Dayton takes full advantage of several Vidor turnovers to come away with a Region III Division II playoff win
HUNTSVILLE — Ask just about any coach if turnovers will do you in when playoff time rolls around and you are certain to get a resounding "yes". Unfortunately, Vidor (7-4) learned that the hard way Saturday night at Bowers Stadium on the campus of Sam Houston State University as they dropped a 28-14 decision to Dayton (9-2) in a 4-A Region III Division II playoff match up.
Vidor was plagued by turnovers on the night as they turned the ball over four times. The first one came on their opening drive as they drove deep into Bronco territory. Dayton wasted no time in making Vidor pay when Payton Pitch got loose around the right side on the Bronco's first play from scrimmage for an 83-yard touchdown run to give Dayton a 7-0 first quarter lead.
The Dayton defense managed to force another first half turnover several minutes later when Evan Brown stepped in front of a Nick Dozier pass to give the Broncos a first-and-ten at the Vidor 44-yard line.
A few plays later the Broncos extended their lead to 14-0 when Xavier Frank took it right up the gut and out ran the Pirate defense for a 30-yard touchdown run with less than a minute gone off the clock in the second quarter.
With the opening half jitters behind them, Vidor came out in the second half and got their running game rolling. The Pirates used an 11-play drive that started at the Bronco 35-yard line to cut the Dayton lead to 14-7 when Jacob Peevey found the end zone from five yards out for his first rushing touchdown of the game.
"I told them that you are getting their best shot so you better play or your going to get embarrassed", said Dayton head coach Jerry Stewart.
Dozier shanked a punt early in the fourth quarter giving Dayton great field position and the playoff seasoned Broncos made it pay off when Gamal Fowler hauled in a Andres Herrera six yard touchdown pass to put Vidor in a 21-7 hole with just under nine minutes to go in the game.
"I am not sure we got excited to play tonight until the second half. But we are use to playing in big games", said Stewart.
Vidor came right back and went with what worked for them earlier as they used their running game to move the ball down field. The only problem was they ended up doing the same thing that didn't work for them earlier and that was turn the ball over once again. This time it was a fumble inside the Bronco 20-yard line that would hurt them.
The Pirates defense answered the call as they rose to the occasion to force a Dayton punt. With the pressure on and no room for error, Vidor made the last of several costly errors when a bad snap got loose and the Bronco's Robert Edwards picked the ball up and took it in for a Dayton touchdown resulting in a 28-7 lead with under three minutes to go in the game.
"You know they did a good job and that is what you got to do or your not going to play long in the playoffs. You have to see if you can have some adversity and keep going", said Stewart.
Vidor refused to give up as they bounced right back with a 67-yard drive that David Bollingers put the finishing touches on with a one yard touchdown run leaving the final score at 28-14.
"We played hard but let up on the last drive and that bothers us. Two good ball clubs fighting and that is all you can ask. We knew playing them it was going to be tough, those kids wanted to win," said Stewart. “They have a real good ball club".
Jacob Peevey finished with 96 yards rushing on 18 carries for Vidor. Teammate Shayne Pitman totaled 69 yards on 23 carries.
Dayton was led by Payton Ploch with 81 yards on four carries. Xavier Frank carried 11 times for 57 yards.
Dayton will take on Waller Saturday evening at Spring ISD Stadium.
