Owls kennel Bulldogs

NEW WAVERLY - The Anderson-Shiro Fighting Owls got back to their winning ways with a convincing 34-13 win over the New Waverly Bulldogs. Throughout the game the Owls showed true grit powering past a determined Bulldog team.

The Owls (6-1, 2-1) and Dawgs played to a stalemate in the first quarter. Both teams moved the ball but bogged down on the wet field. The week’s weather made the grass tall and wet, causing havoc for both teams’ offenses. Each team’s offensive backs appeared to be on skates and the wet conditions made the football hard to handle.

Anderson-Shiro found traction in the second quarter with quarterback Connor Daley connecting with Pierce Goodwin in stride for a 45-yard touchdown. Jarvis Haynes punched in the conversion to give the Owls an early 8-0 lead.

Following a Bulldog turnover, Daley went back to the passing game. This time he found an open Christian Schroeder for another score, to push the Owl lead to 14.

New Waverly responded with impressive drives, scoring twice in the second quarter to narrow the gap, 14-13.

The Owls seized a late opportunity just before halftime. New Waverly kicked the ball short, so Owl Head Coach Brad Hodges and crew instructed their guys to run north and south on the wet surface. Haynes took this to heart and raced 63 yards for a touchdown. Kagan Stephens caught the conversion to put the Owls up 22-13 going went into halftime with momentum.

After receiving the kickoff to begin the third quarter, Haynes took the first play from scrimmage 70 yards for another rushing touchdown. The Owl defense led by Jordan Coronado took over and stuffed the Bulldog running game allowing the Owl offense to run a lot of time off of the clock.

Sensing the need for a few more points to seal the win late in the final quarter, the Owls elected to try a fourth-and-deep in Bulldog territory. Daley launched a fade pass to Kieren Gill, and the talented receiver made a great catch in coverage with both feet on the endzone’s turf. That score finalized the score, 34-13.

Following the game, Hodges cited Coronado for having his best defensive game to date. He also pointed out that Pierce Goodwin was a force on both offense and defense.

“There are several moments that help define your season,” said Hodges. “I think this game and particularly that second half will be one of those moments that help define this team. I was very proud of our team’s effort and intensity. The coaching staff was also a huge part of that second half start. They picked up on some things and made adjustments that allowed us to be more successful.”

The Owls will welcome the Warren Warriors to Anderson this week, Oct. 14. Hodges said the Warriors bring a run heavy offensive philosophy to town. “We have to continue to clean up our mistakes and stay focused on the tasks at hand,” he explained.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. If you can’t make it to Anderson, please follow along for live scoring updates and short videos at the Navasota Examiner’s Sports Facebook page