Moody, Gouveia lead Bulldogs to 49-29 win....
The Stone Bridge Bulldogs improved to 11-1 on the year, defeating a determined Marshall team 49-29 in the second round of the Division 5 playoffs. The Bulldogs used several big plays to take command early, and then let the Statesmen up off the canvas, but ultimately reminded them why Stone Bridge is the number one seed in the region.
Marshall opened the game with the ball on its own 16, but quickly went three-and-out and punted to the Bulldog 42. Four plays into the drive, Patrick Thompson connected with Ryan Moody with a 30-yard pass to the Statesmen 12. Four runs later, Jeron Gouveia punched in from the one, and Stone Bridge led 7-0.
Marshall was rejected again on the next series, losing four yards after three plays, and gave the ball up to Stone Bridge at the Bulldog 35 after the punt. A 40-yard scamper by Matt Irwin set Stone Bridge up on the Marshall 25, and two plays later Thompson hit Mike Stancik with a screen pass to the Statesmen eight. On second-and-goal, Thompson bulled in from the two, and Shaban's PAT made it 14-0 Stone Bridge.
Starting from their own 19, the Statesmen relied on rushes by Doug Howell and receptions by Josh Earl to move into Bulldog territory. Faced with fourth down at the 36, Marshall went for it, but quarterback Harold Sweet was intercepted by Stancik to end the drive. On first down, Irwin used a block by Nate Ingersoll to break into the secondary, then a bruising hit by Dan Elliott to race 71 yards for the score. Shaban's extra point made it 21-0 Bulldogs with 9:07 left in the second quarter.
Marshall's next series began on its own 12, and the Statesmen managed to put together a twelve-play, seven-minute drive, but the effort only reached the fifty before they were forced to punt. The kick was not returned and rolled down to the Stone Bridge one yard line. Not content to punch it out on first down, Thompson dropped back and hit Gouveia over the middle. Gouveia worked his way to the sideline, and seemed to be heading out of bounds before putting the move on two defenders. He picked up a fine block downfield by Irwin and sprinted to the end zone for a 99-yard touchdown reception. The catch was the longest in school history, and put Stone Bridge on top 28-0 just before the half.
Kicking off to start the second half, Marshall's attempt at an onside kick backfired in a big way. Grabbing the ball at the Bulldog 30, Moody dodged and weaved his way across the field before outrunning everyone to the corner of the end zone. Shaban's fifth PAT made the score 35-0 Stone Bridge.
Marshall had barely caught their breath when Stancik came up with his second interception of the game, returning the ball to the Statesmen 22. Stone Bridge was unable to move ahead, and Shaban's attempt at a 35-yard field goal was just wide left. Marshall was once again unable to get any traction, and punted to the Stone Bridge 18 yard line.
With just under seven minutes left in the third, the reins were turned over to the reserves, but the Bulldogs could not generate much offense and were faced with fourth-and-fourteen at the 24. Kyle Gouveia's punt was low and fast, and Howell scooped it up and rambled to the Bulldog 11 before being dragged down. The Statesmen needed only two plays before Howell scored on a five yard run, and Marshall was on the board, trailing 35-7.
With nothing to lose, Marshall made another onside kick attempt, and this time successfully retrieved the ball at the Stone Bridge 47. The series was cut short when Bulldog Zach Kanicka pounced on a Statesmen fumble at the Stone Bridge 38. Again, the offensive reserves had trouble mounting a drive, and eventually turned the ball over on downs at the 40.
A 28-yard run by Howell on second-and-ten was enhanced by a facemask penalty, and the Statesmen soon found themselves with first-and-goal on the six. Stone Bridge held firm, but on fourth-and-goal Sweet rolled left and found the end zone for Marshall's second score.
The expected onside kick was recovered by Stone Bridge on the Bulldog 43, and this time the offense seemed to be in gear. But on second down at the Statesmen 24, Chris Kamara was stripped of the ball, and Sweet nabbed the loose ball and dashed 71 yards for the TD. The extra point made the score 35-21, and Stone Bridge Head Coach Mickey Thompson and seen enough. Back in went the offensive starters.
The Bulldogs stayed on the ground, and methodically moved to the Marshall 40. On first-and-ten, Jeron Gouveia broke through the center of the line and pushed to the 23, but was stripped while reaching for more yards and Sweet covered for the Statesmen. Gouveia was redeemed two plays later when he pulled in a tipped pass for the third interception of Sweet. On the next play Thompson found Moody behind the defenders and hit him with a 38-yard scoring strike. Shaban's PAT set the score at 42-21 Stone Bridge.
As if to ensure that there would be no more comeback by Marshall, on the second play from scrimmage Jon Bladel stepped in front of a Sweet pass near the sideline and took it to the house for the "pick six". Another Shaban kick made the score 49-21 with 2:18 left to play.
Statesmen running back Howell took advantage of the reserves one more time, tallying 46 yards on three carries during the final series. With ten seconds left, Sweet found Craig Murphy in the end zone, and Howell added a two-point conversion to finish the scoring at 49-29.
While the final score suggested a tighter game, the result was never in doubt. Stone Bridge moves on to the region championship game for the sixth straight year, and ahead lies a rubber match with Edison. The Bulldogs defeated the Eagles in 2005 en route to an appearance in the state championship game, but were upset last year in a shocker. The teams meet at 1:30 Friday, November 24th on the Bulldogs home field.
Prepared by, Dave and Suzy Barta
spbarta@aol.com
