During a normal high school football season, practicing the week of Thanksgiving is a badge of honor only some of the best teams are able to experience. This season, the Nederland Bulldogs (9-2) and other large school teams still in the playoffs have the rare opportunity to practice during the week of Christmas to prepare for its regional showdown with undefeated Fort Bend Marshall (11-0) Saturday at Turner Stadium in Humble.
It is the first time since 2012 the Bulldogs have reached the regional round of the playoffs. And while the excitement of finally prevailing past the dreaded area round is still fresh, Nederland remains focused on avoiding the same fate the last time they made it this far.
“It feels amazing to be practicing right now and to know all the hard work in the off season is playing off,” Nederland junior wide receiver Kyndon Fuselier said. “Our main goal was to get past the second round and now we are looking to achieve more.”
The Bulldogs have a tall task ahead at 1 p.m. on Saturday by trying to keep one of the better offensive teams in Class 5A-II in check. This season, the Buffaloes are averaging nearly 400 yards of total offense (399.9), 52.45 points a game and have scored 60 or more points in seven of its 11 games.
However, Nederland does not have to look far for clues to keep the Buffaloes from running up the score. Just two weeks ago, Port Neches-Groves held Fort Bend Marshall to just 21 points in the bidistrict round of the playoffs and nearly pulled off an upset.
“The biggest thing for us when we look at the PN-G game is to see how they matched up with Fort Bend Marshall and compare it to our matchup with (PN-G),” Nederland head football coach Monte Barrow said.
The game plan was simple for PN-G head football coach Brandon Faircloth when he faced Fort Bend Marshall — keep the Buffaloes offense off the field by dominating time of possession. Despite losing, PN-G outgained Fort Bend Marshall in total yardage, 337-225, and the score was tied at 14 midway through the third quarter.
The Buffaloes use a committee of running backs to wear down opposing defenses, but senior quarterback Harvey Roland poses a threat as well. Roland is averaging 132 passing yards per game, has thrown 19 touchdowns and only one interception.
Unlike PN-G, Fuselier believes the Bulldogs might be better equipped to slow down Fort Bend Marshall.
“Our speed definitely helps, but we have to make sure we get everyone to the ball,” Fuselier said. “From what we saw from (Buffaloes) against PN-G, we need to limit the big plays and be physical when we have the opportunity.”
Before last week, the Buffaloes had only allowed more than two touchdowns to opposing offenses twice.
This the first time the Bulldogs and Buffaloes will face off against each other.
jorge.ramos@beaumontenterprise.com
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