By Kevin Carson
Special to the Herald Banner
COMMERCE - It is said that offense wins games but defense wins championships.
And that was exactly the formula the Commerce Tigers used to secure the first state title in the school's history with a 17-10 victory over No. 1 ranked Sealy Saturday night at Texas Stadium.
And while the Commerce offense took advantage of the opportunities given, it was the stingy defense that earned the Tigers the Class 3A Division II title.
"We were picked third in our district but our kids never paid attention to that," said Commerce coach Steve Lineweaver. "Not only did we get through district but we took them one game at a time and we did well enough to win so we kept on playing."
Commerce did, in fact, keep playing, breezing through the regular season and the playoffs with relative ease, outscoring the previous five playoff opponents by an average score of 36 to 11.
But Sealy, which was looking for its fourth state championship of the decade, proved to be a much stiffer test, offensively and defensively. That made the chore of breaking the Sealy jinx more difficult.
"Vindication is not a word that I'm comfortable with or revenge," continued Lineweaver, whose two previous trips to the state finals ended in losses to Sealy. "Sealy made us be a better football team because we had to be good to compete with them so my hat's off to them and the fine program they have."
The Commerce offense, which had averaged more than 400 yards per game, was limited somewhat as the Tigers were held to just 158 yards of total offense. But the defense made sure that Commerce didn't need any more real estate.
Sealy, which also featured an explosive offense that gained more than 400 yards per contest, was held to just 207 total yards, 87 in the first half. And when the Tigers threatened the Commerce goal the yardage was even tougher to come by.
It was the Sealy Tigers who drew first blood on the game's opening possession, driving 65 yards in seven plays. Isiah Joiner, who gained 50 yards on six carries in the drive, scored on a 21-yard run. Then Javier Barrios tacked on the point-after kick and Sealy grabbed a 7-0 advantage with 8:35 remaining in the first quarter.
Then Commerce retaliated quickly as Tommy Wright returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards, setting up the offense at the Sealy 46.
Chad Anderson notched 20 yards on first down and hit Antonio Burrell for a 14-yard completion to the Sealy 16. Avin Johnson then reeled off runs of five and two yards sandwiched around a 5-yard Sealy penalty, giving Commerce a first-and-goal at the three.
Then Anderson polished off the seven-play drive with a 1-yard plunge and Ryan Sienty's kick knotted the score 7-7 with 5:13 still left in the opening period.
Commerce missed an excellent scoring opportunity as Sealy fumbled the kickoff and Greg Washington recovered at the Sealy 43. Commerce picked up a first down to the 29 but Anderson was sacked for a 10-yard loss on third down and the Tigers were forced to punt.
Broderick Kelley's punt, which was killed at the 4-yard line, pinned Sealy at the shadow of its own goal line. The Commerce defense held, yielding just four yards, forcing Sealy to punt from its own end zone.
The Commerce Tigers took the ball for the third straight time inside Sealy territory but again couldn't take advantage. Then Anderson hit Burrell for another 14-yard completion and a first down at the Sealy 26. But the drive ended on the next play when Anderson was hit as he released a pass and Aaron Pless picked off the misguided throw at the 24.
Sealy returned the favor on the very next play, however, as Joiner coughed up the ball and Antonio Kull recovered at the Sealy 27.
A 15-yard run by Anderson gave Commerce a first and goal at the 10 but the Sealy defense held. Sienty came on to boot his sixth field goal of the season, this one from 23 yards and Commerce grabbed the 10-7 lead with 8:28 left in the half.
Commerce put together a long drive just before intermission, starting on its own 17. The Tigers advanced the ball to the Sealy 27 but a bad snap on third down and a sack on fourth down doomed the drive. Commerce settled for the three-point halftime advantage.
It didn't take long for the Commerce Tigers to score what proved to be the winning touchdown. They used another big kickoff return to set up the score. Kelley opened the half with a 48-yard kickoff return, giving Commerce the ball at the Sealy 49.
It took just six plays for the Tigers to hit paydirt. As Anderson threaded the ball between two defenders to hit Avin Johnson for a 22-yard touchdown pass. Sienty added the point-after and Commerce enjoyed a 17-7 lead with 8:29 left in the third quarter.
Then the Commerce defense took over as the Tigers were literally run over by a truck and survived. Sealy, which had been able to run outside all night, unleashed 280-pound tight end/fullback Sherwin Bassett. He literally bowled over the Commerce defense for 36 yards of a 14-play drive and then moved the ball to the Commerce eight.
But the Commerce defense stiffened. Sealy quarterback Derek Nelson, about to release a third down pass, was pounded by Sienty. Sealy was forced to settle for a 30-yard Barrios field goal to close the margin to 17-10 with 2:27 remaining in the third quarter.
Sealy advanced to the Commerce 11 midway through the fourth quarter but the Commerce defense again rose to the occasion as Sienty recovered a Joiner fumble at the 12 to thwart the last serious threat of the game.
Sealy's final drive ended at midfield and Commerce took over at its own 20 with 4:44 remaining. The Tigers were able to run out the clock but not without the help of two big plays. The first came on second down from the 20 when Sienty barreled for 13 yards and a first down. Then facing fourth and one at the Commerce 42, Lineweaver gambled and Anderson was able to gain a hard-fought three yards and the first down.
After that it was time to turn out the lights on the Sealy dynasty. And while Lineweaver might not like the term revenge he has to be happy with the payback