Big catches lift Pflugerville past Converse Judson

SCHERTZ--Wide receiver Valentino Bishop caught two passes on two straight possessions netting 149 yards and two touchdowns, just the heroics the struggling Pflugerville offense needed.

Bishop's rally helped the Panthers bury Converse Judson 21-10 at Schertz Stadium. The game was relocated because of Hurricane Ike. The win gives the Panthers (1-1) their first win of the season while the Rockets (1-2) lose for the second time.

The game was a showdown between two teams that made it to the state finals last year. Early on, the Rockets had the advantage as safety Robert Shaw returned an interception 26 yards to put Judson up 7-0 at halftime. The Panthers' defense refused to yield another touchdown, holding the Rockets to 267 total yards and only 37 yards passing.

The Rockets' defense focused too much on the running game, leaving Bishop wide open for quarterback Chris Mercado who connected with 73 and 76 yard touchdown passes in the third quarter.

"Every time our quarterback would roll out (to the right), their defense would just bite, bite, bite, bite," Bishop told the Austin American-Statesman. "They got me the ball, and it was six (points)."

After a scoreless first half Pflugerville head coach George Herrmann was glad to see Bishop lead the team. "He's a big-play guy, no doubt about it," Herrmann told the Statesman. "I know it'll probably get tougher down the road when teams start to double-team him, but he's playing really well right now."

The Rockets settled for a field goal to pull within four points in the fourth quarter but running back Julian Ward erased that threat with a 49-yard touchdown.

The Panthers finished the night with 399 yards, including 33 carries for 124 yards rushing.

Running back Chauncey Harris led the Rockets' offense with 25 carries for 161 yards.
 

Date of Article: Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:24 pm

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