Another crown for Commerce, 14-11

Offense does just enough to win second title in three years

12/22/2001

By SCOTT FARRELL / The Dallas Morning News

WACO – Commerce tailback Tommy Wright called it a matter of time.

Yet time was not on Commerce's side Friday night as its offense never got untracked against La Grange. But two big plays were enough to earn a 14-11 win and the Class 3A Division II title before a crowd of 10,200 at Waco ISD Stadium.

Wright, a 2,000-yard rusher, was held to one carry for no gain in the first half. But in the second half, his third carry came on a pitch to the left side and resulted in a 64-yard touchdown burst. That was Commerce's lone highlight against an otherwise stifling La Grange defense as Commerce traded possession of the ball for control of the scoreboard. It ran only 26 plays until its final possession to run out the clock.

Somehow, four first downs, 134 total yards and 13 minutes on offense were enough for Commerce to win its second state championship in three seasons. But two of those first downs went for touchdowns.

"We knew they were going to key on me," said Wright, whose 71 yards ended a 10-game streak of 100-yard games. "It was frustrating in the first half, but as long as we were moving the ball, we were all right."

Michael Ainsworth / DMN Commerce's Tommy Wright (right) scores on a 64-yard touchdown as La Grange's Seth Anderle gives chase.

Commerce coach Terry Cron becomes the first coach in state history to win state titles in three classifications. Cron took Class 2A Mart to the Division II title last season and Bartlett to the Class A title in 1992.

La Grange controlled the ball for 17 minutes in the first half Friday, but trailed at the break. Its 320 total yards included 267 on the ground. Three of its four turnovers came in the first half, two of them in Commerce territory to thwart its best scoring attempts. LaGrange moved inside the Commerce 20-yard line twice in the first half on long drives but only scored on a 25-yard field goal by Kevin Seifert.

"We knew they were going to pound on us," Commerce defensive end Justin Rodgers said.

Commerce recovered a fumble on La Grange's first possession for its first scoring drive. Senior fullback Ryan Coffey bounced off a linebacker three plays later and ran 25 yards for a 7-0 Commerce lead. It led 7-3 at halftime despite only 52 total yards and two first downs.

Michael Ainsworth / DMN Commerce players Chris Alsobrook (64) and Shawn Droddy (17) hold up the championship trophy.

Wright's score opened the game up to start the second half. But La Grange rallied with a six-play drive capped by Kevin Ulrich's 12-yard run. Ulrich and La Grange quarterback Chase Anderle chipped away at Commerce with a combined 171 rushing yards.

The rushing success gave La Grange a last shot with 6:44 left starting at its 6-yard line. A third-down pass from Anderle to 6-4, 230-pound Maurice Bouldwin kept it alive, one of eight third-down conversions for La Grange in the game. Facing fourth down at the Commerce 35 with 1:08 left, Bouldwin caught a backside screen pass but was tackled short of the first-down marker.

"When we lost to Alvarado and Forney, it put doubt in some people's mind," said Rodgers. "But we knew we were capable of this."