Forney dethrones 3A king, 24-14

Commerce streak ends at 29 wins

12/09/2000

By Scott Farrell / The Dallas Morning News

IRVING – Forney coach Mel Maxfield talked about how his team got a little better each game this season. Forney showed it in the first 18 minutes Friday night, scoring on its first three possessions against a strong Commerce defense in a 24-14 win at Texas Stadium.

Vernon Bryant / DMNForney's Charles Rickerson (15) fights for an interception with teammate Jason Laury as Commerce's Antonio Burrell watches helplessly.

The win sends Forney (10-4) into the Class 3A Division II semifinals against the winner of Muleshoe and Midland Greenwood at a date, time and site to be determined. Commerce (13-1), the defending 3A Division II champion, saw its season and its 29-game win streak come to a close.

The victory avenged Forney's 15-14 loss to Commerce in District 11-3A.

"We've hung in there all year and gotten a little better every game," Maxfield said. "The big key that let us open up the offense was we asked all of our offensive players to block. Not just the linemen, but everyone. The Nov. 3 game was their night. Tonight was ours."

In the rematch, both teams entered the game with defenses that ranked among the area's leaders during the regular season.

But the first quarter and a half shattered whatever plans either team had for a defensive battle. Not only did Forney score on its first three possessions, but Commerce took its first drive in as well as the teams combined for 202 total yards and 17 points in the first 18 minutes.

Vernon Bryant / DMNCommerce QB Tommy Wright attempts to leap past some Forney defenders.

A 41-yard pass from C.J. Tomlinson to T.J. Gilmer led to a 2-yard run by Bryson Brown and a 7-0 Forney lead two minutes into the game. Commerce responded with a 12-play drive marked by a 14-yard run by Demarcus Harrison and an 18-yard keeper by quarterback Brodrick Keley.

Forney established its offense, and its lead, on the next drive. Dabryan Blanton carried 11 times for 71 yards before Pete Cuva kicked a 22-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead. The 17-play drive kept the ball for more than nine minutes and allowed Commerce only three possessions in the first half. Blanton gained 169 yards on 26 carries.

But Forney quarterback C.J. Tomlinson made as big a mark with his two completions. His second deep throw found Gilmer again on a post route for a 72-yard touchdown and a 17-7 lead midway through the second quarter. Commerce bought Tomlinson's fake into the line, leaving him an easy toss to Gilmer behind the secondary. Tomlinson was 2-of-3 for 113 yards.

Commerce got a break late in the third quarter when Jon Luckey recovered a fumbled punt at the Forney 16-yard line. Junior halfback Tommy Wright scored on the first play of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 10, but Commerce ran only eight plays the remainder of the game.