Cleburne Times-Review, Cleburne, TX

Sports

August 29, 2009

Indians fall to Panthers in rematch of 2008 showdown

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By Michael Hatch/Special to the Times-Review

WACO — The Alvarado Indians were hoping for a repeat of the stunning victory last year over a highly touted Waco Midway team.

Unfortunately for the Indians, they ran into a methodical, well-balanced offense and a persistently tenacious defense Friday night at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco in a 27-7 defeat.

Midway running back Marc Martinez rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Ryan Smith added two scores of his own to lead the Panthers to victory in the season’s opening game.

The Panther defense was equally impressive allowing only 140 yards of total offense for the Indians.

The first offensive series for both teams did not foreshadow anything positive as the Indians held the Panthers to a quick three-and -out in their first series. After taking over on offense, the Indians could muster very little, either. On fourth down, the Indians’ punt was partially blocked and the Panther offense set up at the Alvarado 40.

It didn’t take long for the Panthers to shake off the proverbial dust and strike.

Behind the running of Martinez, Midway marched down the field.

Martinez capped off the 60 yard drive with a 2-yard run to put them on the board.

Alvarado looked primed to even the score after a muffed punt by a Midway player set up the Indian offense at the Midway 19.

However, the Indian running backs found little running room and the offense turned the ball over on downs.

Midway wasted little time getting back on the scoreboard.

Two possessions later, the Panthers extended their lead to 13-0 on a 15-yard pass from Smith to Ronnie Lee.

The drive ate up more than five minutes of clock and the Panthers converted a fourth and one as well as three third downs on the drive.

Neither team could muster much offense after that drive and the Panthers led by 13 at the half.

The opening of the second half might have been a good omen for the Indians.

The offense took the ball from its own 34 all the way inside the Midway 10.

However, the Panther defense held on third and fourth downs inside the 5, and the Indians came away with nothing.

Even with the Panthers fumbling away the ball three times and having a punt return for a touchdown called back for holding, the Indian offense had trouble solving the Panther’s swarming defense.

Midway was able to add to their lead late in the 3rd quarter as Smith would sneak into the end zone for the score from the 1.

Alvarado finally got on the board halfway through the fourthth quarter capitalizing on another Panther fumble.

Starting from the Midway 24, the Indians were able to finish off the drive five plays later as Travis Pruitt hit Wayne Onderdonk from 7 yards out for the score.

Midway, however, answered the Alvarado score, taking the very next drive and going 64 yards, converting three third downs in the process.

Smith again capped the drive with a one yard plunge.

The drive took over five minutes again and left the Indians down 27-7 with less than one minute to play.

The Indians hope to get in the win column when they host Waco Robinson at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

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