Brahmas get over playoff hump with 38-27 win
East Bernard draws Troy in area round matchup next Friday
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

Photo by Terrell Jessen/Jessen Photography East Bernard quarterback Chris Plunkett runs for a touchdown in Friday's Class 2A bidistrict playoff game against Hallettsville. The Brahamas from Wharton County beat the Brahmas from Lavaca County 38-27 to advance to the area round of the playoffs.

EL CAMPO - East Bernard's football team snapped a six-game bi-district playoff losing streak Friday night by beating Hallettsville 38-27 at Ricebird Stadium.

The Brahmas, representing Wharton County, last had a playoff win came in 1999 over Shiner.

"It was a great win and I don't even have words for it," said EB coach Jerry Long.

"Everybody contributed and I'm so proud of these kids. Nobody gave them a chance when the season started. Here we are winning in the playoffs."

East Bernard will now play Troy next Friday in an area round playoff game.

The Trojans beat Lexington 48-35 in their bi-district game last night.

Michael Hayes accounted for four touchdowns and rushed for 157 yards on 18 carries.

The Brahmas from Wharton County totaled up 375 yards compared to 335 yards for Hallettsville.

Photo by Terrell Jessen East Bernard's Michael Hayes runs for a touchdown in Friday night's bi-district playoff game against Hallettsville.

Quarterback Chris Plunkett, filling in for the injured Matthew Stelzel, engineered several drives.

He scored one touchdown, threw for one and rushed for 99 yards on 11 carries

East Bernard broke a 7-7 first quarter tie to go up 17-13 at halftime.

EB then went up 31-21 at the end of the third quarter before Hallettsville cut their margin to 11 with 6:26 left in the game.

The Brahmas from Lavaca County got the ball back and drove to the East Bernard 11-yard line.

Plunkett recovered a fumble with only 20 seconds left and East Bernard ran out the clock.

"We talked to our kids all week about playing every play all night long," said Long. "Hallettsville came back in so many games all year."

East Bernard overcame at least six holding penalties and a block in the back flag.

"That's more than we had all year long but we were able to overcome them," said Long.

Hallettsville took the ensuing kickoff and punted three plays later.

Hayes then raced 61 yards for a touchdown with 9:41 remaining. Plunkett's kick put EB up 7-0.

Hallettsville later took posession at the East Bernard 47-yardline with with 5:50 remaining.

On a second and nine from the EB 35, quarterback Colby Shindler connected with Ron Wood on a 29-yard pass to the six.

Two plays later, A.J. Brown scored from the four. Shane Drozd booted the extra point kick to tie the score with 3:31 remaining.

EB took the ensuing kickoff and drove to the Hallettsville 23-yardline. Jeremey then recovered a fumble at the 24-yardline with 2:05 remaining.

Two plays later, Hayes picked off a pass by Shindler and EB took over at the 33-yardline with 1:16 left.

Ten plays later, Plunkett booted a 27-yard field with 9:10 remaining in the second quarter to put East Bernard up 10-7.

Darnell Borwn returned the ensuing kickoff back to the East Bernard 31-yardline.

Six plays later, Shindler connected with Cameron Besetzny on a 15-yard scoring strike with 5:51 left until halftime.

Drozd missed the extra point kick leaving Hallettsville with a 13-10 lead.

On East Bernard's next drive, on a first and 10, Lance Crump ran 26 yards to the Hallettsville 16-yardline.

On third and six from the 12, Plunkett picked up eight yards to the Hallettsville 4-yardline.

Three plays later, Plunkett connected with Hayes in the endzone for a touchdown.

Plunnkett's kick put EB up 17-13 with only 1:25 remaining until halftime.

Schindler connected with DeJuan Lemons on a pass. He dropped it and Hayes recovered the fumble and East Bernard took over at the Hallettsville 31-yardline with a minute left.

EB drove to the 28-yardline and Plunkett missed a 45-yard field with only seven seconds left.

Hallettsville took a knee and ran out the clock.

East Bernard took the second half kickoff. On a third and four from the 33, John Delarosa recovered a fumble at the East Bernard 34-yardline with 10:32 remaining in the third quarter.

Hallettsville then turned the ball over own downs with 8:05 remaining at the East Bernard 25.

Eight plays later, Plunkett raced 22 yards to paydirt. He booted the extra point to bring the score to 24-13 with 4:37 remaining.

Hallettsville drove to midfield after the ensuing kickoff. On first and 10, Shindler with Wood for 30 yards to the East Bernard 20.

Stephen Nicholson picked up 18 yards on the next play to the two. A.J. Brown scored two plays later with only 13 seconds left in the third quarter.

Shindler added the 2-point conversion to leave East Bernard with a 24-21 lead.

Hayes took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown and ended the third quarter. Plunkett's kick made it 31-21.

East Bernard recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff at the 47-yardline. EB drove to the Hallettsville 48-yardline.

Hallettsville muffed the punt and East Bernard took over at the Hallettsville 24-yardline with 9:01 left in the game.

Hayes ran 23 yards to the one. He scored two plays later with 8:06 showing on the clock.

Plunkett's TD made the score 38- 21.

Hallettsville drove to the East Bernard 45-yardline. Shindler connected with Wood to the 22-yardline.

Shindler picked up nine yards to the East Bernard 13. A.J. Brown scored an apparent touchdown but a holding penalty negated it pushed the ball back to the 18.

James Davenport then hauled in a pass in the endzone for a touchdown with 6:26 remaining. The missed extra point kick left East Bernard with a 38- 27 lead.

East Bernard recovered an onsides kick at the 48 and picked two first downs before punting with only 2:22 left in the game.

It set up Hallettsville last drive which ended in the fumble recovery by Plunkett.

In two other bi-district playoff games, Rice Consolidated beat Brazos 29-19 and Hitchcock beat Edna 18-13.