Posted 2:09 am Saturday, September 05, 2009
John Tyler Powers Past Lufkin
By HAROLD WILSON
Staff Writer
John Tyler turned back the Pack and at the same time took a big leap forward with a win over state-power Lufkin.
Staff Writer
John Tyler turned back the Pack and at the same time took a big leap forward with a win over state-power Lufkin.
Jeremy Johnson gained 300-plus yards of offense again, Kedrick Chancellor scored twice and Darrien Starling picked off two passes as John Tyler defeated Lufkin 27-18 in a showdown between former district rivals Friday night with 9,000 watching at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
JT, which trailed at halftime before dominating the second half, ended a nine-game losing streak to Lufkin, beating the Panthers for the first time since the 1998 season.
The Lions (2-0) entered the game receiving mention in the Associated Press state poll for the first time since 2001.
The win marked JT's second straight over a team listed 12th in the state poll.
"Our kids fought through the adversity of the first half, came out in the second half and played well," said third-year JT coach Dereck Rush, whose team opened the season with a convincing 41-17 win over Class 4A force Texas High. "You can't ask for anything better than that. They showed up and competed, (especially) in the second half."
JT took the lead for good on Chancellor's 7-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, which ended a quick three-play drive set up by Johnson's 39 and 10-yard pickups.
Johnson's 12-yard TD run late in the third gave JT an eight-point advantage (20-12).
After Lufkin pulled to within two on Deauntre Smiley's 11-yard keeper, Chancellor cemented the win with a 44-yard blast up the middle for the only points of the fourth quarter.
"I feel real good because everybody doubted us," Chancellor said. "They said we couldn't run, we could only pass. We got this victory, now we're about to open everybody's eyes in the state of Texas."
Johnson, a senior quarterback committed to Southern Methodist, rushed the ball 18 times for a game-high 152 yards while Chancellor carried nine times for 80 yards. Johnson also enjoyed an efficient night throwing, completing 12 of 16 passes for 155 yards and one TD -- a 15-yard strike to Ricky Collins for JT's first score midway through the second quarter.
Collins chalked up 138 all-purpose yards, which included a 64-yard kickoff return.
All-in-all, the Lions left the field satisfied after another big night on offense, which netted 432 yards.
The JT defense did its part as well, holding Lufkin to 115 total yards and five first downs in the second half while keeping the Panthers scoreless the final 12 minutes.
Senior linebacker Alvin Arps, a three-year starter, led JT with seven tackles and recovered a fumble.
"I credit that to the coaches making adjustments," Rush said of the second-half turnaround, which saw JT force two turnovers and a three-and-out while retaining possession 15 of the last 24 minutes. "The defense kept on fighting."
Lufkin grabbed first and last blood in the opening half, with Smiley hooking up twice with big-play receiver Quinn Trimble, who beat Starling both times for TD passes of 49 on the first play of the second quarter and on a 11-yard score on the next-to-last snap prior to the intermission.
The JT secondary struck back, with Starling capitalizing on Smiley's misplaced ball for his first pick, which led to a five-play scoring drive capped by Johnson's scamper.
With Lufkin looking to get back into the game late, Starling sped downfield to take away another Smiley pass with 2:21 remaining to ice the win.
"They always tell corners you have to have a short memory. I just stayed focused and made plays," said Starling. "We're trying to keep a quiet confidence and keep getting better."
Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic
John Tyler 27, Lufkin 18
John Tyler 27, Lufkin 18
At Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium
Lufkin 0 12 6 0 -- 18
Lufkin 0 12 6 0 -- 18
John Tyler 0 7 13 7 -- 27
Second Quarter
LUF -- Quinn Trimble 49 pass from Smiley (conversion failed),11:53
Second Quarter
LUF -- Quinn Trimble 49 pass from Smiley (conversion failed),11:53
JT -- Ricky Collins 15 pass from Jeremy Johnson (Jesse Diaz kick), 6:36
LUF -- Trimble 11 pass from Smiley (run failed), 0:20
Third Quarter
JT -- Kedrick Chancellor 7 run (kick blocked), 7:16
JT -- Kedrick Chancellor 7 run (kick blocked), 7:16
JT -- Johnson 12 run (Diaz kick), 3:10
LUF -- Smiley 11 run (pass failed), 0:20
LUF -- Smiley 11 run (pass failed), 0:20
Fourth Quarter
JT -- Chancellor 44 run (Diaz kick), 7:45
JT -- Chancellor 44 run (Diaz kick), 7:45
EST.ATT. -- 9000.
LUF JT
First Downs 16 21
Rushes-Yards 31-130 39-277
LUF JT
First Downs 16 21
Rushes-Yards 31-130 39-277
Passing Yards 176 155
Com.-Att.-Int. 14-21-2 12-16-0
Com.-Att.-Int. 14-21-2 12-16-0
Punts-Avg. 3-32.0 1-40.0
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-0
Penalties-Yards 7-38 9-91
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-0
Penalties-Yards 7-38 9-91
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- Lufkin, Deauntre Smiley 20-110, Carlos Warren 9-30, Jamarcus Walker 1-(-1), Tra Horace 1-(-9). John Tyler, Jeremy Johnson 18-152, Kedrick Chancellor 9-80, Ky'Ordric Black 9-40, Rickey Collins 1-6, Tarik Spencer 1-2, Team 1-(-3).
RUSHING -- Lufkin, Deauntre Smiley 20-110, Carlos Warren 9-30, Jamarcus Walker 1-(-1), Tra Horace 1-(-9). John Tyler, Jeremy Johnson 18-152, Kedrick Chancellor 9-80, Ky'Ordric Black 9-40, Rickey Collins 1-6, Tarik Spencer 1-2, Team 1-(-3).
PASSING -- Lufkin, Smiley 14-21-2 -- 176. John Tyler, Johnson 12-16-0 -- 155.
RECEIVING -- Lufkin, Quinn Trimble 6-132, Horace 6-39, Earon Johnson 1-6, Arthur Tinz 1-(-1). John Tyler, David Bush 4-10, Chancellor 3-29, Rickey Collins 2-68, Courtland Nickelberry 2-40, Black 1-8.
