Alto blanks San Augustine 29-0
2 state championship coaches face, Gardner doesn't blink
ROBIN D. BEST

The mean sting is back. A swarming defense, combined with a sporadically efficient offence, yielded the first mark in the "W" column for the Alto Yellowjackets, who won 29-0 Friday night at home.

"I was pleased with the kids' effort," said Alto head football Coach Keith Gardner. "We came out and played hard."

Jacket frosh Javonte Jones (No. 15) received the opening kickoff at the Alto 20-yard line and carried it to the 40.

"We jumped out to a quick start," Coach Gardner said. "We took the opening kickoff for a touchdown with a 60- yard drive."

The PAT was good and the Jackets held an early firstquarter lead 7-0.

"I thought they had tremendous talent," said San Augustine head football Coach Lynn Graves.

Graves returns to guide the San Augustine Wolf pack after a year's absence from the post. Last year, the Wolves culminated in a disappointing 2 and 8 season. The year before, Graves led San Augustine to a 2004 state championship.

The Jackets defense was shining from the beginning of the game to the end.

"We followed up the first score with a blocked punt by (senior, No. 32) Michael Parker," Coach Gardner said. "He scooped it up and dashed about 30 yards for a TD."

Clayton Scott takes down a San Augustine running back during Alto's 29-0 win over the Wolves. The win extends Alto's winning streak to 15 games. The Yellowjackets are the Harris Poll rated #1 team in Texas. They travel to Timpson Friday. PHOTO: LAURIE GOULD

The score gave Alto a 14-0 lead.

"They had a great defense," Graves said. "They are big and they are quick. They are definitely a force to be dealt with at a later date."

During the second quarter, the Wolf defense stiffened and the Jacket offense faltered, leading to a half-time score of 14-0, Alto.

At the end of the second quarter, which was tough on both teams, the scoreboard malfunctioned, going dark for the evening.

But even as the scoreboard was going down in defeat, new life was breathed into the Yellowjackets as the Alto sidelined opened the third quarter with renewed determination.

The Wolf pack took the thirdquarter opening kickoff at mid field. After gaining only six yards, San Augustine senior quarterback Jeremy Barns (No. 4), fumbled the ball. It was recovered by the pack, but went over on downs to Alto.

Alto drove down to the San Augustine two-yard line, before coughing up the ball on a fumble.

"Clayton Scott (senior, No. 55) and Derek Mumphrey (senior, No. 62) tackled their running back in the end zone on the very next play," Coach Gardner said. "We had outstanding play by the defense all night."

That gave the Jackets a 16-zip score midway through the third quarter, with the referees keeping time down on the field.

"That didn't surprise me a bit," Coach Gardner said. "Our kids love to play defense. They played defense well all night."

Late in the third quarter, senior Alto running back Tarlandus Mitchell (No. 2) scored again on a six-yard gallop across the goal line. The point after was no good and Alto enjoyed a 22-0 lead.

"They played us tough," Coach Graves said of the Jackets. "Our boys played tough, but Alto came up with the points."

The final score of the night came in spectacular fashion in the middle of the fourth quarter.

"Tarlandus Mitchell threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to (junior wide receiver) Kevin Blakemore (No. 35)," Coach Gardner said. "That was a nice pass and a good catch."

The Yellowjackets gained a total of 338 yards rushing in the contest, led by junior running back Marcuse Gasaway (No. 1) with 141 yards on 15 carries; and 97 yards by Mitchell on 16 carries; and 52 yards by junior running back Demarcus Griffin (No. 7) on six carries; followed by 23 yards on five carries by junior running back (No. 8) Devon Patton.

Blakemore had 58 yards in a single catch, along with junior running back Kyle Denum (No. 5) who latched onto two catches for 40 yards. Senior quarterback Lance Low (No. 4) caught one pass for four yards, giving the Jackets 102 yards in receiving.

The Jackets come away from the contest with 440 yards in total offense, compared with 131 yards total offense by San Augustine.

Mitchell completed three passes on nine attempts for 90 yards, including one touchdown and one interception. Jones completed one of one pass attempts for 12 yards.

Mumphrey kicked three of four point after attempts and missed one field goal.

San Augustine had 31 rushes for 105 yards and completed 3 of 8 pass attempts for a total of 131 yards of offense with no scores.

"We were pleased with the effort of our kids," Coach Gardner said. "We need to work on conditioning.

"We are going to continue to work hard and we feel we have the potential to be a very good football team."

Friday, the Jackets will have their first away game at Timpson.