Wylie 34, Big Spring 7

By MARK WILSON

Staff Writer

The Wylie football team just keeps on getting stronger each week.

The Bulldogs got four touchdowns from Dustin Williams, including a pair on aerials from quarterback Scott Bull, as they downed Big Spring 34-7 Friday night in their homecoming at Bulldog Field.

It was the season high in offensive scoring for Wylie, which has allowed just 20 points defensively in the last three games - all against Class 4A teams.

A strong wind out of the south played a part as the Bulldogs got a 14-point jump with it behind them in the opening quarter. Wylie also scored both of its touchdowns with the wind in the third quarter, and Big Spring's only touchdown came with the wind in the second stanza.

"We took the wind in the first quarter. Normally we like to take the football," said Wylie head coach Hugh Sanfider, whose team improved to 3-2 with its third straight turnover-free game. "Defensively we made some great stands. I was proud of the way our kids executed offensively, defensively. Big Spring is very talented, but we had everything going our way tonight.

"We did a good job in the second quarter of making a couple of first downs into the wind."

Big Spring head coach Dwight Butler said he thought the way Wylie played made the difference - not the wind.

"The wind wasn't a factor," said Butler, whose squad is 1-4 going into its open week before starting District 5-4A play against Fort Stockton. "We were beaten in all facets of the game, including class. We've got to learn to accept a butt-kicking."

Butler - who said he had no problem with the officiating - was referring to some personal fouls called on his team in the second half, after Wylie had taken a 21-7 halftime lead.

The Steers were penalized nine times for 80 yards in all, and struggled punting, averaging only 21.1 yards on seven kicks. They also had five fumbles, although they recovered the ball each time.

"We just got way too many penalties," Butler said. "They totally dominated the line of scrimmage, their defense. They lived up to their billing. They will swarm you and try to hurt you - and that's what this game is all about. Their defense is probably the best we've faced, without a doubt."

Wylie's defense turned the Steers away without a score after Big Spring reached the Bulldogs' 16, 18 and 22.

"It was a big win, a good win for us," said Sandifer, whose team will also be idle next weekend, then start District 6-3A play Oct. 9 at home against Clyde. "Our kids have a lot of confidence. Now we have the open week to prepare for district opponents."

Williams led all rushers with 89 yards on 13 carries, but Big Spring's Colby Ford gained 81 yards on 24 attempts.

"Dustin is getting more confidence each week, and he's also getting good downfield blocks," Sandifer said.

The game also marked the third straight game Bull has passed for at least 100 yards. He completed 5 of 10 for 100 yards and hasn't thrown an interception since the second week of the season. He connected three times for 68 yards in the first half with David Bogart.

"Tory Mitchell did a good job on Justin Groban, and Scott did an excellent job going to other receivers," Sandifer added. "That was the best he has played all year, reading defenses."

Wylie took advantage of the wind twice in the first quarter, taking over at its own 36 and 39 before making touchdown drives.

After a 21-yard punt by Big Spring into the wind, the Bulldogs moved 36 yards in five plays, as Williams caught an 18-yard screen pass and scooted into the end zone on the right side. John Self's extra point kick was wide left, leaving it 6-0, Wylie, with 7:50 remaining in the opening quarter.

Two possessions later, Williams capped a four-play, 37-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with just 28 seconds left in the first quarter. Brett Unger snagged the 2-point conversion pass from Bull for a 14-0 Bulldog lead.

Two plays after Colby Ford returned the kickoff to the Big Spring 34 - on the first play of the second quarter - quarterback Joe Owens flipped a screen pass to Ford on the left side. Ford got two nice blocks, cut back to the right side, then sliced through the Wylie defense for a 65-yard touchdown pass as Big Spring pulled within 14-7 with 11:44 to go in the second quarter.

But Wylie came back to score just a little more than four minutes later with an eight-play, 80-yard drive to build its lead back up to 14 points.

The Bulldogs reached their own 46 and pulled a misdirection play out of their bag of tricks that worked to perfection.

While everyone thought Brett Unger had the ball on a dive play to the right side, Bull discreetly slipped the ball to Williams, who paused a couple of beats before taking off to the left and cruising in for a 54-yard touchdown run at the 7:21 mark. Self's PAT created Wylie's 21-7 halftime advantage.

The delay play was to help thwart Big Spring's speed on defense.

"Big Spring was so fast at the line of scrimmage. They were just flying by so fast, we had to do something to slow them down," Sandifer said. "Justin Grogan got a great open-field block on that play.

"We used it a couple of times a year. If you hit it, it's a big lift. The kids executed it well."

The Steers controlled the ball for 16 of the final 21 plays of the second quarter, and reached Wylie's 16-yard line late in the half. But Chauncey Ford's 33-yard field goal try sailed wide right with 13 seconds to go before intermission.

The Bulldogs increased their lead to 34-7 in the third quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Bull to Williams and a 1-yard run by Brett Unger.

Bull had a 26-yard run to set up Williams' fourth touchdown, and the Bulldogs needed to go only 24 yards in six plays for Unger's score after an 11-yard Big Spring punt that was partially blocked by Wylie's R.D. Hussman.

Mark Wilson can be reached at 676-6775 or sports@abinews.com.

Big Spring ......0......7......0......0-7

Wylie ......14......7......13......0-34

SCORING SUMMARY

Wylie - Dustin Williams 18 pass from Scott Bull (kick failed)

Wylie - Williams 2 run (Brett Unger pass from Bull)

Big Spring - Colby Ford 65 pass from Joe Owens (Chauncy Ford kick)

Wylie - Williams 54 run (John Self kick)

Wylie - Williams 14 pass from Bull (kick blocked)

Wylie - Unger 1 run (Self kick)

......Big Spring......Wylie

First downs ......12......12

Rushes-yards ......42-171......34-166

Passing yards......153......100

Comp-Att-Int ......8-17-0......5-10-0

Punts ......7-21.1......4-29.5

Fumbles-lost ......5-0......0-0

Penalties-yards ......9-80......5-35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Big Spring: Colby Ford 24-81, Joe Carnero 7-52, Landon Wegner 2-24, Joe Owens 6-18, Arthur Gonzales 1-3, Lance Brock 2-(-7). Wylie: Dustin Williams 13-89, Scott Bull 5-24, Danny Herrera 4-16, Brett Unger 5-13, Bo Brown 4-20, Adam Rampy 1-3, Eric Holt 2-1.

PASSING - Big Spring: Owens 5-7-0, 107 yards; Brock 2-9-0, 16 yards; Co. Ford 1-1-0, 30 yards. Wylie: Bull 5-10-0, 100 yards.

RECEIVING - Big Spring: Co. Ford 2-65, James Clements 2-40, Casey Cowley 1-21, Josh Long 2-16, Carnero 1-11. Wylie: David Bogart 3-68, Williams 1-18, Justin Groban 1-14.