Too much power: Yoemen run through Bellville in season opener

Heading into 2017, Yoe head football coach Tommy Brashear wanted to see an increase in his team’s overall strength.  In turn, the belief was that Cameron’s rushing attack would improve.  In last season’s game at Bellville, Cameron had just 51 yards rushing, with a good portion of that coming from quarterback Zack Andress.  

A year of conditioning appears to be paying dividends as Cameron ran for 202 yards - nearly five times last year’s total - in a 40-14 win over the Brahmas to begin the 2017 season.  

“I am excited about our opportunities in the run game,” said Brashear following the win.  “That is something we harped on in the off-season.  We knew we had to get stronger and get a little movement up front.  Get yard or two when you need it.  I thought the passing game looked better today as well.  We are coming a long and definitely a week better.”

It was a feel-good day for starting running-back DJ Fripp.  Fripp was injured in this very game a season ago and never could get back to form the remainder of the year.  On Saturday, the senior carried the ball 11 times for 128 yards and 1 touchdown.  He has already nearly exceeded his 148 yard total from 2016.

The big run came at the 5:19 mark of the first, as Fripp broke one off for 81 yards over the right side of the line to put his team up 13-0.  He was quick to give credit to the big boys up front on the play.  

“The o-line opened up the outside for me so that I could get out there and try my best to get into the end zone,” said Fripp.  “It was more the o-line getting their blocks up front and showing me the big holes.”

Iverson Westbrook also played an integral role in the offense with 3 total touchdowns on the day.  Two of those came on 11-yard runs in the third quarter.   The other came on a 12-yard pass from Andress to put Cameron up 20-0 at the half.  

“I'm trying to put my offense in a better position to win a game,” said Westbrook.  “Through and through, no matter how hard it is, I am going to have to step up and help the team.”

Andress himself had a solid opening debut, throwing for 232 yards with a couple of touchdowns.  

“Me and the receivers stay after practice sometimes and throw extra routes,” said Andress on the improved timing between himself and his receivers.  “The running game helped us passing.  It goes hand in hand and we had that going today with four rushing touchdowns.”

In total, five different Yoemen caught the ball, with KeAndrew Moore (70 yards), Ka’zirrius Holt (56 yards), Westbrook (49 yards) and Kadrian Hammond (47 yards) all playing a big roll through the air.  

“I thought the passing game looked better today as well,” said Brashear.  “We are coming along and are definitely a week better.”

Defensively, Cameron limited Bellville to just 231 total yards, with 211 of that coming on the ground.  

Four was the number of four and outs the defensive unit forced.  Additionally, Cameron won the turnover battle, recovering three fumbles to go along with a Levi May interception in the third quarter.  May led Cameron with 5 interceptions a season ago.  

Only one of the two touchdowns came against the first string unit.  

“7 against our starting group and 7 against the backups,” said Brashear.  “The backups were making them earn it.  We have a lot of work to do and there is a long way to go, but I am very proud of the guys.”

After an interception by the offense in the third, Bellville was setup with excellent field position at the Yoe 39.  LB Nico Vargas made sure momentum stayed on the side of the Yoemen, busting through the line and meeting the ball carrier in the backfield.   Three plays later Cameron forced a fumble.  

“I know they were in the rush up the middle,” said Vargas.  “I knew where they were going and I shot my gap.”

The win was celebrated afterwards, but Brashear and his players understand that there is still plenty of work to do throughout the non-district schedule.  One of those areas will include special teams, where multiple kickoffs led to Bellville starting in Yoe territory, and a pair of extra points and short-range field goal were missed.  The lone touchdown against the first team unit came after one of those long returns.  

“Our kickoff team from last year needed to improve,” said Brashear.  “I feel like our kids are buying into how important that is.  A couple of times we didn’t put the kick in the right spot and then a few times we did.  Sometimes we missed tackles.  These are things that are fixable.  That is kind of expected early on.  That is something we have to improve on and we will.”

SCORING

1st Quarter

Cameron: DJ Daniels 1-yard run - Cardona kick - 7-0 Yoe - 10:13

Cameron: DJ Fripp 81-yard run - kick failed - 13-0 Yoe - 5:19

2nd Quarter

Cameron: Iverson Westbrook 12 yard reception - Cardona kick - 20 Yoe - 2:54

3rd Quarter

Bellville: TJ Nunn 44-yard run - Guerrero kick - 20-7 Yoe - 11:43

Cameron: Westbrook 12-yard run - kick blocked - 26-7 Yoe - 8:50

Cameron: Westbrook 4-yard run - Cardona kick - 33-7 Yoe - 4:14

4th Quarter

Cameron: KeAndrew Moore 1-yard reception - Cardona kick - 40-7 Yoe - 9:09

Bellville: James Wiley 19-yard run - Guerrero kick - 40-14 Yoe - 1:15

STATS

Cameron Yoe

First Downs: 19

Rushing: 26-202

Passing: 18-29-1, 232 yards

Punts: 3-33.3

Fumbles/Fumbles Lost: 0-0

Penalties: 3-20

INDIVIDUAL

Rushing: DJ Fripp, 11-128, Iverson Westbrook, 2-40, KeAndrew Moore, 4-28, Patrick England, 4-11, Zack Andress, 3-11

Passing: Zack Andress, 18-29-1, 232 yards, 2 TDs

Receiving: KeAndrew Moore, 5-70, Ka'zirrius Holt, 6-56, Iverson Westbrook, 3-49, Kadrian Hammond, 2-47

Bellville

First Downs: 9

Rushing: 34-211

Passing: 2-11-1, 20 yards

Punts: 5-34

Fumbles/Fumbles Lost: 3-3

Penalties: 4-30

INDIVIDUAL 

Rushing: T.J. Nunn, 18-115, Marcus Ward, 8-49, James Wiley, 5-41

Passing: Marcus Ward, 2-11-1, 20 yards

Receving: Patrick Starks, 1-21