By Kevin Carson
Special to the Herald-Banner
12/09/00
IRVING - All good things must come to an end.
And the Commerce Tigers' bid for a second straight state championship came to an abrupt
halt Friday night as the Forney Jackrabbits claimed a 24-14 Class 3A Division II
quarterfinal round win Friday night at Texas Stadium.
The loss also snapped the Tigers' 29-game win streak, which dates back to 1999. Commerce,
the District 11-3A champion, finishes the year with a 13-1 mark.
The victory propels the Jackrabbits, who won their fifth straight game to improve to 10-4
on the year, into a semi-final matchup against Muleshoe. The Mules are undefeated in 14
outings after trouncing Midland Greenwood, 43-14, in the Region I final Friday night.
"We had a great run," said a disappointed Commerce coach Steve Bragg. "We
just weren't consistent enough on offense tonight while they were able to move the ball.
They made the plays when they had to and we didn't."
Forney speedster DaBryan Blanton rushed for 177 yards on 24 carries, including a 39-yard
touchdown run in the third quarter to lead the Jackrabbit attack.
But his biggest contribution in the game may have come as a distraction as he forced the
Commerce defense to focus much of their attention on him.
That allowed quarterback C.J Tomlinson to connect with T.J. Gilmer on a pair of long
completions, including a 71-yarder for a touchdown, to put the Tigers in an early hole.
And the hole was dug early as Tomlinson hit Gilmer on a 40-yard pass to the Commerce 11 on
the first play from scrimmage.
The Tiger defense stiffened as it denied Blanton on two tries from the four. But Bryson
Brown found the end zone from two yards on a fourth and one to put the Rabbits up, 7-0,
just 2:12 into the game.
"We knew they were going to throw the ball early and tried to prepare the kids for
it," said Bragg. "But the receiver got behind our defensive backs and the
quarterback made a nice throw."
But Commerce came back as the Tigers took the ensuing kickoff 69 yards in 12 plays,
converting third-down and one fourth-down conversion, to even the score.
Quarterback Brodrick Kelley, who gained 34 yards on the drive, converted the first third
down with a 6-yard run from the Forney 48. DeMarcus Harrison kept the drive alive four
plays later as he rambled for 14 yards to the Jackrabbit 21 on a fourth and two from the
Forney 35.
Kelley then ripped off a 19-yard run to move the ball inside the three and Tommy Wright
scored the equalizer from two yards. Bart Bryant's point-after was good and the game was
tied, 7-7, with 5:22 to play in the opening period.
The Jackrabbits came right back as they embarked on a long 17-play, 83-yard drive that
took more than nine minutes to make it 10-7.
That drive almost proved fatal for the Jackrabbits though as Blanton fumbled after a
7-yard gain at the Forney 35. But the Commerce defender tried to pick up the loose ball
instead of falling on it at the 40 and Forney was able to recover and get a first down in
the process.
Blanton then picked up 35 more yards on seven carries as the drive ground down to the
Commerce one.
But again the Tiger defense stiffened as Brown and Blanton were thrown for consecutive
2-yard losses, giving Forney a fourth-and-goal at the five.
Pete Cuva then came on to boot a 22-yard field goal with 7:55 left in the half and Forney
regained a lead it would never relinquish.
Forney took a 17-7 advantage into intermission when Tomlinson and Gilmer connected on a
71-yard pass with 3:35 to play in the second quarter. The pass, which came on a third and
five from the Forney 29, ended a short three-play, 76-yard drive.
Commerce had just one more possession in the first half and advanced to the Forney 45. But
Kelley's first down pass deep down the left sideline was intercepted by Charles Rickerson
at the eight.
Another Kelley interception, this one by Matt Adams midway through the third period, set
up the final Jackrabbit score.
Commerce had taken over at its own 26 after holding the Jackrabbits on their first
possession of the second half. But Kelley's second down pass was picked off by Adams at
the Forney 45.
It took just three plays for Forney to cash in as Blanton ripped off a 15-yard run on
first down and raced 39 yards for the score one play later. Cuva came on to boot his third
point-after of the night and the Forney lead
was stretched to 24-7 with 5:34 left in the third quarter.
But the Tigers still had some fight left in them as they took advantage of the only Forney
turnover of the night.
The Tigers had advanced from their own 19 to the Forney 45, only to see the drive stall.
But Kelley's punt was fumbled by Ty Patterson and Justin Rogers recovered for Commerce at
the Rabbit 15.
Wright took care of most of the remaining real estate as he moved the ball to the three on
runs of nine and three yards before scoring from one yard on the first play of the fourth
quarter. Bryant's point after narrowed the deficit to 24-10 with 11:57 left.
Any legitimate hopes of a Commerce comeback were dashed on the next possession, however.
The Commerce defense had stopped Forney at its own 21 with 10:13 still to play. But Cuva's
punt was mishandled by Larry Hatley at the Commerce 44 yard line and the Jackrabbits
recovered.
They quickly took advantage as they marched to the Tiger four in just three plays. The
Commerce defense stiffened yet again though, as it stopped three straight runs from the
one.
But the damage was done on the clock as the Tigers took over at their own one with just
4:53 to play. Three plays failed to produce a yard though, and Kelley was forced to punt
from his own end zone.
Again the Commerce defense held, but Commerce took over for the final time at it own 28
with just 1:24 left.
A 7-yard run by Wright and a 13-yard completion from Kelley to Shane Brisbane moved the
ball to midfield. Kelley then hit Brisbane on a 47-yard pass play but he was tackled at
the Forney two as time expired.
Overall, the Jackrabbits racked up 345 yards of total offense, 234 on the ground. The
Tigers managed just 187 yards of total offense on the night, 124 rushing.
Wright led Commerce with 44 yards on 14 carries while Kelley rushed for 30 yards on nine
carries and completed 4-of-13 passes for 63 yards and two interceptions in his final game
as a Tiger.
"Winning 29 straight is a great accomplishment," said defensive coordinator Bill
Draughn. "I am just glad I was along for the ride."