Coldspring survives turnover-filled battle against Lorena

[MEM]

Courtesy of the Chron.com
[url=http://www.chron.com/sports/highschool/article/Coldspring-survives-turnover-filled-battle-2293275.php#photo-1794863]http://www.chron.com/sports/highschool/article/Coldspring-survives-turnover-filled-battle-2293275.php#photo-1794863[/url]

BRENHAM — This Trojan horse is a thoroughbred.

Sherman Gilbert rushed for 305 yards and two touchdowns as the Coldspring Trojans downed Lorena, 13-7, in a 3A regional semifinal playoff game Friday.

On a night when neither team seemed intent on holding onto the football (10 combined turnovers, the last of which, a Colton Monroe interception with 29 seconds remaining, clinched it for Coldspring) Gilbert was the one offensive constant.

His scoring runs went for 42 and 69 yards.

And he did it all while battling the effects of an illness.

“I was throwing up on the bus coming over here. I’ve been throwing up since eight o’clock this morning,” said Gilbert, a D-I senior prospect who is closing in on his second consecutive 2,000-yard rushing season and is hoping to join his brother Justin at Oklahoma State next season.

When the lights came on, Gilbert and his stomach were ready to go, leading undefeated Coldspring to its 13th win of the season.

That earns the Trojans a date with the winner of the Bullard(8-4)-West Orange-Stark (9-3) regional semifinal, which is at 2 p.m. Saturday at Conroe’s Woodforest Stadium.

The team that survives that match-up better be ready to play an inspired Coldspring defense.

Just like they have been all season, the Coldspring defense was superb Friday.

The Trojans allowed just 56 yards and two first downs before halftime as Coldspring built a 13-0 lead. The Leopards ended with just 158 total yards. Lorena’s only score came at the end of its first possession of the second half on a 22-yard pass from Fisher Simpson to Harris Coleman.

Lorena (7-6), a surprise regional quarter-finalist from the Waco area, had come into this contest with a full head of offensive steam after scoring 47 and 40 points in back-to-back playoff victories.

But it hadn’t seen anything like the Trojans’ defense, which has now allowed a total of just 21 points in three playoff games.

For the season, the Trojans have limited nine opponents to a touchdown or less.

“We’ve been hanging our hat on those defensive guys all season,” Coldspring head coach Bryan Barbay said. “Early in the year I said we’ll be known for our defense, and that’s what happened.”

What made the Trojans defensive effort all the more remarkable was they constantly had their backs against the wall because of five Coldspring turnovers.

So what did the Trojans defense do? They forced five takeaways of their own, none bigger than Monroe’s leaping interception with 29 seconds left as Lorena was driving in Trojans territory for a potential game-winning score.”

“He threw it up, and I just made a play on it,” Monroe said. “Our coaches put us in the perfect position to win every week.”

And they keep getting the job done.

“We turned the ball over too many times. You probably shouldn’t win when you do that,” Barbay said. “But you know what, we did win, and we’re moving on.”

[Kville_Kats]

Luck is not something you can reach and get when you need it..Coldspring is a good football team and I respect that,But If the offense don't give the defense some help,I look for the Luck Cupboard to run dry ...Good Luck (no pun intended).. ;D

[LuvMyTrojans]

Thanks for posting.  Last night was another heart stopping game.  The sportmanship exhibited by both teams were amazing.  I'm very proud of both teams for a job well done. 

[Coldspring Trojan 82]

Gotta take better care of the football. Congrats Trojans on another great game. Great teams overcome adversity and thats what this team continues to do.

[MEM]

[quote name="cdoggett" post="1130962" timestamp="1322322709"]
Great teams overcome adversity and thats what this team continues to do.
[/quote]

True but we need to stop contributing to some of that adversity ;)

[ABNINF]

[quote name="MEM" post="1131178" timestamp="1322336296"]
[quote author=cdoggett link=topic=92250.msg1130962#msg1130962 date=1322322709]
Great teams overcome adversity and thats what this team continues to do.
[/quote]

True but we need to stop contributing to some of that adversity ;)
[/quote]

You ain't kiddin' there.  Both teams played very well and played hard but CS defense definitely won that game for us.  Too many interceptions thrown and too many fumbles.

Great game overall but the offense better get serious about keeping the ball and making the points when they have the chance.

[Guest incognito123]

305 yds???!!! Is that correct? 

[skipper]

what counts is whats up on the score board not the yardage i can tell you about a team in austin that had almost 600 yards of (O) and still lost and the other had over 400 yards this game friday will not be for people with weak hearts  :) ;)