Tigers' most potent passing combo ever triggers playoff possibilities Cleveland features the top defense in Class 3A
By Bill Martin
Reporter Sports Editor
They were once competitors for the same position.
Now they have a symbiotic relationship that has them re-writing the Rockdale record book.
Senior quarterback Mark Drake and junior wide receiver Joe Sanders have accounted for some spectacular plays this season, not to mention some spectacular numbers.
Drake just broke Dickie Summers’ 45-year old career passing mark with 2,559 yards.
Sanders needs just one reception to tie the season catch mark of 36 and with 60 career catches, is just nine away from P.J. Williams’ career mark of 69.
The funny thing about the success that the twosome have experienced is that it’s not nearly what Rockdale Coach Jeff Miller expected—he wanted more.
“I thought Mark would have 2,500 yards by now and Joe 50 catches,” Miller admitted. “But, it’s hard to put the ball in the air when the running game is successful. We really haven’t needed to.”
Against an aggressive Cleveland defense and an offense that likes to grind it out, the Tigers’ potent passing attack could be the X-factor in the game that could give Rockdale one intangible to secure victory against the state’s top defensive team.
“We have a record setting quarterback and a record setting receiver,” Miller said. “We’ve got to trust them to make plays for us.
“I suspect we’ll do more of that this week.”
The Indians defeated Hardin-Jefferson 46-14 in the bi-district round Friday.
Hardin-Jefferson was the third place team out of District 21-3A and Cleveland had beaten them 22-0 in the first week of the season.
Miller got an eye full of the Indians while sitting in the stands scouting them.
“All around,” he said, “they are the most talented team offensively and defensively we have played yet. They have four Division I players on the team
“They’ll hit you... they’ll light you up.”
The Indians are a 13-point favorite over the Tigers Friday.
“I think this will be a great game,” Miller said. “Both teams have great maturity. Both are very disciplined teams that play hard and do things the right way.
“And, both teams have big plans.”
“Rockdale has a very good-sized and well coached team,” said Cleveland Coach Ricky Tullos.
In his two years on the job, Tullos has Cleveland doing an about face.
Last season, the Indians reeled off four straight wins to end the regular season and like Rockdale, entered the playoffs with a 4-6 ledger only to lose to Kirbyville 24-14. Two years ago, Cleveland finished 1-8.
While Rockdale has won 11 of its last 13 regular season games, the Indians have won 13 straight.
Tullos guided the Indians to its first undefeated regular season since 1966.
“We wanted to go into the playoffs on a high note and we did,” Tullos said. “We had a chance to make a little history and we are pretty excited about that.
“Finishing the season last year and re-evaluating everything, this year I expected us to be good. It doesn’t surprise me that we are 10-0.”
Tullos’ early success is impressive at a school that has made just 11 trips to the state playoffs. From 1943 to 1984, the Indians made just one appearance in the playoffs, in 1964. One trip in 41 years does not a dynasty make.
Rockdale will see a recognizable team in Cleveland, which runs the increasingly popular Slot-T ala Liberty Hill, Llano and Caldwell.
And the Indians love to spread the wealth.
Cleveland features eight running backs that have gained at least 200 yards and scored at least two touchdowns this season.
Six different backs have eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a game this season.
“It doesn’t even matter who they have in there,” Miller said. “Sometimes it will be two fullbacks, sometimes two halfbacks.
“They rest their people a lot because a lot of them play on defense too.”
Although it is difficult to tell one from the other, senior Benny Wright leads the run-by-committee pack with 709 yards and has only carried the ball 55 times this season.
Cleveland quarterback Chazz Carrington has completed just 22 passes on 48 attempts for 380 yards this season.
“Every game is different,” Tullos said. “The coaching staff never knows who is going to step up and lead us.
“Against (one team) it was our fullbacks. Against (another team) it was our tailbacks.”
Miller feels like that because his team has battled the Slot-T several times over the past three years with some success, that will provide them with the experience to slow the Indians down.
“We’re one of the few teams that has seen it, had success against it and will not be intimidated by it.”
Tullos is not hard headed when it comes to changing his offensive scheme if a defense has properly adjusted and closed off the middle.
“Splendora’s defense did a good job stopping our offense from running up the middle,” Tullos said. “So we had to switch and began to run on the outside and we found success there.
“If a team keys in on one formation, then we have the ability to switch formations and players and find success some other way.
“That is how talented these players are.”
In a testament to their athletic abilities, the Indians basketball team is ranked No. 10 in pre-season polls.
Back to football, Cleveland is ranked No. 1 in the state in team defense after allowing just 53 points during the regular season, but it must be pointed out that the Indians’ opponents won just 26 games combined in 2008.
“They have the most aggressive defense we have seen,” Miller said. “They are well disciplined and well schooled. They just get after you.”
“We take a lot of pride in our defense,” said Tullos. “We are really talented there as we have four or five kids going on to play in college.
“Our defense scheme is simple, that is just to run to the football.”
The defense is sparked by 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker Steven Robertson, who has committed to play at Houston.
While scoring 424 points to accompany that miniscule defensive digit, Cleveland is ranked second in the state in margin of victory.
“All that stuff is good and fun to look at, but it doesn’t matter in the second season,” Tullos said. “We have got to go out and take care of business.”
In the Indians’ victory over Hardin-Jefferson, they accumulated 474 total yards, with 414 coming by way of ground gain.
“This has been one of the best groups of players and staff that I have been a part of.”
Tullos and Miller do have one thing in common, winning the right way.
“We are going to win and play with class,” Tullos said. “We teach our kids about life, not just football. When we take the field, there will be no talking trash to our opponents, win or lose.
TIGER TRACKS
• With 339 points, the 2008 edition of the Tigers is one of the top scoring teams in RHS history. The 1975 squad is the top scoring team with 456 points (35 ppg), including 384 during the regular season. The 1976 state champion team scored 412 total points in 15 games (27.4 ppg) and 301 during the regular season. The 1963 team that went 10-1 scored 337 points and allowed an astounding five points. The 1962 state finalist team scored 329 points in 15 games and 234 during the regular season.
• Scoring 28 points in the first quarter in their 42-21 victory over Taylor to end the regular season is indicative of how the Tigers have started games this season. Of their 339 points, 111 have come in the first quarter. The Tigers haven’t been so dominating after halftime, scoring just 61 points in the third quarter and allowing 60.
• The Tigers turned the ball over just 14 times this season (7 interceptions, 7 fumbles) compared to 19 for their opponents. They led the district with just nine turnovers.
• The Tigers also led the district in least points allowed with 106. Navasota allowed 107.
• The Tigers led the district in interceptions with seven led by Hammett and Tyler Wright’s two each.
• After making six stops against Taylor, senior linebacker Nic Hammett has collected 124 tackles this season to lead the Tigers. Justin Elliott follows with 81.
• Waylon Boyd made an excellent case for himself as the all-district kicker, making 39-of-41 extra points and his last 20 in a row.
• Joe Sanders made a case for himself as the all-district punter, averaging a league-best 41.5 per kick.
• Tigers’ opponents logged a 37-49 mark this season, led by Midland Christian’s 8-2 mark. Of the teams the Tigers faced, Llano, Midland Christian, Navasota and Caldwell made the playoffs.
• Texas committed Chris Whaley of Madisonville won the district rushing title with 1,910 yards and 24 touchdowns. Taylor’s Tristan Meyer was next at 1,503 and 18 scores. LSU-committee Dexter Pratt of Navasota was fourth with 1,099 yards.
• Jacolby Stokes led the district in passing with 1,864 yards and 20 touchdowns. Cameron’s Steven Townsend was next at 1,401.
• While Rockdale and Cleveland have never met on the football field, they do have some playoff history. The Tigers basketball team fell to the Indians 62-54 in the regional finals at Blinn in 1975 after shooting 26 percent from the free throw line. Ray Locklin had 26 points in the game as the Tigers posted 33 wins, still a school record.
• A quick glance at the Cleveland roster will show Trent Driver as one of the assistants. His senior year at Cleveland High School, Driver was considered the best player in the state of Texas as a linebacker and signed with Texas A&M where he had an average career and was not drafted by the NFL.
• A Cleveland drama teacher and student council sponsor was arrested for prostitution right before the school year started.
• Robbie Clark’s Midlothian team finished 3-7 after losing 42-13 to Waco High. Clark is 11-19 in three years at the school.
This report contains material from the Houston Chronicle and the Cleveland Advocate.
Rockdale vs. Cleveland
What: Rockdale Tigers (8-2) vs. Cleveland Indians (10-0). Division II, Region III area playoff.
Where: Kyle Field (capacity 83,600). Bermuda Grass.
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Favorite: Cleveland by 13.
Last week: Rockdale was idle; Cleveland defeated Hardin-Jefferson 46-14.
Series: First meeting.
Enrollment: Rockdale 527: Cleveland 823.
Where is Cleveland? Located 24 miles east of Conroe on Highway 59. Population 7,605.
Playoff history: Rockdale 19 trips (18-17); Cleveland 11 trips (5-10).
Last playoff apperance: Rockdale 2007; Cleveland 2007.
Last prior playoff victory:Rockdale def. China Spring in 2002; Cleveland def. Hardin-Jefferson in 2000.
District outlook: Rockdale was second (4-2) in District 24-3A to Navasota; Cleveland was the District 22-3A champion (6-0).
Common opponent: Rockdale defeated Bryan Rudder 49-7; Cleveland defeated Bryan Rudder 48-0.
Coaches: Jeff Miller, 3rd year at Rockdale (14-17, 49-38 in 9 years); Ricky Tullos, 2nd year at Cleveland (14-7, 14-7 overall).
Indian to watch: No. 6 Sr
RB Benny Wright (5-9, 165).
Radio: KRXT-FM (98.5)
If you go: Take Hwy 79 to Milano, take Hwy 36 to Caldwell. Turn left
on Hwy 21 to Bryan. Near Bryan, exit right on Texas 47 South. Turn left on FM 60. Exit to the right on FM 2818. Turn left on George Bush Drive. Turn left on Houston St. Visitor’s parking lot 48 (on the opposite side of the press box) is on the left by Kyle Field.
Best place to eat: Rudy’s
Tickets: $7 for adults, $5 for students (no pre-sale).
