Hurricanes avenge loss in 2014 opener
AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Sam Houston.
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A year ago, the season opener at Bandera was something Sam Houston had to recover from.
The Hurricanes gradually put the road loss behind them and went on to the District 28-5A championship. This year, Sam Houston won’t have as far to go after a 34-14 victory over the Bulldogs at Alamo Stadium.
“I just remember that late touchdown and losing (21-15),” said Hurricanes senior quarterback Raymonte Prime, who threw for 303 yards and five touchdowns. “We had to come back here tonight and get revenge.”
A new coach first installs his offensive and defensive philosophies. The next phase of pouring the foundation is setting a competitive tone.
Sam Houston coach Patrick Brown may have taken an important step in that direction with the Hurricanes in their season opener Aug. 29 at Alamo Stadium. Sam Houston overcame obstacles of its own making to record a 34-14 win over stubborn Bandera.
“No doubt that was one of the ugliest games you’ll ever see, but we have to learn to win ugly,” said Brown, who replaced retired Sam Houston coach Gary Green.
“We came in and changed everything they do. They’ve only had three weeks to learn it. I’m very confident they’ll pick it up quickly.”
Bandera, a District 14-4A Division I representative playing its first game under coach Jeff Hamilton, scored in the waning moments against Sam Houston in 2014. This year, the Bulldogs staked themselves to a 7-7 lead on senior Utah Hicks’ three-yard quarterback sneak with 6:50 remaining in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs never led again, although they did close within 20-14 on Dylan Bass’ 52-yard fumble return early in the fourth quarter. Sam Houston lost four fumbles in the second half.
“No doubt that was one of the ugliest games you’ll ever see, but we have to learn to win ugly,” said Brown, who replaced retired Sam Houston coach Gary Green.
“We came in and changed everything they do. They’ve only had three weeks to learn it.
The Hurricanes escalated the pace of the game in the second quarter, as Prime completed nine of 11 passes for 154 yards and three touchdowns.
His 18-yard throw to back Devin Harris, who made a leaping catch in the end zone, tied the score with 6:49 until halftime. Harris also contributed 119 rushing yards on 16 carries.
Prime (22 of 28) hooked up with basketball standout Jawon Anderson (195 yards, six receptions) about three minutes later on a 72-yard pass play. He also threw 13 yards to Travon Vaughns in the closing seconds of the half.
“We started looking for mismatches between our receivers and their corners,” Prime said, “and I started to hit them.”
Anderson also accounted for 32- and 65-yard receptions in the fourth quarter that put the Hurricanes’ win on ice.
“If not for a couple of fumbles,” Brown said. “I think the game would have been over in the third quarter. But give Bandera credit. They fought their behinds off.”
Brown is concerned that, in the opener, the Hurricanes put too much pressure on their defense, which limited Bandera to seven first downs.
Sam Houston will play another tough non-district game Friday, Sept. 3 against Southside (1-0). Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at the SAISD Complex. The Cardinals won a 15-14 nail-biter last year in a battle of two of the area’s most-improved teams.
“We’re going to work on our focus,” Prime said. “We’re going to go work on the long (passes) and our blocking, even though we had a great game run blocking.”
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