It is not unusual to see a football team experience early season nerves, but every head coach hopes his team doesn't dig a big hole early in the game that is too deep to crawl out of to get a win.

Head coach Tony Heath expressed his cautious optimism a couple of days before the season opener saying he felt the kids were ready, but knew that Houston Madison would be a better team than the 26-0 blanking that the Oilers gave the Marlins last year.

"They have a very quick quarterback and a couple of tough running backs to go with a huge offensive line," Heath said. "If we don't fumble deep in our own territory, take care of our blocking assignments, and play quick and aggressive defense, then I think we will be OK."

It was if those words jumped out of the grass at Reliant Stadium as the Marlins took the opening kickoff and drove 71-yards in only five plays to score for a quick 7-0 lead. And then the offense fumbled on the first play to give the ball back to the Marlins at the Pearland 24.

It took only five more plays and with 6:56 left in the opening period, the Oilers were down 14-0 to shocked Pearland crowd.

And then to top it off -- the Oilers fumbled the kickoff to give the Marlins the ball again on their own 21.

But the Pearland defense stepped up and tackled quarterback Broderick Thomas for two straight losses and then forced two hurried passes to stop the bleeding and get the ball back on their own 25.

One of the fundamental principles that Heath has preached to his football teams for 12 years is that the Oilers must play all four quarters. It doesn't matter how a team starts out, but how they finish the game that counts.
And that sermon was never proven more true than it was at Reliant this past Friday when the Oilers rallied for a 35-20 win giving Pearland their eighth straight season opening win.

The Oilers moved from their own 25 to the Madison 45 before having to punt the ball away.

Madison moved the ball to the Pearland 41 before having to return the ball back to the Oilers.

On second-and-11, Pearland quarterback Sam Allen dropped back in the pocket and found a wide-open Kevin Miller down the middle of the field for a 56-yard scoring bomb. Blake Allan booted the extra point and the Oilers cut the score in half at 14-7 with 11:09 remaining in the second quarter.

It took Madison only three plays to get to the Pearland four-yard line. On first-and-goal, Thomas got slammed to the turf and fumbled the ball which was recovered by Corbin Smith to stop the scoring threat.

The Oilers' offense moved the ball from their own one to the Madison 45 but were forced to punt. Allan hit a 42 yarder that went out at the Madison 2-yard line.

The aggressive Pearland defense forced a punt and got some help from the Madison punter who shanked the ball to the Madison 33.
It took only five plays for the Oilers to tie up the game as Allen and Miller hooked up once again for a 9-yard scoring toss. Allan hit the extra point making the score 14-14 with 12 seconds left in the first half.

Pearland was forced to punt on their first possession of the second half, but took advantage of a Madison fumble at the Marlins' 12.

The Oilers found paydirt on the third play of the short drive as Kasey Carrier found a hole into the end zone on a one-yard plunge. Allan nailed the extra point and the Oilers took the lead for good 21-14.

The Pearland defense had a huge interception following the kickoff as Eric Chege came up with the pick at the Madison 49.

The Oilers went back to work on offense as Carrier scored on a four-yard run over the right tackle to give Pearland a 28-14 lead following the extra point by Allan.

The Allan to Miller combination worked two straight times covering 13 and 31 yards to set up Carrier's short run.

Madison was forced to punt after three downs, but the Oilers fumbled again on their own 28. But the Marlins fumbled two plays later at the Pearland 14 which was recovered by Mario Turner.

The Marlins cut the lead to 28-20 with a 24-yard scoring pass from Thomas to Jordan Edwards with 1:39 left in the third period.
After both teams traded punts, the Oilers took advantage of a lateral pass that went behind the intended receiver. An alert Jarrad Stewart picked up the ball and was escorted by a host of defensive players to score on a 38-yard touchdown to make the final score 35-20.

With 2:41 left to go in the game - Madison fumbled away their final possession of the game which was recovered by Justin Wilson.

Pearland finished the game with 355 total yards led by Sam Allen who hit 11-of-22 passing for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Kevin Miller snagged seven passes for 156 yards and both TDs through the air. Running back Kasey Carrier had 23 totes for 122 yards and two scores.

Pearland lost three fumbles while Madison lost 5-of-7 fumbles and suffered one interception.

Photos by Manny Guerrero