Tigers aim for 2nd win
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

Photo by Terrell Jessen/Jessen Photgraphy Wharton's Marcus Melton, Kenneth Phynon and Julian Waddy converge on a Sealy ball carrier in the District 24-3A opener two weeks ago at Tiger Stadium.

Wharton's football team picked up its initial win of the season last Friday to put them in contention for one of the three playoff spots at stake in District 24-3A.

The Tigers won a defensive 14-7 battle over Brookshire Royal to even its league record to 1-1.

"It was very gratifying and nice to get a win," said Wharton coach Gary Van Sant.

His team takes a 45-minute trip to West Columbia Friday to play the Roughnecks at remodeled Griggs Field.

"I think it [the win] will give us a little bit of momentum and confidence heading into the game," said Van Sant. "A win would put us in the thick of things.

Columbus, who is also 2-0, plays the 1-1 Falcons in Brookshire Friday. Needville who is 1-1 visits Sealy who has the same record and winless Sweeny plays 0-2 Stafford.

First-year Columbia coach Leland Surovik is pleased with his team's 2-0 start.

"We're a young football team and getting better every week," said Surovik who was an assistant under Brian Lane last year.

"It took us a while to gel as a team and that's helping us. It gave us a little boost after we beat Sweeny and the kids needed that first win."

Columbia lost their three non-district games before upsetting Sweeny 19-10 two weeks ago. They followed up that performance by shutting out Stafford 33-0 last Friday.

"They've turned the corner and improved each week," said Van Sant about the Roughnecks.

"They run a lot of formations and play exceptionally hard. "We'll have to match effort every play."

Wharton played one of its better disciplined games of the season last week.

"We never got flustered," said Van Sant. "That was something I was very proud of. We're really starting to grow up and mature as a football team and that's something I hope that we can continue to do."

Wharton has played great defensively the past two games.

"That's a big emphasis for us," said Van Sant. "We're really starting to come together as a unit. We have some players that have taken to the system and are doing a really good job."

The Tigers offense has sputtered through the first four games and is averaging only 169 yards per game.

"Offensively, we're going to have to generate a little bit more fire power," said Van Sant. "We have to execute our plays."

"Right now we're getting use to our personnel and seeing what they can do. We don't know who's going to make plays in regular clutch situations right now."

Columbia is averaging 272 yards per game and led by runningbacks Dexter Lewis, Clayton Bubak and Taylor Johnican.

"They have a lot of speed," said Van Sant.

Survoik expects a tough test from the Tigers.

"They are a good football team and have a lot of athletes," said Survoik. "On defense they fly to the football so I'm expecting it to be a good game.

"They used to be a throw it, chunk it team; now they are a clock managament and grind it team."

Survoik said it will take a combination of things to come out on top.

"We're going to not turn the ball over and play field position football," said Surovik.

Wharton beat the Roughnecks 33- 27 in overtime after Columbia won 14- 13 in 2005. The Roughnecks won 30-7 in 2004 and 41-39 in 2001.

The Roughnecks beat the Tigers 21- 20 in overtime in 2000.

This is the 61st meeting between the two schools since they first played in 1923. Wharton has won 30 games and Columbia has won 28. They battled to scoreless ties in 1961 and 1964. They battled to a 12-12 standoff in 1960.