Brahmas visit Danbury in 27-2A opener
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

EAST BERNARD - East Bernard's football team had little time to dwell on last Friday's 28-23 loss to Stockdale before they had to put it behind them.

The Brahmas start playing for keeps this Friday when they visit winless Danbury in the District 27-2A opener.

"We have to be ready and we're 2-2 right now," said EB coach Jerry Long. "Those four games don't mean anything now and we'd like to start a brand new season.

"They seem pretty fired-up and focused to start distict."

It's no secret that Danbury's Humber Field has been a tough place for all the Panthers' opponents.

"We have to go down there and it's not an easy place to play," said Long.

"We told our kids this morning that our district race starts now. You have to take them one step at a time.

"You can't overlook or under estimate anybody and they are going to be fired up."

East Bernard won last year's game at Memorial Stadium 55-10 but Long isn't taking the Panthers for granted.

Danbury fifth year coach Jay Janczak believes the Panthers are ready after a rough start.

"They are excited each week and our goal is to be 1-0 after Friday night," said Janczak. "Once we achieve it, we get rid of it. Once we don't acheive it, we move on to the next one."

The Panthers lost to Class 3A Palacios 50-0 last week and also dropped games to Louise, Houston Christian and Tidehaven. The Brahmas beat Houston Christian in their season opener.

"We're certainly not where we want to be and it will be a work in progress for the rest of the year," said Janczak.

He expects another tough test from the Brahmas.

"It doesn't matter what year it is, they are always good," said Janzak. "They are a well coached team; have disciplined and hard-nosed kids."

"They are kind of like Stockdale and have a lot of returning starters," said Long.

But junior quarterback Scott Zimmerele has missed the last two games with a knee injury.

It's questionable if he'll see any action on Friday.

"It will be tough for them if he's not because he's a good athlete," said Long.

Taking his place is junior Jake De- Berry who has completed seven of 32 passes for only 65 yards.

He moved over to quarterback from receiver where he had caught 13 passes for 177 yards.

DeBerry will rely on running back Kris Turpin who has scored touchdowns and rushed for 414 yards.

He'll throw the ball to Steven Wilson who has caught seven passes for 32 yards.

"They'll have to do some shuffling around so we need to be prepared to see different people at different places," said Long.

The Brahmas are a 22-point favorite and lead the series 26-1. Danbury's lone win came in 1972 on a Saturday night after a hurricane threat.

"We haven't beat the snot out of anybody enough to take anybody for granted," said Long.

"At the start of the season there was a lot of talk about last year and we kind of nixed that immediately.

"This is a totatly different and younger team. We're not nearly as explosive as we were then and the kids know that and we need to be more disciplined."

The Brahmas, who have totaled up only 88 points in four games, are averaging 329 yards per game. The defense is yielding 298 yards per game.

"We're moving the moving the ball offensively but we have to limit our mistakes," said Long. "A lot of that is being tired and you lose your focus a little bit."

Danbury, who has been outscored 146-44, is averaging 283 yards per game and is yielding 343 yards per game.

The Brahmas will counter with the one-two punch of runningbacks Mike Hayes and Chris Plunkett.

Hayes has scored five touchdowns and rushed for 443 yards and Plunkett has scored two touchdowns and rushed for 361 yards.

"We have to stop their ground attack," said Janczak.

Quarterback Matthew Stelzel has completed 11 of 24 passes for 240 yards. He has four touchdown passes and two interceptions.

"They can throw the football as well," added Janczak.

He believes that the Panthers must take care of the football to have a chance to win.

"We have to have ball control and take care of special teams," said Janczak.

Hayes has caught five passes and two were for touchdowns. He also has three interceptions.

Long agreed that getting a good start and building an early lead would be beneficial.

"That's always nice to do that," said Long. "We don't have the offense to come from behind. We would rather jump up than be jumped on.

"If we do that, it's great. We just have to go out and play mistake-free football and play with a little more intensity."

Van Vleck hosts Brazos in the only other district game on Friday. Boling and Hitchcock have open dates.

Long expects the district race to be close and tight.

"It's 0-0 right now and everybody has a chance to do well," said Long. "There's three spots and six teams and it's kind of in the air right now."

"Van Vleck played a close one with Sweeny so thats tells me that they have a good ball club. Brazos has some talented kids also."

- Friday's Game Facts -

WHAT:District27-2AFo otb
WHO:EastB erna rd Brahmas2-2,vsDa nburyPant
WHEN-WHERE:7:30p.m.Friday,HumberF ield
LAST WEEK: The Brahmas lost to Stockdale 28-23 in their final
pre-districtgameandDanburylosttoPalacos50-0. ____
OTHER DISTRICT GAMES: Van Vleck hosts Brazo and
Hitchcock _and Boling _have byes.. _____________________________
LAST YEAR-THE SERIES: The Brahmas won 55-10. This is the
28th meeting between the two teams since they first played in 1972
when Danbury won 20-6. The Brahmas have won the past 27 games.
Theteamsdidn'tplayfrom1978-80andin1994-95 and2000-2001.
ABOUT THE BRAHMAS: The Brahmas, under second year
coach Jerry Long, have been outscored 89-88 and is averaging
329 yards per game. The defense is yielding 298 yards per game.
Runninback Mike Hayes has scored five tourchdowns and rushed for
443 yards. He has three pass interceptions. Chris Plunkett has scored
two touchdowns and rushed for 361 yards. Quarterback Matthew
Stelzel has completed 11 of 24 passes for 240 yards. He has four TD
passesandtwointerceptions.. ____
ABOUT THE PANTHERS: Danbury, under fifth year coach Jay
Janczak, has been outscored 146-44 and is averaging 283 yards per
game. The defense is yielding 343 yards per game. Runningback
Kris Turpin has scored two two touchdowns and rushed for 414 yards.
Quarterback Scott Zimmerle who has missed the past two games with
an injury, has completed 21 of 49 passes for 286 yards. He has two TD
pass and three interceptions. If he doesn't play Friday, Jake Deberry
_will _take over. _He _has completed four _of _1 passes _for 85 _yards. ______
JERRY'S RANKINGS-PICKS: East Bernard is ranked 71st in
Class 2A with a power rating of 127. Danbury is ranked 199th with a
_power _rating _of _103. East Bernard is _a _22-point _favorite. ___________