Oilers roll past Alvin 48-22

Friday, 11 November 2011 09:19

ALVIN — Pearland entered the 2011 football season as the Class 5A Division I state champions and they are still the reigning champions until someone knocks them off the throne.

The Oilers dropped two games during the regular season losing both in the final minute of play. It was also early in the season when head coach Tony Heath was trying to find the identity of this year's squad.

"I said from the beginning of the season that this isn't the 2010 football team," Heath said. "The 2011 team needs to establish their own identity and personality."

Pearland fans have watched a team that is vastly improved in Game 10 as opposed to Game One. And now, the real season begins when the Oilers (8-2) face the Elkins Knights (8-2) at Alvin Memorial Stadium on Friday, November 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the Class 5A Division I Region III bi-district matchup.

The Oilers wanted to close out the final game of the year with a strong showing and they got it in a 48-22 thrashing of the Yellowjackets who ended their season at 4-6 overall and 2-5 in district action.

Pearland steamrolled Alvin with 450 total yards compared to only 222 total yards for the Jackets.

Pearland QB Jacob Garner put the Oilers on the board first with a 1-yard sneak. Michael Winstead kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 6:52 left in the first quarter.

Alvin got on the board with a 26-yard field goal by Jackson Basalliere with 1:33 remaining in the opening period to cut the lead to 7-3.

The Oilers would go on a 21-yard scoring spree to close out the first half as Adam Saunders got loose on a sensational 75-yard scoring jaunt; Kevin Washington hauled in a 27-yard scoring toss from Garner; and John Gibberman raced 12-yards for another score to increase Pearland's lead to 28-3 at intermission.

Alvin tried to get back in the game in the third quarter as John McDowell found a hole in Pearland's defense for a 50-yard scoring run to close the gap to 28-10 with 10:39 remaining in the third quarter.

The Oilers added to their lead as Gibberman scored on a 16-yard play and Chase Miller added a 7-yard scoring dash to up the lead to 41-10.

With 11:08 left in the game, Alvin's Corey Jackson scored on a 2-yard run. The two-point conversion was no good leaving the score at 41-16.

Miller scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard scamper. Winstead added his sixth extra point of the game making the score 48-16.

The Jackets scored with :21 seconds left in the game when Josh Ceyanes-Erwin caught a 30-yard pass from Jackson to post the final score at 48-22.

Garner was 9-of-14 for 144 yards and one TD.

Miller was the leading rusher for the game with 14 carries for 163 yards and two scores. Gibberman had four totes for 38 yards and two scores and one catch for 55 yards. JaColbie Butler had nine carries for 81 yards.

Washington had six catches for 81 yards and one TD.

The real season begins this Friday at Alvin Memorial Stadium when the Oilers face Elkins at 7:00 p.m. All Pearland fans need to make plans to attend the game in support of Pearland's bid to defend their Class 5A Division I state title.