Commerce's Tigers will open the football season a day earlier than normal when they travel to Dallas to take on the Pinkston Vikings tonight.

The opening kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Sprague Field.

Traditionally the Tigers play all their regular season games on Friday nights but teams in the Dallas Independent School District have to shuffle their games around to Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays because there are more teams than there are stadiums.

Commerce has had a full month of practices and two scrimmages to prepare for this game.

"We're looking to see what happens with the young team we've got," said Terry Cron, who is entering his third season as the Tigers' head coach.

Cron has called this one perhaps Commerce's youngest team ever. The Tigers have eight sophomores on the roster.

"We're putting a lot of pressure on some young kids," said Cron.

The Tigers will only have two true returning starters on offense, including senior quarterback Bobby Phifer and lineman Jock Kervin. Phifer topped the 800-yard mark in both rushing and passing last season, helping the 9-3 Tigers reach the area round of the playoffs.

Phifer, at defensive back, is one of several Tigers who'll be playing a lot on offense and defense.

"Dallas Pinkston is a lot like us with a lot of players playing both ways," said Cron. "Conditioning will be very important."

Pinkston will also be opening its season tonight. The Vikings went just 1-9 last season but return several some speedy players in running back Damaion Cox and quarterback Adarius Reed.

"They're always going to have speed. They have athletes that can beat you if you let them do it," said Cron, who watched Pinkston scrimmage Dallas Roosevelt.

The Tigers were outscored by Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs in their two preseason scrimmages.

"We're anxious to see what we can do," Cron said.

The Tigers will be without one of their top lineman. Will Latson remains sidelined with a knee injury, Cron said.

Commerce won last year's game 44-0 in Commerce as Phifer rushed for 38 yards on seven carries.

Dallas Pinkston game



Commerce romps to 35-6 win over Pinkston 

By Kevin Carson/ Special to the Herald-Banner

DALLAS -- It was a new cast of characters but the same old story for Commerce as the Tigers claimed a 35-6 season-opening victory over Dallas Pinkston on Thursday night at Sprague Field.

Commerce, which returns just five starters from last year's district championship team, showed the same potent running game and stingy defense that have resulted in two state championships in the last four years. And third-year head coach Terry Cron was enthused by what he saw in the opening act.

"We looked crisp early and got the lead which helped," said Cron. "But the heat took a toll and I was proud of the way they played through the pain. It is always good to get that first win."

Senior tailback Terrance Callagan took center stage in the Commerce running attack as he rushed for 107 yards and scored four touchdowns, while Jesse Boyter added 67 yards on 10 carries and notched the other touchdown. Overall, the Tigers piled up 261 yards on the ground.

A 29-yard punt return by Bobby Phifer followed the first possession of the game, setting up the first score as Callagan capped a short 29-yard, three-play drive with a 5-yard run. The point-after try was no good and Commerce held a quick 6-0 lead with 9:38 still to play in the opening period.

An ill-advised fake punt by the Vikings from their own 15-yard line set up the next Commerce score less than two minutes later. Pinkston faced fourth and 15 when Adarius Young bolted around left end but managed only eight yards.

Boyter appeared to score on a 23-yard run on the next play, but the score was nullified by a holding penalty well behind the play at the nine. Boyter just did it again on the next play, scampering in from 19 yards. But the ensuing point-after try was blocked and Commerce held a 12-0 advantage with 7:59 left in the first period.

Pinkston failed to make a first down again on its third possession and Phifer again gave the Tigers a short field with a 15-yard punt return to set up the third Commerce score of the opening quarter.

It took just four plays to cover 20 yards, the final yard coming on a run by Callagan, to widen the margin. This time Commerce picked up the two-point conversion on a pass from Phifer to Wesley Hunter to make it 20-0 entering the second quarter.

Yet another questionable fake-punt attempt set up the next Commerce score. The Vikings' faced fourth and 11 from their own 12 when Reed took off again, only to be run out of bounds after just a 3-yard gain.

A pair of penalties stalled the Commerce drive, but Bryan came on to nail a 29-yard field goal and expand the lead to 23-0 with 4:59 left inn the half.

Pinkston, which crossed midfield just once in the first half, finally got a punt off deep inside its own territory with 24 seconds left in the half. But the Tigers took over at their own 44 and needed only three players to score another touchdown.

Callagan ripped off a 23-yard run on the first play and Phifer added six yards on the second play. Pinkston, which racked up 94 yards in penalties, was called for a personal foul on the play, moving the ball to the five. Callagan took care of that on the next play to record his third touchdown of the night but Bryant's point-after try was blocked again.

Commerce recovered an onside kick to open the second half and marched 56 yards in four plays. Callagan again closed out the drive with a 12-yard run, but the two-point try was no good.

Pinkston threatened late in the third quarter, but Hunter intercepted a Ronnie Young pass at the 10.

Young spoiled the shutout with 1:42 to play on a 3-yard run.