It’s Home: Yoe uses all-round complete performance to take back the bell from Rockdale

There are goals that the Yoemen set for themselves before each season begins. Not surprisingly, near the top of that list was to take down Rockdale and get the bell back in Cameron.

There would be no denying the Yoemen in 2018. After dropping back-to-back games in the series the last two years, the bell is back home following a 33-14 win over the Tigers on Yoe Field on Friday Night.

It was the first win as a head coach for Tommy Brashear.

“We have team goals and we have personal goals,” Brashear said. “It feels good on a personal level, for sure. It feels even more good that we are 4-0 in district and we are all by ourselves right now and we have that bell back. Life is back to normal and it’s not out of whack anymore.”

Rockdale had been averaging 71.5 points per ball game the last two seasons, but the Yoe defense managed to hold the Tigers scoreless at the half and proceeded to make it difficult to put points on the board the rest of the way.

"Our defense has been playing well and we knew this was going to be a challenge," said Brashear. "They responded in the second half, and it was kind of back and forth, but I was just so proud of those kids. They responded to adversity and got the score back."

Rockdale finished with 273 yards of total offense, but was limited in the passing game, completing just 6 of 19 passes for 100 yards and 2 interceptions.

Junior Calvin Stewart intercepted a pass in the first half while Kadrian Hammond had another late in the second half to help win the turnover battle.

To start the second half, senior defensive back Ki'Zirrius Holt forced a fumble after a completion, and alertly fell on the ball to keep Rockdale off the board.

"Like we said during film, we had to read our keys," said Holt on the turnovers. "We brought that into this game and we executed."

Rockdale was set on forcing quarterback Braden Brashear and the offense to throw the ball early, putting big numbers in the box. That resulted in 106 first-half yards through the air, with Brashear finding Hammond on two long passes down the field.

"It appeared that their game plan was to not let us run the ball and that opened up some things with the pass," said Brashear. "They were probably thinking they have a first-year varsity quarterback, and we are going to put the pressure on that guy. But, our kids responded. The pass was there and we started moving the ball on them."

On the opening drive of the game, Cameron took the ball 69 yards, which was capped off by a 31-yard run by Anthony Steamer to put the Yoemen up 7-0. Late in the second quarter, Brashear found Hammond for a 31 yard pass down to the 1-yard line before Nico Vargas finished it off from there.

"The first half they were loading the box and they were playing man coverage," said B. Brashear on the first half passing success. "We have really good receivers and that is just not going to work."

Rockdale finally managed to get on the scoreboard at the 2:57 mark of the third quarter when Cam'Ron Valdez rushed one in from four yards out.

Cameron would never let the Tigers get any closer than 6 as just moments later Vargas managed to bust a run outside for a 42-yard score. Rockdale would score one more time on a 2-yard run before a Brashear 6-yard pass to Kobe Young and 1-yard Nico Vargas run sealed the deal.

Cameron now sits at a perfect 4-0 and is in total control of the district with with Manor New Tech and Lago Vista left on the schedule. One win would secure the number one seed in the playoffs and another would lock down the outright district title, which is another goal this team has set for themselves.

"We have two more to win that district championship and get a great spot in the seeding for the playoffs," said Brashear. "I feel like we are getting better and we are overcoming adversity. We just have keep on that track and keep getting better and not be content."

Post game Quotes

On Winning the Bell back

Ki'Zirrius Holt

It means a lot to the community and we played our hearts out tonight. We have been waiting all year for this and now we have brought the bell home.

Kadrian Hammond

It was very exciting. Last year I was hurt and I missed this game. To bring the bell back for our community it awesome.

Nico Vargas

It means a lot to keep it here over on this side.

Kobe Young

We have been waiting for this since two-a-days started. We kept practicing and kept grinding and now we have did it.

On the defensive performance

Nico Vargas

The defense did and outstanding job tonight. It was a great offense that is good in our district and we are just happy overall with the win. We are going to celebrate this tonight and then move forward.

Braden Brashear

Our defense is good at bending but not breaking. We may have given up some rushing yards but only 14 points is pretty good.

On the offensive execution

Kobe Young

The line did a great job of blocking and Braden did a great job of throwing. We just ran our routes, caught the ball and came out with the win.

Braden Brashear

We are real balanced and it’s hard for people to play us. If you load the box, we throw the ball. We can also run it with Nico and Bynaum.

Stats

Cameron Yoe

First Downs: 17

Rushing: 24-125

Passing: 16-23-1, 209 yards

Punts: 4-177

Fumbles/Fumbles Lost: 1-0

Penalties: 7-38.5

Rushing: Nico Vargas, 13-84; Anthony Steamer, 2-43

Passing: Braden Brashear: 16-23-1, 209 yards

Receiving: Kadrian Hammond, 5-93; Kobe Young, 8-69; Nico Vargas, 3-45

Rockdale

First Downs: 11

Rushing: 36-173

Passing: 6-19-2, 100 yards

Punts: 4-38

Fumbles/Fumbles Lost: 2-1

Penalties: 4-21

Rushing: Cam’Ron Valdez, 25-138; Jace Robinson, 6-15

Passing: Jace Robinson, 6-19-2, 100 yards

Receiving: Kesean Raven, 4-69