EB 4th quarter rally falls short
By ROLAND ORSAK

STOCKDALE - A last minute rally by East Bernard fell short as Stockdale held on for a 28-23 win in a battle of Brahma teams here Friday night.

With only 43 seconds left in the game, EB running back Chris Plunkett fumbled the ball inside the Stockdale three-yardline.

The Brahmas from Wharton County slipped to 2-2 on the season and the Brahmas from near Seguin improved to 3-0.

EB got off to a slow start and trailed 21-10 at halftime.

But the Brahmas from Wharton County jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 8:37 remaining in the first quarter when quarterback Matt Stelzel connected with Mike Hayes on a 19-yard scoring strike.

Plunkett's kick made it 7-0.

The score was set up by a Clinton Graves fumble recovery.

Stockdale came back to tie the score with 5:37 remaining when quarterback Landry Snyder passed three yards to Ryan Martinez for a touchdown. Snyder booted the extra point kick.

The score was set up by a Michael Soto 59 yard run.

Stockdale's Denny Shofner recovered an onside kick to set up Stockdale's next touchdown. Soto scored from the one with 1:05 remaining and Snyder's kick made it 14-7.

East Bernard came back to make it 14-10 on a 23-yard field goal with 6:29 left in the second quarter. He picked up 30 yards earlier in the drive.

With under a minute left in the half, Snyder raced 71 yards to the East Bernard five.

He scored with 49 seconds left and booted the extra point kick to make it a 21-10 game.

Soto raced 63 yards for another Stockdale touchdown with 7:12 remaining in the third quarter. His kick made it 28-10.

East Bernard came back to make it 28-16 when Stelzel connected with Randy Perkins on a 21-yard scoring strike with 4:19 remaining.

Plunkett's kick made it 28-17.

East Bernard got closer when Hayes scored on a 35-yard run with 9:26 remaining in the fourth quarter to cut Stockdale's lead to 28-23.

Plunkett was stopped short of the goalline on a 2-point conversion attempt.

East Bernard got the ball back and drove the length of the field before the fumble at the end of the game.

EB totaled up 309 yards in the game and Stockdale finished with 283. Hayes picked up 102 yards on 12 carries. Plunkett rushed for 134 yards on 15 carries and Lance Crump added 51 yards on eight carries.

Stelzel completed two of six passes for 40 yards.

East Bernard starts playing for keeps next Friday when they visit Danbury.

The Panthers dropped a 50-0 decision to Palacios last night.