Photo by Michael Wyke/Contributor/Houston Chronicle
Apart from showing up, the Bulldogs had no answer for the two-time consecutive state finalist.
Fort Bend Marshall’s defense led the way, shutting out Nederland, 49-0, and Roland Harvey threw three touchdown passes in the Class 5A Division II Regional Semifinals on Saturday evening at Turner Stadium.
The Buffalos (12-0) will meet Crosby, who defeated Huntsville, 32-29 in overtime, at Turner Stadium.
Fort Bend Marshall’s defense dominated all evening. It forced six turnovers; two accounted for scores. Linebackers Kenny Seymour Jr., Joshua Ulmer, defensive end Zachary Chapman, defensive tackles Tristin Drones-Mouton and Laurence Tillman shut down the Bulldogs ground attack. Nederland searched for results through the air but found little success as Fort Bend Marshall picked off Bulldogs quarterback Rene Cunningham twice.
Not long after, the Buffalos offense kicked in under the guidance of Harvey. Buffalos junior receiver Chris Marshall stunned the crowd with two highlight-reel touchdown receptions worthy of Sports Center’s top ten plays of the day. The first such catch watched the 6″4’ split end come away with a jump-ball reception at the Bulldogs 45, where he outran the defense to the end zone to cap a 77-yard score, giving the Buffalos a 6-0 lead one that would stand for the win.
Harvey concluded his evening 13-of-25 for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Marshall had six receptions for 166 yards and two scores.
Nederland’s defense forced four turnovers on downs of its own. However, its offense struggled to move the ball, leaving its defense on the field for long periods.
Fort Bend Marshall scored twice more before intermission. Junior running back Aaron McGowen punched in a two-yard touchdown, and Javion Matthews made up for a dropped pass the play after, reeling in an eight-yard scoring toss from Harvey to increase its lead following Rodrigo Escamilla extra-point kick with seven seconds to go in the second quarter.
Nederland (9-3) opened the third quarter with a five-play frame, but three of its plays resulted in incomplete passes. After, things snowballed as the Bulldogs would turn the ball over five times in the second half.
The Buffalos did most of its damage in the third quarter, scoring 22 points, building a 42-0 deficit.
Marshall’s second scoring catch was one of beauty, a 40-yard one-handed stab with 4:21 left in the third quarter.
Fort Bend Marshall’s junior cornerback Adari Haulcy’s 33-yard pick-six rounded out the scoring.
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