Mitch Leathers
Journal Sports 12/19/99
After its two previous state championship appearances, Commerce Tigers could be found on
the sideline holding each other in pain. This
time, the triumphant Tigers were grasping each other and a state championship trophy.
The third time was indeed a charm, as the Commerce Tigers held off the Sealy Tigers,
17-10, at Texas Stadium in Irving. It was a Chad
Anderson quarterback keeper on fourth- and-one that clinched the gold-medal victory for
Commerce.
"It's almost too hard to believe," said Commerce head coach Steve Lineweaver,
who entered Saturday night's game 0-2 in championship matchups against Sealy. "It's
really special."
"It's lovely," said Chad Anderson. "It's the greatest feeling in the world.
We won this for the '95 and the '97 teams."
"What makes this feel so much better is that we were picked third in district,"
said an enthusiastic Avin Johnson after the game.
For the first time all season Commerce found itself behind, as Isiah Joiner capped a
7-play, 65-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown sprint.
The senior running back collected 50 yards on the ground in the possession. Javier Barrios
added the extra point and Sealy led 7-0 with 8:35 remaining in the first quarter.
Commerce responded with a touchdown of its own as the Tigers took advantage of good field
position and drove 46 yards for their first
score. Chad Anderson performed the scoring honors with a 1-yard run. Sophomore kick
returner Tommy Wright returned Sealy's kickoff 46 yards to spark the drive. Ryan Sienty
kicked in the extra point to even the score, 7-7.
Although Commerce recovered the ensuing onside kick, the Tigers failed to put together a
scoring threat and had to punt. Broderick Kelley's 61-yard punt rolled to the Sealy 4-yard
line.
The Commerce defense needed only three plays to force a Sealy punt. Once again, Commerce
enjoyed good field position. Anderson, however, threw an errant pass into the hands of
defensive end Aaron Pless at
the Sealy 27.
Commerce regained possession on a fumble recovery by Antonio Kull to begin its next
scoring drive. The 6-play, 23-yard drive took the
ball to the Commerce 5-yard line where Sienty kicked a 23-yard field goal to give Commerce
a 10-7 lead. Neither team managed another score in the first half.
Kelley returned the second half's opening kickoff 48 yards to the Sealy 49 to ignite
another Commerce scoring effort. After Anderson hooked up with Kelley for a 26-yard gain,
the senior quarterback threaded the needle on fourth-and-six and found Avin Johnson
in the endzone for a 22-yard touchdown strike. The touchdown conversion and ensuing extra
point by Sienty made the score 17-7 in favor of Commerce.
But Sealy retaliated with a 14-play, 51-yard drive that consumed 6:02 of the clock and
positioned the ball on the Commerce 13. The Tiger
defense put up a stand and forced a 30-yard field goal by Barrios. With 2:27 left in the
third, Commerce led 17-10.
Sealy mounted another scoring threat early in the fourth quarter, as 280-pound Sherwin
Bassett led a rushing attack that pushed Sealy to the Commerce 11-yard line. With Sealy
gaining momentum, the Commerce defense forced Joiner to cough up a fumble. Sienty
smothered the loose ball, giving Commerce a much-needed turnover.
After the two teams traded punts, Commerce began its most important drive of its 16-game
season. With just under two minutes to play, Lineweaver opted to attempt a fourth- and-one
conversion at the Commerce 42. Anderson squeezed a quarterback keeper up the middle for a
gain of three yards as a Commerce state championship seemed inevitable.
With the closing seconds dripping down, Commerce was forced to wait for its long-awaited
championship through a Sealy timeout with 13
seconds left. After play resumed, Anderson took a knee to end both the game and an
unblemished 16-0 season for the Tigers.
Sealy, who has claimed four state championships in the '90s, finished the season with a
14-1 record.
"'Vindication' is not a word I'm comfortable withor 'revenge,'" said Lineweaver.
"Sealy made us be a better football team, because we had to be good to be able to
compete with them."
Commerce......7 3 7 017
Sealy...............7 0 3 010
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
SHSIsiah Joiner 21 run (Javier Barrios kick), 8:35
CHSChad Anderson 1 run (Ryan Sienty kick), 5:13
Second Quarter
CHSSienty 23 FG, 8:28
Third Quarter
CHSAvin Johnson 22 pass from Anderson (Sienty kick), 8:29
SHSBarrios 30 FG, 2:27