By Buddy Carlisle
MaxPreps.com
LEAGUE CITY, Texas – The perfect result for Galveston Ball’s return to the football field after Hurricane Ike ravaged their island city 3 weeks ago would have been a victory over District 24-5A rival Clear Creek. The Tornadoes entered the playing field before the game with players and coaches holding hands symbolizing their unity and resolve.
Unfortunately, the Wildcats did not cooperate and upended Ball 17-7 on the strength of two second-half touchdowns at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“It was just great to be back out here playing football again,” Ball coach Ron Holmes said. “I can’t say enough about how everyone is reaching out to our community, donating items and allowing us to use their fields. We are very grateful.”
Ball was scheduled to host the Wildcats, but the field at Kermit Courville Stadium in Galveston has been deemed unplayable. The Tornadoes resumed practice a week ago on a practice field at LaMarque – a bitter Galveston County rival – who they defeated in their only other game of the season, 35-6, on Sept. 5.
In a special presentation at halftime, the Clear Creek student council presented 20 boxes of school supplies to Ball High School to aid the recovery process. Ball will return to school tomorrow, and the Creek students unfurled a 12-foot high banner that read, “It Takes a Tornado to Survive a Hurricane,” referring to the Ball mascot.
The game itself was a defensive struggle in the first half as the only points came from Clear Creek kicker Tommy Henshaw, who booted a 39-yard field goal at the 3:15 mark of the first quarter.
Ball’s best opportunity to score in the first half came on their initial possession of the game as quarterback Richard Sincere engineered a 60-yard drive that stalled at the Creek four-yard line.
The Tors struggled throughout the contest on offense and showed some understandable rust from the nearly month-long layoff with numerous pre-snap penalties. Ball was flagged 12 times for 93 total yards during the evening.
Clear Creek extended its lead with 4:49 left in the third period on a perfect 42-yard strike from junior quarterback Marcus Mata to wide receiver Jordan Wright. The score capped a 91-yard drive after the Wildcats stopped the Tors at their own nine on downs. Henshaw added the point after for a 10-0 Wildcat lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Cats put the game out of reach with 5:55 left in the contest on another TD strike from Mata to halfback Brian Boyd. Mata sprinted right and threw back to Boyd all alone down the left sideline for the 69-yard score and Henshaw kicked true again.
Sincere made sure the Tors would not go scoreless on a third down, 30-yard run and a 25-yard pass to Kenneth Jenkins to set up the lone Ball touchdown. The senior signal caller ran seven yards and fumbled into the end zone where Dominick Valdez pounced on the ball for the score. Jose Alcocer added the extra point to complete the scoring with 3:43 remaining.
The Creek defense was very stingy on the night, led by linebackers Zack Duncavage, Tyler Eby, Michael Thomas and safety Marcus Davis, a Texas commitment. They constantly harassed Sincere as he attempted to find would-be receivers down field.
“This Ball team is going to be very good and we are lucky that we caught them before they are back to themselves,” Clear Creek head coach Darrell Warden said.
Ball looks to get back to where they were next week when they meet another Clear Creek ISD school, Clear Springs.
“We are grateful to be back and we hope to improve from this game. This group is talented and we still expect big things from them,” Holmes said.
Despite the final score, this evening was about more than just a game, one played before a near capacity crowd of 8,000 fans. The visitor side of the stadium was full of Galveston fans, clad in purple and gold, some still unable to even live in their own homes.
This was about a community rallying around a team and trying to return to some sense of normalcy. The Tors’ team leader, Sincere, put the evening in perspective.
“We were proud of the way we played tonight. We’re not going to let losing get us down. Just getting to play again tonight is the best feeling I’ve felt in a while.”