Hornets blank Texas College to open season

By Buster Wolfe | Selma Times-Journal

Published Sunday, August 30, 2009

SELMA — Concordia College football coach Shepherd Skanes expected a tougher contest against Texas College at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

The Texas College Steers had beaten the Hornets 31-30 last year to put Concordia College on the national list of losing teams with a 5-6 record.

“We didn’t finish that game,” Skanes said about the 2008 game. “Our job today was to finish.”

Texas College also showed up with a first-year coach and a new staff this season. So Skanes really didn’t know what kind of offense or defense to expect.

But he certainly didn’t expect to smash the Steers so easily, rolling over Texas College 68-0 in the Hornets’ home season opener.

“I thought it would be a tougher game,” Skanes said after the Gatorade shower. “They only beat us by one point last year, so I knew we were ready for them this time.”

One good thing for Concordia — in addition to the rout — was getting everyone in the game.

“I’m glad we got a chance to play everyone.” he said.

Concordia jumped ahead 6-0 with three plays for three first downs and a TD. After a 37-yard run over right tackle by A.J. Ward on the second play of the game, a 12-yard scoring toss from T’Chelpio Woods to Fred Rouse put the Hornets on the board.

On the third play of the next series, Woods hit Rouse on a 26-yard fade route in the left corner for the TD at 11:05 of the first quarter. Ralph Conquemar’s PAT kick put Concordia on top 13-0.

On the next Texas College play, Miguel Terrell picked off the Steers’ pass and ran it back 28 yards for the third Concordia score. Make it 20-0 with Conquemar’s kick.

Then with help from a pass interference call with 3:24 left in the half, Larry Keriegan went the final 2 yards in a 45-yard drive for the touchdown. It was 26-0 with Conquemar’s kick.

Possession changed hands until Concordia completed a fourth-and-2 situation with an 8-yard pass from Keriegan to Gordon Rolle with 32 seconds in the half. With 3.1 seconds until the horn, Kevin Rowe went down the middle for the final four yards.

The Hornets led 34-0 at the half.

From there, the Hornets free\ely substituted, danced in the end zone a couple of times and unloaded the water jugs quickly on Skanes and his assistants.

Skanes, however, understands next week will be different. The Hornets are the season-opening opponent for Alabama State in Montgomery next Saturday.

“We’ll see who the real hornet is,” Skanes said. “I wanted to stay exactly base in the offense and the defense because I knew Alabama State was scouting us.”

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