Pearland used to be a favorite homecoming opponent and that proved to be the way of life for the Oilers in 1997 when new head coach Tony Heath saw his team play in six homecoming games including their own. Pearland lost all six on their way to a 2-8 mark.

The Oilers played in four homecoming games in 1998 including their own when they finished 5-5. Pearland won their homecoming contest to break a 36-year drought and haven't lost their homecoming since that time. The last time that Pearland was a homecoming opponent was in 2000 when Clear Brook still thought the Oilers would be a likely victim, but Pearland took that game 26-7 on their way to an 8-4 record. It was that same year that Pearland knocked off Deer Park in the Reliant Astrodome 35-13 to register their first playoff win in 50 years.

Apparently someone forgot to tell Victoria Memorial that the Oilers were not the team to invite to your homecoming celebration. For the first time in five years, Pearland found themselves amidst the homecoming festivities of another team. When the final buzzer sounded, the Oilers were crowned homecoming king with a dominating 44-15 victory to improve to 4-0 for the 2005 football campaign.

Victoria should have seen it coming after the sub-varsity teams outscored the Vipers in four games 140-0 leading up to the big party. While the Oilers did surrender 15 harmless points, the game was really never in question after the first quarter.

After Pearland was forced to punt on their first possession of the game, Memorial drove from their own 20 to the Pearland 13 before having to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Scott Michaelis to take an early 3-0 lead at the 6:11 mark of the first quarter.

It took only 25 seconds for the Oilers to grab a 7-3 lead when Fozzy Whittaker broke free on an 86-yard scoring jaunt to quiet the homecoming crowd. Alex Bolan hit the extra point with 5:46 left in the opening period.
After the Pearland defense forced Memorial to punt, the Oilers gave the Vipers a gift when the Oilers fumbled the snap from their own seven-yard line which was recovered at the Pearland four-yard line by Lance Catchings. Two plays later saw Eugene Johnson, who is 6-4 and 330 pounds, rumble for a five-yard scoring run dragging six Pearland players with him to the end zone. The extra point missed left and the Vipers had a slim 9-7 lead with 2:11 remaining in the first quarter.

But that would be as close as Memorial would get as the Oilers reeled off five straight touchdowns to build a 44-7 lead.

Quarterback Michael Speciale scored two times on one-yard each in the second quarter giving Pearland a 21-9 halftime lead.

After Memorial punted on their first possession of the second half, the Oiler offense capped a 73-yard, eight-play drive on a six-yard scoring run by Whittaker with 6:36 left in the third period. Bolan booted the extra point making the score 28-9. The drive featured a 15-yard pass interference call and a pass from Speciale to Jeremiah Lesser covering 26 yards to the Vipers' six-yard marker.

Memorial drove from their own 33 to the Pearland 15, but the defense stiffened and a fourth down pass fell incomplete giving Pearland the ball at their own 30.

It took only six plays for the Oilers to score again sparked by a 36-yard run by Speciale to the Vipers' 22. Marcus Bradley got two good blocks from Matt Duke and James Williford that opened the lane for a 22-yard scoring run. Bolan hit the mark for a 35-9 advantage.

Once again, Memorial moved from their own 20 to the Pearland 27, but three straight pass incompletions gave Pearland the ball back.

The Oilers wasted little time to find paydirt as Reid Wendell lofted a beautiful pass to Jerimick Rogers who raced down the right sideline and gathered the ball in full stride at the goal line for a 41-yard scoring bomb. The extra point was good with 5:51 left in the game giving the Oilers a commanding 42-9 lead.

With the second team defense in the game, Memorial finally scored on a seven-play, 69-yard drive with 2:58 left in the contest.
However, Jamaal Driver blocked the extra point and Joseph Benton picked up the ball and ran 88 yards to add two more points to the Pearland score making the final 44-15.

Whittaker finished the game with 190 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns. Speciale had 10 carries for 79 yards and two scores while Bradley had six totes for 79 yards. Speciale was 1-for-5 passing for 26 yards and Wendell was 1-for-1 for 41 yards and one score. Rogers had one grab for 41 yards and Lesser had one catch for 26 yards.

The Oilers finished with 375 yards rushing and 68 yards passing for 444 total yards. Memorial had 222 yards rushing and 77 yards through the air for 299 total yards. About 100 yards came in the final period against the second-team defensive unit.

Pearland opens District 24-5A action on Friday, September 23 at The Rig at 7:30 p.m. when they host the Clear Lake Falcons. The two teams shared the league title last year as the Falcons advanced to the Class 5A Division II state semifinals. The Falcons are 2-2 on the season and are coming off a 21-14 loss to Katy Taylor.