By Richard Greene | Published Sunday, October 25, 2009
The Decatur Eagles had no answer for the Burkburnett Bulldogs' running attack Friday night. Burkburnett rolled up 448 yards on the ground in a 55-26 victory over the Decatur Eagles at Eagle Stadium.
The loss drops Decatur (1-6) to 1-2 in District 5-3A and nearly out of the playoff picture.
"We're already in the playoffs," said Decatur coach Kyle Story. "If we lose, we're done after week 10."
Decatur senior defensive end and wide receiver Ryan Thomas expects his team to respond in the final two games against Vernon and Bridgeport.
"It's hard, but we'll come back," Thomas said.
Decatur gave up 490 total yards as Burkburnett scored on its first five possessions. For the game, Burkburnett converted on seven of eight third downs and had only one turnover. Outside that one turnover, the only other two drives that did not end with Burkburnett scores came at the end of the first half and with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter.
"We never could get a stop," Story said.
"We didn't do a good job of slowing them down all night."
Of the seven third-down conversions for Burkburnett, the biggest came in the second quarter while holding a 27-13 lead. On third-and-9 at the Burkburnett 23-yard line, Decatur stopped Burkburnett receiver Ben Cahayla short of the first down. But Decatur was called for defensive holding on the play, giving Burkburnett the first down. The next play, Burkburnett quarterback Canon Cornelius broke free on a 56-yard run to set up Malachi Naef's fourth touchdown of the half from 10 yards out. Burkburnett took a 34-14 lead into the locker room.
"We stopped them, but we're called for that defensive holding," Story said. "Instead of getting the ball back down 13, they pop a big [run] and score. That was a huge momentum shift."
Decatur opened the second half with an interception. After its defense recovered a fumble, Decatur gave the ball right back with a fumble four plays later. Burkburnett took advantage of the fumble with Naef scoring his fifth and final touchdown to put the game out of reach at 41-13.
Naef finished with 119 yards on 10 carries. He scored on runs of 56, 25, 20, 10 and nine.
Cornelius led Burkburnett with 126 yards on 20 carries. He completed four of his six passes for 42 yards. He connected with Temi Ogunleye with a 9-yard pass for Burkburnett's final score with 7:59 left.
Decatur closed the scoring with Colton Parker hitting Dillon Quinn with a 36-yard pass. Parker finished the game 6-for-15 for 93 yards. He rushed for 56 yards.
Chance Gasperson led Decatur with 57 yards on nine carries.
Decatur's biggest play did not come on offense. After Naef scored the first of his four first-half touchdowns from 25 yards out with 4:28 left in the first quarter, Colby Moore returned the ensuing kickoff 82 yards to bring Decatur back within six, 13-7.
Two plays later, Naef and Burkburnett were back in the end zone, taking a three-score lead.
