Wednesday, September 25, 1996

AP Honor Roll: Sulphur Springs' defensive tackle scores twice
By JAIME ARON
Associated Press

DALLAS - The first time, Josh Eargle simply read a screen then got between the receiver and the ball. From there, it was straight down the sideline for a 35-yard touchdown.

The second time, Eargle wasn't even trying to catch the ball; he just wanted to get a piece of it. He was coming off a block when he leaped, and came down with it. One broken tackle and 39 yards later he was back in the end zone.

Pretty good, huh? Now consider that Eargle plays defensive tackle. And his touchdowns were the only two Sulphur Springs scored in a 13-8 victory over Whitehouse, its first win of the season.

Eargle's overwhelming performance earned him top billing on this week's Associated Press high school football honor roll.

"It was pretty awesome," Sulphur Springs coach Chuck King said. "I guess it was once-in-a-millenium thing. I've never heard of anything like it."

This exciting story, however, is tinged with sadness. The only reason Eargle plays for Sulphur Springs is because his mother is dying of multiple sclerosis.

Unable to care for him or his sister any longer, the mother sent them to live with her relatives. She's living with one of her four sisters, the daughter lives with another sister and Eargle went to Sulphur Springs to live with her brother: King.

"Josh wanted to play for me," said King, adding that he cleared the transfer with the University Interscholastic League.

Eargle, a 17-year-old senior, played at Brownwood last year. At Sulphur Springs, he's helping fill the void left by superstars Damione Lewis and Kwaesi Palmer, who graduated last year. He also plays offensive line.

Eargle's mother, who is confined to a wheelchair, cannot make it to games. However, she got word of his big night from two of her sisters who were there, and King said it made her very proud.
"Josh is a great kid," King said. "He's just excited he could do it for everybody involved. It was a great experience for him; quite a thrill."

King knew his nephew could catch the ball, recalling that he played tight end some when he was younger. Still, these were definitely the biggest catches he's ever made.

"It put us ahead and gave us the opportunity to win the ballgame," King said. "We wouldn't have won without those."

King said Eargle didn't get to keep either ball, but he did get one token to remember the occasion.
"We gave him the tape of the game," King said.

When Eargle tries telling people what he did, he may need the proof.

In other outstanding Week Three performances:

n Josh McDaniel, a 1,000-yard runner last season who had only 136 yards in his first two games this season, ran for 352 yards and four touchdowns on 331 carries as Austin High beat Austin Travis 28-7.

n McAllen Rowe, a fifth-year school, had been winless until not only beating Mission for the first time, but pasting it 52-0. Sophomore quarterback Ronnie Flores ran for 110 yards on 10 carries and scored four times, plus threw for two more touchdowns. The defense sacked Mission quarterback five times, holding him to 13-of-30 passing for 134 yards and two interceptions.

n Jacob Allen, last week's top player on the honor roll, had another big night, completing 22 of 30 passes for 327 yards in Bridgeport's 34-26 loss to Sanger. He's already broken the 1,000-yard mark for the season. The hero for the winners was Artis Price, who returned an interception 60 yards with 1:29 to preserve the victory.

n Option quarterback Brad Yudizky scored on six of his 10 carries, carrying Duncanville to a 55-23 victory over Richardson. He played less than three quarters, rushing for 126 yards and passing for 129. "I kept expecting them to adjust, but it was there for me every time," he said.

n Ramiro Garza completed 16 of 22 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns, helping Laredo Martin overcome a 10-point halftime deficit to rally for a 33-30 victory over South San Antonio. Sophomore Andy Vera caught six passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. Toby Cisneros ran for two touchdowns and an extra point and threw the winning touchdown, a 24-yarder for 2:08 to play.

n Grapevine's Jack Brewer replaced injured starter Tellis Redmon, his cousin, and ran 20 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns in the huge victory over rival Flower Mound Marcus. He also caught two passes, completed a halfback pass and played defensive back and special teams. In defeat, Marcus quarterback Michael Odum was 19 of 33 for 30 yards. He was undone by three interceptions.

n On just six carries, Cisco's Chancellor Fletcher gained 142 yards, scoring on runs of 82 and 46 yards in a 27-6 victory over Anson. He also caught four passes for 96 yards, including one for 51 yards and a touchdown.

n De Leon's Luke Mix, forced into action when the starting quarterback was hurt, threw a 95-yard touchdown pass, then kicked the winning extra point in a 22-21 victory over Comanche. He also had a 24-yard field goal.

n Brownwood's Audey Mitchell scored four rushing touchdowns and returned a kickoff 99 yards for another score in a 35-34 victory over Belton. Another Brownwood star was Bryan Clark, who in his first game at cornerback batted down a 2-point conversion to preserve the slim lead, then intercepted a pass to allow the Lions to run out the clock. He also had four tackles, assisted on another and batted down another pass.

n Jasper rocked West Orange-Stark 41-0, giving it the largest margin of victory in the heated rivalry. Quarterback DeKendrick Vidito got things rolling with 155 yards passing, including a 75-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Beatty. In defeat, Norris McGhee had eight catches for 156 yards.

n Richardson Lake Highlands moved into the AP poll at No. 10 in 5A on the heels of a 13-12 victory over Longview, made possible by Jamie Stinson's 18-yard return of a blocked punt for a touchdown with 1:49 to play.

n Sealy won its 35th straight, tying Stamford's 3A record, by defeating Houston Second Baptist 35-13 behind 166 yards rushing and two scores from Jaron Dabney.

n Cheers to Hays Consolidated coach Bob Shelton, who picked up his 200th career victory with a 63-30 victory over Georgetown.

n Jarrod Martin was expected to be Celina's main offensive cog, but this is ridiculous: with three rushing touchdowns and seven extra points in a 55-0 victory Paradise he now has 59 of the team's 117 points.

n Cedric Mitchell ran for 277 yards on 23 carries, scoring three times in West Mesquite's 49-20 victory over Dallas White.

n Gregory-Portland's Martin Dossett ran for 276 yards, including two touchdowns (one a 96-yarder), in a 34-13 victory over Beeville.

n Plano East's Carl Bussey turned 14 carries into 272 yards and a touchdown in a 50-18 victory over Dallas Skyline.

n Deweyville's Logan Moore ran 20 times for 250 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown run in 40-6 win over Warren.

n Lavar Johnson ran for 243 yards in Galena Park North Shore's 43-32 victory over Aldine MacArthur.

n Talk about offensive: Jerry Green ran for 242 yards and four touchdowns as West Texas gained 485 yards in a 36-36 tie with Dalhart, which gained 450 yards.

n Taft ended Refugio's five-year win streak in their rivalry as Levar Dixon ran for 240 yards and three touchdowns for a 20-13 victory.

n Derek Lagway ran for 240 of Willis' 469 rushing yards in a 45-12 victory over Channelview.
n Burnest Rhodes makes his second straight honor roll appearance, gaining 235 yards on 27 carries and scoring three touchdowns in Terrell's 31-12 victory over Fort Worth Eastern Hills.

n Luke Guidroz scored on runs of 25, 39, 7 and 67 yards in Beaumont Kelly's 56-28 win over Hamshire-Fannett.

n Crockett's Franklin Taylor set a school record with 202 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown in a 19-7 loss to Round Rock.

n Odessa Permian's Ja'Quay Wilburn scored four touchdowns in a 35-14 victory over Amarillo.

n Clint DeGroot threw a 9-yard touchdown pass with 1:56 to play, then hit a 23-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds left to lead Santa Fe to a 35-34 victory over Galena Park. DeGroot had two other scoring tosses as well.

n Drew Brees threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns as Austin Westlake defeated Bastrop 30-7 for its 54th straight regular-season victory.

n Friendswood's Josh Kirklin ran for four touchdowns and threw for 198 yards and another score in a 49-7 victory over Columbia. Not bad for a converted defensive back.

n Stephenville linebacker Jack Graves had 21 tackles in a 24-12 victory over Killeen.

n From his safety position, Tony Metters made 24 tackles and had two interceptions in Mansfield's a 21-10 loss to Lewisville.

n Haltom's Mike Wooten had 13 tackles, three sacks and he caused a fumble in a 45-9 victory over Grand Prairie.

n Garland's Roger Majors returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown and took a fumble 75 yards for another score, plus had 10 tackles and broke up a pass in a 34-0 victory over Mesquite.

n Alonzo Harrison caught only three passes, but all were for touchdowns in Crystal City's 27-0 victory over LaPryor.

n Ryan Read of Austin Westlake caught six passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-7 victory over Bastrop.

n Alonzo Harrison scored on runs of 80 and 90 yards, but that's all Ferris got in a 32-12 loss to Rosebud Lott.