Pickering picks up a win in Mamou

Pickering came into Mamou Friday night to begin the 2014 regular season. The teams traded touchdowns in the beginning before trading turnovers. The teams then traded jabs like two heavyweight fighters in the ring. However the Red Devils ultimately withstood the test and showed the Green Demons whose forks were more fearful. The game ended with a final score of Pickering 48 to Mamou 13.

Mamou head coach Brian Brumfield commented after the game that his team “played well in the 1^st half,” but it “just got to play better.” He said there were “a lot of missed tackles” on defense and said “the offense did come up with a few big plays.”

Pickering’s head coach John Cryer commented after the game that his young football team “just started out slow.” He said that he has a “very athletic offense that came together” and has a “hurry-up defense.” He concluded by saying his team “did a good job of executing.”

Mamou ran the opening kickoff back to the 30-yard line. Kendal Jack carried for 1-yard to bring up 2^nd down and 9. On the next play, Pickering got the scoring started when it picked up a fumble for a touchdown with 10:59 remaining in the first quarter. The extra point was good, and Pickering led 7-0.

Mamou returned the kickoff to the 21-yard line. Dylan Duplechain threw a pass complete to Nathaniel Holland for 6-yards and later on the drive ran for a quarterback keeper that was good enough for a Mamou first down at the 35 yard line. Kendal Jack and Daniel Matthews combined to rush for a first down at midfield. The drive subsequently stalled, and Hunter Israel punted the football into the end zone for a touchback.

As the rain began to fall slightly on the ensuing Pickering possession, Mamou picked up a fumble at the Pickering 24 yard line. Mamou capped off the drive with a 25-yard touchdown completion to Jacob Israel in the corner of the end zone; however, the point after was blocked. Mamou trailed 7-6 with 5:27 remaining in the first quarter.

Pickering’s next drive stalled before an offsides penalty on Mamou gave Pickering a first down at the Mamou 30 yard line. Pickering then gashed the line for a first down to the 14 yard line. Mamou’s defense withstood the test and forced Pickering to turn the ball over on downs.

Joab Perron of Mamou went down on the subsequent drive with an apparent leg injury and was carted off the field. Head coach Brian Brumfield commented, “the momentum died” with the injury.

The second quarter began with a Mamou punt. The drive resulted in a Pickering touchdown from 7-yards out. The extra point was no good. Pickering led Mamou 13 to 6.

Mamou ran the kickoff back to the 45-yard line. Dylan Duplechain had a 40-yard run negated by a holding penalty. Duplechain quickly fired a pass complete to Kendal Jack at midfield for a gain of 20 yards resulting in 3^rd down and 5. Nathaniel Holland caught the next pass at the 40 yard line which was good enough for a first down. Mamou saw it’s drive begin to sputter as the rain lightly fell again; however, a roughing the passer penalty and an unsportsmanlike penalty on Pickering gave the drive new life. Duplechain then carried the ball for a 6-yard touchdown that was brought back because of a holding penalty. A pass interference penalty on behalf of Pickering gave Mamou an automatic first down. Mamou then tied up the ball game with a touchdown carry and a made point after attempt with 7:02 remaining in the second quarter.

The tied game was short lived as 20 seconds later Pickering carried a screen pass for a 72-yard touchdown that resulted in a 2-point conversion. Pickering led Mamou 21-13.

Nathaniel Holland of Mamou returned the kickoff to midfield; however after an official time out, Pickering intercepted the next pass from Mamou. Robbie Deshotel and Daniel Matthews also of Mamou both made big defensive plays resulting in a recovered fumble at the Mamou 12 yard line. Pickering then returned the favor by intercepting a pass in the end zone.

            The next Pickering possession began with a 30-yard gain followed by a Mamou personal foul penalty which brought the ball to the 46-yard line. After completing a pass for 15-yards, the Pickering quarterback ran for a 1^st down to the Mamou 10-yard line. A holding penalty backed up Pickering 10-yards before scoring on a pass completion in the end zone. The point after attempt was good giving Pickering a 28-13 lead with 2:12 remaining before half time.

The next Mamou possession resulted in a Pickering interception and touchdown increasing the deficit to 22 points at the half.

The tailback for Pickering carried the ball to the 48-yard line to commence the 2^nd half for a gain of 24 yards. Pickering then began to wear Mamou down as the same tailback carried the football for a touchdown. The point after was no good, and with 8:55 remaining in the 3^rd quarter Pickering led 41-13. The rout was on.

Mamou on the ensuing possession looked like it was going nowhere before another roughing the passer penalty on behalf of Pickering gave Mamou a 1^st down and brought the ball to the 42 yard line. The drive ultimately stalled again as Mamou was forced to punt. Robbie Deshotel of Mamou brought down the punt return.

Pickering carried to gain 28 yards setting up 1^st down and 10 at the 35-yard line and then began to gash Mamou with subsequent carries of resulting in another 1^st down. Jacob Israel closed the 3^rd quarter with a tackle in the backfield, and Hunter Fusilier began the 4^th quarter with a tackle for a short loss to set up 4^th down. After a timeout, Pickering found the end zone again and successfully made the point after. The score now was 48-13 with 10:13 left in the game.

Mamou got the ball to down to the Pickering 3 yard line on its next possession but ended the game inches short of the goal line.