BY GRANGER HUNTRESS
What began as a sunny afternoon at San Angelo Stadium soon faded into dark, as did my dinner plans, when Calvert rallied from a 32-0 halftime deficit to defeat Sanderson for the 2002 State Six-Man title, 51-46.
Both teams had sensational seasons in 2002 and Sanderson and Calvert entered the year ranked third and fourth, respectively, behind Whitharral and Richland Springs. Those top two had met in the 2001 final and returned plenty of talent.
All four of the preseason and top-ranked teams that year entered the playoffs undefeated and primed for deep playoff runs. In the second round, however, defending champion Whitharral lost all-state receiver and 2002 Texas Six-Man Coaches Association Offensive MVP Brandon Hoskins, and was upset by Fort Elliott, 28-22.
Calvert, Richland Springs and Sanderson though cruised through the first two rounds. Calvert blanked Trinidad, 51-0, and crushed Jonesboro, 58-12. Richland Springs 45’d Blackwell, 56-8, and blasted Gordon, 74-34. Sanderson throttled Borden County, 58-8, and blanked Rule, 48-0.
That setup a couple of very intriguing semifinals, with Calvert facing Richland Springs and Sanderson against Valley. Both match-ups turned out to be the tightest either eventual finalist would have before the title game.
Heading into the quarterfinals, Calvert had allowed only 40 points in 11 games. Some of that was due to a weak schedule, but also, in only their fifth season of playing six-man football, Calvert had finally figured out all aspects of the game.
But against Richland Springs it was going to be a different story.
This was actually the first meeting between these two teams in the schools’ history and it proved to be a classic, with Calvert squeezing out a win, 60-57.
On the other side of the draw, Sanderson faced its toughest opponent so far in the playoffs, skirting by Valley, 54-34.
In the semifinals, both teams returned to form, with Calvert blasting Abbott, 52-6, and Sanderson crushing Sands, 58-16.
So, on December 15, Calvert and Sanderson faced off looking for each school’s first six-man title.
The Trojans entered the game as a slight 4.5-point favorite over the Eagles, but the game didn’t start the way everyone expected.
Sanderson quarterback Ty Means had a terrific first half. About a minute into the game, he connected with Dayton Scott for a nine-yard touchdown pass, giving Sanderson a quick 8-0 lead. Later in the first, Geo Estrada ran one in from 14 yards out, extending the lead to 16-0.
Means continued his handy work in the second quarter, again connecting with Scott for scores of 16 and one-yard out, to extend the Eagles’ lead to 32-0, as Eric Bilano connected on all four PATs.
The latter score came with only four seconds remaining in the half and looked to take the wind out of the sails of the Trojans.
With the game seemingly at hand, several of us working the game in the press box began to make plans for afterwards. We all agreed that when the game ended we would actually have time to head over to the Lowake Steak House and grab a bite to eat.
But that wasn’t going to happen this day.
Legend has it that Calvert Head Coach Coylin Grimes halftime speech was a volatile one, and his words to his team could be heard through the old cinder blocks of the stadium. Whatever happened, the Trojans came out to play in the second half.
But it didn’t happen immediately.
With exactly six minutes left in the third, Darius Smith finally broke free, getting Calvert on the board with a 28-yard run. The pass attempt failed and with only 16 minutes remaining in the game, the Trojans still trailed, 32-6.
Possessions were exchanged, then the scoring onslaught ensued.
Calvert drove to their own 1-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. Sanderson took over, but immediately fumbled on the next play.
Calvert scored quickly and in rapid succession. The first was a Greg Ford 1-yard run at the 2:40 mark of the third. After recovering the ensuing kickoff, Smith added another 7-yard run with 1:58 remaining, cutting the lead to 32-18. After another quick turnaround, he broke a third touchdown run, this time for 63-yards. The Sanderson lead had now been cut to 32-25.
There was no more talk of a shutout or going home early. We had a ballgame on our hands.
And Sanderson wasn’t giving up so easily. The Eagles responded with a drive of their own, as Andy Martinez raced 57-yards for a touchdown, to extend the Sanderson lead back to 38-25 with only 18 seconds remaining in the third period.
Calvert wasn’t done and their explosive plays kept coming. After the ensuing kickoff, Ford connected with Herbert Kinney for 18 yards and another score. The one-point conversion was good for a second time and the lead was down to 38-32 entering the fourth.
The Trojans amazingly took their first lead of the game, 39-38, less than a minute into the fourth when Smith broke through for a 60-yard run and Torre Grimes connected with Ford for the conversion.
Calvert looked to put the game away when Smith broke free again, scoring on a 28-yard scamper with only 2:34 left in the game. The PAT pass failed, but their lead was extended to 45-38.
Sanderson wasn’t done. The Eagles drove down the field and Means again connected with Scott on a 17-yard scoring pass. Bilano’s kick gave them the lead again, 46-45, with less than a minute remaining.
Sanderson did not kick deep, to prevent a long kickoff return, but Calvert recovered, gaining good field position.
Just a few plays later, Darius Smith caught a pass from Herbert McKinney and raced 50 yards to pay dirt. Despite missing the PAT, the Trojans held on for a 51-46 victory and the title.
Despite not scoring on their first possession of the second half, Calvert then scored on eight of its final nine possessions. Only one of those scoring drives took more than two plays. Three scoring drives were only one play.
One of the least covered stories was the fact that very few, outside the Sanderson faithful, noticed that all-state linebacker Paul Green was missing during the second half. Make no mistake that Calvert stepped up their game, but Green had been an integral part of the Eagle defense. He was later named 2002 Texas Six-Man Coaches Association Defensive MVP.
Smith led all runners with 207 yards on 16 carries with five touchdowns, while Martinez led Sanderson with 144 yards on 11 carries. Sanderson’s Scott led all receivers with 8 catches for 95 yards. Darius Smith, the game’s MVP, also had 89 yards and another score on only three catches.
NOTES
-- Coylin Grimes was later named Coach of the Year
-- Hoskins was a two-time Division I All-American in the decathlon and heptathlon at Liberty University
-- Calvert's Darrius Smith (RB), Brian Ford (TE), Tijon Green (DL), Greg Ford (CB) and Sanderson's Dayton Scott (SE), Junior Newman (SE), Andy Martinez (ST), Eric Sanchez (DL) and Steve Fuentes (CB) dominated the First Team All-State selections that year.
What began as a sunny afternoon at San Angelo Stadium soon faded into dark, as did my dinner plans, when Calvert rallied from a 32-0 halftime deficit to defeat Sanderson for the 2002 State Six-Man title, 51-46.
Both teams had sensational seasons in 2002 and Sanderson and Calvert entered the year ranked third and fourth, respectively, behind Whitharral and Richland Springs. Those top two had met in the 2001 final and returned plenty of talent.
All four of the preseason and top-ranked teams that year entered the playoffs undefeated and primed for deep playoff runs. In the second round, however, defending champion Whitharral lost all-state receiver and 2002 Texas Six-Man Coaches Association Offensive MVP Brandon Hoskins, and was upset by Fort Elliott, 28-22.
Calvert, Richland Springs and Sanderson though cruised through the first two rounds. Calvert blanked Trinidad, 51-0, and crushed Jonesboro, 58-12. Richland Springs 45’d Blackwell, 56-8, and blasted Gordon, 74-34. Sanderson throttled Borden County, 58-8, and blanked Rule, 48-0.
That setup a couple of very intriguing semifinals, with Calvert facing Richland Springs and Sanderson against Valley. Both match-ups turned out to be the tightest either eventual finalist would have before the title game.
Heading into the quarterfinals, Calvert had allowed only 40 points in 11 games. Some of that was due to a weak schedule, but also, in only their fifth season of playing six-man football, Calvert had finally figured out all aspects of the game.
But against Richland Springs it was going to be a different story.
This was actually the first meeting between these two teams in the schools’ history and it proved to be a classic, with Calvert squeezing out a win, 60-57.
On the other side of the draw, Sanderson faced its toughest opponent so far in the playoffs, skirting by Valley, 54-34.
In the semifinals, both teams returned to form, with Calvert blasting Abbott, 52-6, and Sanderson crushing Sands, 58-16.
So, on December 15, Calvert and Sanderson faced off looking for each school’s first six-man title.
The Trojans entered the game as a slight 4.5-point favorite over the Eagles, but the game didn’t start the way everyone expected.
Sanderson quarterback Ty Means had a terrific first half. About a minute into the game, he connected with Dayton Scott for a nine-yard touchdown pass, giving Sanderson a quick 8-0 lead. Later in the first, Geo Estrada ran one in from 14 yards out, extending the lead to 16-0.
Means continued his handy work in the second quarter, again connecting with Scott for scores of 16 and one-yard out, to extend the Eagles’ lead to 32-0, as Eric Bilano connected on all four PATs.
The latter score came with only four seconds remaining in the half and looked to take the wind out of the sails of the Trojans.
With the game seemingly at hand, several of us working the game in the press box began to make plans for afterwards. We all agreed that when the game ended we would actually have time to head over to the Lowake Steak House and grab a bite to eat.
But that wasn’t going to happen this day.
Legend has it that Calvert Head Coach Coylin Grimes halftime speech was a volatile one, and his words to his team could be heard through the old cinder blocks of the stadium. Whatever happened, the Trojans came out to play in the second half.
But it didn’t happen immediately.
With exactly six minutes left in the third, Darius Smith finally broke free, getting Calvert on the board with a 28-yard run. The pass attempt failed and with only 16 minutes remaining in the game, the Trojans still trailed, 32-6.
Possessions were exchanged, then the scoring onslaught ensued.
Calvert drove to their own 1-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. Sanderson took over, but immediately fumbled on the next play.
Calvert scored quickly and in rapid succession. The first was a Greg Ford 1-yard run at the 2:40 mark of the third. After recovering the ensuing kickoff, Smith added another 7-yard run with 1:58 remaining, cutting the lead to 32-18. After another quick turnaround, he broke a third touchdown run, this time for 63-yards. The Sanderson lead had now been cut to 32-25.
There was no more talk of a shutout or going home early. We had a ballgame on our hands.
And Sanderson wasn’t giving up so easily. The Eagles responded with a drive of their own, as Andy Martinez raced 57-yards for a touchdown, to extend the Sanderson lead back to 38-25 with only 18 seconds remaining in the third period.
Calvert wasn’t done and their explosive plays kept coming. After the ensuing kickoff, Ford connected with Herbert Kinney for 18 yards and another score. The one-point conversion was good for a second time and the lead was down to 38-32 entering the fourth.
The Trojans amazingly took their first lead of the game, 39-38, less than a minute into the fourth when Smith broke through for a 60-yard run and Torre Grimes connected with Ford for the conversion.
Calvert looked to put the game away when Smith broke free again, scoring on a 28-yard scamper with only 2:34 left in the game. The PAT pass failed, but their lead was extended to 45-38.
Sanderson wasn’t done. The Eagles drove down the field and Means again connected with Scott on a 17-yard scoring pass. Bilano’s kick gave them the lead again, 46-45, with less than a minute remaining.
Sanderson did not kick deep, to prevent a long kickoff return, but Calvert recovered, gaining good field position.
Just a few plays later, Darius Smith caught a pass from Herbert McKinney and raced 50 yards to pay dirt. Despite missing the PAT, the Trojans held on for a 51-46 victory and the title.
Despite not scoring on their first possession of the second half, Calvert then scored on eight of its final nine possessions. Only one of those scoring drives took more than two plays. Three scoring drives were only one play.
One of the least covered stories was the fact that very few, outside the Sanderson faithful, noticed that all-state linebacker Paul Green was missing during the second half. Make no mistake that Calvert stepped up their game, but Green had been an integral part of the Eagle defense. He was later named 2002 Texas Six-Man Coaches Association Defensive MVP.
Smith led all runners with 207 yards on 16 carries with five touchdowns, while Martinez led Sanderson with 144 yards on 11 carries. Sanderson’s Scott led all receivers with 8 catches for 95 yards. Darius Smith, the game’s MVP, also had 89 yards and another score on only three catches.
NOTES
-- Coylin Grimes was later named Coach of the Year
-- Hoskins was a two-time Division I All-American in the decathlon and heptathlon at Liberty University
-- Calvert's Darrius Smith (RB), Brian Ford (TE), Tijon Green (DL), Greg Ford (CB) and Sanderson's Dayton Scott (SE), Junior Newman (SE), Andy Martinez (ST), Eric Sanchez (DL) and Steve Fuentes (CB) dominated the First Team All-State selections that year.
