Pearland 51 - San Antonio Stevens 21

Third time's a charm!!!

December 13, 2010

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GOING IN BACKWARDS - Pearland running back Jackie Robinson (25) gave Dustin Garrison a rest and ended up scoring on this 5-yard dive backwards across the goal line to give the Oilers a 27-14 lead in the first half. The offensive line provided a big push for Robinson to score. (Photo by Manny Guerrero)

SAN ANTONIO — The Pearland Oilers won the 5A Division I Region III crown for the first time in school history in 2001 and advanced to the 5A Division I state semifinals to face San Antonio Taft in the Astrodome.

Taft edged the Oilers 21-10 to end the season for Pearland with a school-record 13-1 record.

In 2006, the Oilers captured their second 5A Region III Division I crown to advance to the 5A Division I state semifinals to face Austin Westlake at College Station at Texas A&M's Kyle Field. A furious comeback effort fell short as the Chaparrals survived 35-32 ending Pearland's season at 12-3.

When the Oilers took the field at the Alamodome in San Antonio to face the San Antonio Stevens Falcons -- there was a quiet confidence that 2010 would be "three times a charm" for Pearland to win their first semifinal contest and advance to the 5A Division I state championship game for the first time in history.

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GRASPING THIN AIR - Pearland QB Trey Anderson (11) had a spectacular 46-yard run for a touchdown in the first minute of the second half against San Antonio Stevens to give the Oilers some breathing room to make the score 34-21. The Pearland defense stepped up to shutout the Falcons in the second half and the Oilers claimed a first-ever state semifinal victory 51-21. Anderson broke at least five tackles leaving defenders spread out all over the field. Pearland (15-0) will face Euless Trinity (15-0) at the new Cowboy Stadium in Arlington on Saturday, December 18 at 8:00 p.m. (Photo by Manny Guerrero)

For the 21,000 plus who were in attendance, it appeared that the game would be a shootout as Pearland took a 27-21 lead to the dressing room at halftime.

Not sure what the Pearland coaches said at intermission, but it certainly worked as the Oilers shutout the high-octane Stevens offense and their University of Texas-bound quarterback while the Pearland offense continued their dominance with 24 unanswered points to post the 51-21 win sending them to the state title game against defending 5A Division II champion Euless Trinity at the new Cowboy Stadium in Arlington.

It was evident that Pearland's offense was going to much to handle for Stevens.

After the Falcons scored on a 67-yard bomb on the second play of the game as a result of a Pearland player loosing his footing in coverage, it didn't take long for the Oilers to answer with two scores for a 14-7 lead.

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UNBELIEVABLE CATCH - As he has done all season, Myles Kanipes (10) made an incredible grab from QB Trey Anderson covering 44 yards that led to Pearland's second touchdown of the game. Pass interference was called, but the jaw-dropping catch gave the Oilers great field position. (Photo by Manny Guerrero)

Pearland running back Dustin Garrison was the workhorse on both drives and scored on runs of 4 and 1-yards to give the Oilers the lead.

The second score was sparked by quarterback Trey Anderson's long pass to Myles Kanipes who made an incredible catch at the 31-yard
line to set up the Pearland touchdown.

Stevens answered with a scoring drive of their own capped off by a 5-yard run to knot up the score at 14-14.

The Oilers came roaring back as Garrison scored his third touchdown of the game on a 7-yard run. The PAT missed left leaving the score 20-14.

After Pearland forced a punt, the Oilers drove to the Stevens 5-yard where Jackie Robinson scored on a tremendous push by the offensive line to increason the lead 27-14 with 3:41 left in the game.

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BIG TIME DEFENSIVE PLAYS - The Pearland defense has been one of the main reasons why the Oilers will be playing for the 5A Division I state title on Saturday, December 18 at the new Cowboy Stadium in Arlington at 8:00 p.m. San Antonio Stevens' highly-touted quarterback and UT commit Mykkele Thompson (2) was constantly surrounded by Pearland defenders who gang tackled the star signal-caller. The Oilers shutdown Thompson and the Stevens offense in the second half for a 51-21 rout to advance to the 5A Division I state championship game. Sam Ukwuachu (86) and Kendall Ehrlich (16) and a host of other defensive players made the difference in the game. (Photo by Manny Guerrero)

It appeared that would be the halftime score, but, Thompson, the talented Stevens quarterback showed why had over 2,600 yards rushing entering the game as he got pinned behind the line of scrimmage and then found a hole on the right side and used his raw speed to score on an 89-yard jaunt to bring Stevens back into the game 27-21 with :20 seconds left before intermission.

The revitalized Pearland defense took over the second half to blank the Falcons while the Oilers scored on a dazzling 46-yard run by QB Trey Anderson that took only :25 seconds to begin the second half. Anderson dodged and weaved his way through the Falcons defenders leaving a trail of bodies scattered all over the field in their futile attempt to bring him down.

The extra point by Dylan Nowak was good for a 34-21 lead.

Nowak added a 34-yard field goal to increase the lead to 37-21 before Garrison scored his fourth touchdown on an 18-yard scamper with 11:35 left in the game.

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OFF AND RUNNING - Pearland running back Dustin Garrison (29) ran wild against SA Stevens with 276 yards on 41 carries and four TDs. Garrison now has 2,714 rushing yards for the season and is only four yards shy of breaking the PHS single-season rushing mark set by Fozzy Whittaker (UT) of 2,717 yards in 2006 when the Oilers were in the 5A Division I state semifinals. (Photo by Manny Guerrero)

Pearland sealed the game when Anderson fired a laser to Marquis Sandles for a 21-yard score. The PAT was good by Nowak and the final score was posted on the scoreboard 51-21 with 3:38 left in the game.

The Oilers got strong play from the offensive line as Garrison had 41 carries for 276 yards and four TDs. Anderson was key with his feet as he gained 111 yards on eight carries and one score. Kanipes was the leading receiver with two great catches.

“I said, ‘If I’m going to get to the dance, I’m going to go with the one that brought me here,’ ” Heath said. “Dustin and Trey (Anderson) and Myles (Kanipes), I (wanted to) put the ball in their hands.”

The closest Stevens got to the Pearland goal line is when they drove to the Oilers' 20 before senior defensive back Charles Higginbotham intercepted Thompson, killing the Falcons’ best scoring chance of the half. Higginbotham had several other outstanding defensive plays that knocked down passes in critical situations.

Pearland outgained the Falcons 533 total yards to 311 total yards.

The table is now set as Pearland, for the first time in school history, will be playing for the Class 5A Division I state championship. Pearland fans need to get out and support the team as Euless Trinity is in the backyard of Cowboy Stadium.

If you are unable to go to the game - you can get on the Live Chat/Blog at: www.reporternewssports.com and let us know what you think. The game will be televised by FOX Southwest at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 18.

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