Publication: San Antonio Express-News
Date: November 23, 1991
Page: 9D
Fourth-ranked Marshall and No. 6 New Braunfels square off in a regular Class 5A area playoff game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Alamo Stadium. It is the only high school football game in San Antonio and one of just four games scheduled for South Texas teams.
This is the third-straight year for Marshall to reach the area round of the playoffs. The Rams lost to Harlingen, 14-11, in 1989 and nipped MacArthur, 20-19, last year. Marshall’s three-year seniors will be in their eighth playoff game.
The Rams, 9-2 this season, rolled to a 27-0 victory over District 27-5A champion Sam Houston last week. Anthony Holmes returned from a four-game absence to rush for 156 yards and score two touchdowns while the defense forced five turnovers and handed Sam Houston its first shutout since the 1986 season opener.
“I thought we played a good game against a good opponent,” Marshall coach David Visentine said. “I was real pleased with the way we played, especially coming off that Taft game, when we felt pretty low. “Our biggest problem this week has been the flu bug. We’ve had four or five kids out and have missed some practice time, but I think they will play.”
New Braunfels improved to 9-2 in winning its first bi-district game in the 5A ranks, a come-from-behind 27-14 verdict over Lee. Michael Sierra threw to wingback James Sargent for two TDs while Dennis Bryan intercepted three passes deep in Unicorn territory as New Braunfels overcame a 14-6 halftime deficit.
“They are a well-seasoned playoff team themselves (four-straight playoff seasons and 12 in the last 18), are well-balanced offensively and have a good, sound fundamental defensive unit,” Visentine said about New Braunfels.
The Rams and Unicorns are in the same bracket with 11-0 Mission and 7-3-1 Corpus Christi Miller. Those teams meet at 8 p.m. Saturday at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville.
Gregory-Portland, 9-2, travels to Sams Stadium in Brownsville to take on Rivera, 6-4, in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. Kickoff is at 7:30.
Marble Falls, 10-1, battles Sonora, 9-2, in a Region I-Class 3A area playoff contest at 2 p.m. in Fredericksburg. Saturday’s Games Regular 5A Area Marshall vs. New Braunfels 7:30 (Alamo Stadium) C.C. Miller vs. Mission 8:00 (Javelina Stadium, Kingsville) Class 4A Area Greg-Port at Brownsvl. Rivera 7:30 (Sams Stadium) Class 3A Area Marble Falls vs. Sonora 2:00 (Fredericksburg)
