brandeis next Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the bi-district round.
Despite a season ending in unexpected and disappointing fashion, Memorial head coach Mickey Finley said he was proud of the way his players fought to the end.
"Every close game we had, we lost," he said. "I can't really explain it, but it happens sometimes. I really believe that these kids accomplished a lot. We played with a lot of heart all season and we never gave up. They did everything we asked them to do and always had a great attitude."
The Hornets scored after turnovers on a fumble and an onsides kick that turned a 15-14 halftime lead into a 28-14 third-quarter advantage.
"Momentum is huge and that onsides kick recovery after their score was huge for them," Hughes said. "They are a great team and Chris Johnson is awesome. That was a great game from them and they used their big plays and kept us from making enough of them."
Hughes did his part offensively once again and kept the Vipers in the game until the end. The senior ended his high school career with a 194-yards rushing and three touchdowns on the ground. He also threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to freshman Brandon Salazar for the Vipers' final score.
"It was an amazing experience playing with these guys," Hughes said. "I wouldn't trade any of my teammates for anyone. These guys worked so hard. It hurts that it's over."
Notes
END OF YEAR STATS: Hughes finished the season with 1,425 yards and 21 touchdowns in his senior season. Roderick Warren ran for 690 yards and scored 10 rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. Senior Preston Turner finished the year with four sacks, including one in the loss to East Central.
EAST CENTRAL'S PASSING: Eddie Lopez threw for 160 yards and a touchdown for the Hornets. Lopez connected with Thomas Gray for a 35-yard touchdown and hit Robert Almarez for a 24-yard gain on a third down play to seal the game.
CONVERSIONS: Memorial stopped the Hornets on nine of 11 third-down plays, but East Central converted three fourth-down plays and used a roughing the punter penalty to extend a drive.
Comments
Hopefully the schools go 4a.
November 13, 2009 at 1:45 a.m.We gotta make sure these coaches at the top dont get a chance to destroy our new programs. There is ZERO justification in giving Clint his own program. We have to make sure that Finley and the "UNTOUCHABLES" are not part of the new schools athletic department. Lets get some people in here that know how to teach these athletes how to win. With some Discipline, some Class and some Character.
November 9, 2009 at 9:39 a.m.Its over now lets start out with new coaches and new ideas for some wins.
November 8, 2009 at 10:44 a.m.When is the sum of the parts less than each individual part? The answer is Victoria Memorial High School.
Decades of tradition and pride destroyed for a "program's history with a 41-66 record"?
A fitting ending to a sad, sad tale..
November 8, 2009 at 10:28 a.m.No longer a resident in Victoria I will say that your #7 worked hard at rallying the team and the spectators at the game last night. The young man wearing the #34 was the only player that I saw ringing the bells of the opposing team. Not saying the other players were not doing their job but #34 was playing old school football. The officials and the time keeper on the other hand were less than spectacular. At the end of the first half I thought they had enacted a new rule in high school football that required the clock to stop running in the last sixty seconds of the game. The clock was stopped with thirty one second left to play, the Hornets trailing the Vipers. The Hornets ran a play and when I looked back at the clock it still had thirty one seconds left on it. A running play with the runner tackled inbounds without a first down and the clocked stopped. In the second half with the Hornets ahead the clock continued to run. With several really questionable calls from the officials against the Vipers it seemed the crowed tired of it and started to boo. Was I the only one that noticed the sudden increase in penalties against the Vipers after that? It was sad to see the Vipers lose their last game and even sadder to hear the school song. Hopefully something with more bite will be chosen for the new school songs and the band will be allowed to play loud and proud. It should also be mentioned that the number of followers of the Vipers were just about equal to the number of home team fans.
November 7, 2009 at 9:37 a.m.Trying to make sense out of nonsense can be a difficult thing.Wow!what a disappointment.It's no wonder Clint only lasted a few days in the NFL,he just doesn't get it.Rick who,where did this guy come from.He bounced around on his tip toes like some ballerina,while East Central was running up and down the field,your kidding ,right.I'm grateful that the players don't have to listen to these yahoos anymore.If what they say is true,That everything starts at the top,then I'm relieved the old man is stepping down,wishing it could have been a little sooner.
November 7, 2009 at 9:05 a.m.Thanks all for the effort this season. It was fun!!
From now on I'll be yelling "LET'S GO WEST"!!!
November 7, 2009 at 6:40 a.m.