Early deficit sinks Tigers
THRALL — Friday night’s match-up between the Holland Hornets and Thrall Tigers matched two of the top teams in District 13-2A Division 1. The Hornets entered the fray with a perfect 5-0 record overall and 1-0 district mark. The Tigers were 5-1 on the season and 2-0 in district. Holland jumped out to an early 14-0 lead and rolled to a 41-21 win.
The Hornets got off to a fast start. Patrick Coats returned the opening kickoff 59 yards to the Thrall 15, and it took Holland just two plays to get into the endzone. Christian Michalek bulled his way into the endzone from 11 yards out to make the score 7-0 with less than a minute gone in the first quarter.
Thrall was held a three-and-out on its first drive and a short punt gave the Hornets the ball at their own 44. The Hornets marched 56 yards in six plays, with Michalek tallying his second score of the night from eight yards out to make it 14-0 with 7:49 to play in the opening period.
“They came out in a defense they had never run before, and it took us a couple of series to adjust to it,” said Thrall head coach Aaron Vanecek.
The Tigers finally got on the board early in the second period.
Starting with good field position at their own 49, the Tigers picked up good yardage on the ground from C.J. Kelm and Braylon Hernandez. Thrall reached the Holland eight in six plays, and from there Hernandez drove in from eight yards out for the score. Alejandro Estrada’s kick made the score 14-7 with 11:13 to play in the first half.
Holland extended its lead to 14 points midway through the second quarter thanks to an interception that gave them the ball at the Tiger 19. It took just five plays for the Hornets to score as they had a 21-7 lead at halftime.
Thrall needed just four plays to cut into the Hornet lead as the second half began. Kelm and quarterback Chance Parker totaled 13 yards on three rushes to move the ball to the Tiger 38, and on the next play, Kelm broke through the Holland defensive front and outran the defenders to the endzone for a 62-yard score. The point after made the score 21-14 with 10:32 to play in the third.
Not to be outdone, the Hornets answered back. The visitors strung together an 11-play, 73-yard drive that culminated with Gavin Cruz’s three-yard plunge to push the score to 28-14.
Another short Tiger punt set the Hornets up at the Thrall 40. Michalek wasted no time finding the endzone as he broke through the Tiger defense and raced into the endzone for a 40-yard score and a 35-14 Hornet lead. Holland scored its final points of the night with 10:01 to play in the fourth quarter. The point after failed, but the Hornets held a comfortable 41-14 lead.
The Tigers put one final score on the board in the closing minutes of the game. On second and five from the 40, Parker found Tyler Bonkowski for a 17-yard gain. A few plays later, Holland was flagged for pass interference that moved the ball inside the Hornet 15. Four plays later Parker hit Landon Gregory for a three-yard score. The kick made the final score 41-21.
“The off-week couldn’t come at a better time,” Vanecek told the team after the game. “We have a little time off and then we’re back to work because Thorndale is going to throw everything at us.”
