Bath nips
rival Mustangs
LAFAYAETTE - Bath
head coach Jim Ehresman summed
it up in one statement - "A win is a win."
The Bath Wildcats
overcame six fumbles, slipping past the Allen East Mustangs
7-3 in their annual backyard battle to open up the 2002 high school football season.
The Bath offense
was unable to muster a first down until late in the
first quarter when running back Evan DeVoe finally moved the chains for the first time.
Despite DeVoe
rushing for 90 yards (26 carries) on the night, the Wildcats
were unable to cash in until the fourth quarter when the senior running back
dove in from one yard, giving his team the lead.
"They (Allen
East) did a fine job. I don't want to take anything away from
them," Ehresman afterward said. "We made a lot of mistakes tonight,
but it's the first game of the season and a win is a win. We'll take it."
The Mustangs took
the first lead of the game, thanks to a 22-yard field
goal by John Mackey. When it came to hanging on to the football, the
Mustangs had their troubles as well. The Allen East backfield coughed
up the football five times (losing three), giving Bath ample opportunity to
take control of the game.
"We had a
number of plays tonight where we got tentative," Ehresman
said. "However, I give all the credit in the world to Allen East.
Coach (Randy) Woods does a fine job with his program."
Allen East's Levi
Wright rushed for 55 yards on 13 carries in the losing
effort. However, the Wildcats' defense rose to the occasion in the second
half, shutting down the Allen East running attack.
"Coach (Todd)
Clark does a great job with our defense. They played well
tonight," Ehresman added.
The Mustangs were
held to a total of 105 yards - all on the ground,
as the Bath defense put pressure on quarterback Tyler Ford all night long.
"This was
Tyler's first varsity start," Woods said. "It's tough to come
out here and play against a team like Bath in your first start."
Woods, like his
counterpart, credited his defense for keeping them in the game.
"I can't
fault our defense at all," he said. "They played their hearts out tonight."