Published: August 30, 2009 11:26 am      

Callisburg ground game propels Cats to win

By JOE DORMAN

Register Correspondent

BONHAM — With 21 unanswered points in the first quarter, the Callisburg Wildcats spoiled Coach Dale Trompler's debut in Bonham with a 41-12 win.

Bobby Dorman, the leading receiver for Callisburg for the past three years, has taken over the signal calling for the new look Wildcats following the departure of Thor Long to Sherman. With the addition of Iowa all-stater Langston Jones at tailback, the Wildcats have moved from an aerial attack to a balanced attack.

With Coach John Hall and his slot-T rushing offense gone, the Bonham Warriors have also changed their look with Coach Trompler's spread offense using the airways to move the ball.

This night Callisburg's balanced offense won out scoring 41 points with 163 yards passing and 178 yards on the ground. Dorman led all rushers with 10 carries for 124 yards with two touchdowns while completing 11-of-19 passes for 127 yards and two more touchdowns. Jones carried the ball eight times for 51 yards, finding the end zone twice as well.

Bonham never quite got their offensive attack going as the Wildcat defense held the Warriors scoreless until the eight minute mark of the fourth quarter. Quarterback Kyle Washington led Bonham's rushing attack with 14 carries for 91 yards. He also completed 14-of-25 passes for 125 yards with a touchdown.

Callisburg opened the scoring early when Dorman kept around the left side and streaked untouched for a 33-yard touchdown. Dorman's PAT was good giving the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.

The Wildcats found pay dirt twice more in the first quarter. Freshman Clay McKenzie hauled in a Dorman pass and maneuvered through the Bonham secondary for a 19-yard score. On their next possession Callisburg used some trickery when wide receiver Kevin Bartley took a backwards pass in the flat and then hit Alan Eugster down the right sideline for a 36-yard gain. On the next play Dorman kept off left tackle and dashed in from 12 yards out.

Callisburg kept the pressure on in the second quarter when Eugster made a sliding catch in the end zone, and then with seconds remaining in the half Jones took a pitch and raced 28 yards for a score. As time ran out in the half, the Wildcats held a 35-0 lead.

In the second half, Callisburg chose to keep the clock moving by staying with the ground attack. Late in the third quarter Jones tallied the Wildcat final score with a 4-yard plunge.

Bonham finally found the end zone in the fourth quarter following a muffed punt by the Wildcats. From the 34-yard line the Warriors needed just four plays to score. Senior Chase Gregory capped off the drive with a nice 14-yard scamper. Bonham's final score came with just 17 seconds remaining when Josh Price hauled in a Washington pass from 7 yards out, bringing the final score to 41-12.

The small, aggressive Callisburg defense was stellar throughout. Linebacker Chase McCage lead the attack with seven tackles. Defensive end Brandon LaRue had five tackles and a fumble recovery, and cornerback Cory Harmon and linebacker Chris Apala had five tackles apiece.

Next week Callisburg hosts Fort Worth All Saints Episcopal while Bonham welcomes Sanger to town.