Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Sixteen-year wait over as Beeville returns to postseason

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Thursday, November 11, 1999

Sixteen-year wait over as Beeville returns to postseason
Trojans kick off area teams' playoff run against SA Lanier
By George Vondracek
Caller-Times

Wayne Coleman couldn't help but chuckle the other day, and his Beeville High School football players wanted to know why.
   "We were all there in our get-together (after practice) and I started laughing, and they asked me what was so funny," Coleman said. "I said, 'It just dawned on me how wide-eyed you're going to be when you step on that field Thursday night.' "
   With good reason. Most of the players were just getting out of the diaper stage the last time the Trojans were in the playoffs.
   Making its first postseason appearance since 1983, Beeville faces embattled San Antonio Lanier at 7:30 p.m. today in a Class 4A Division I bi-district game at San Antonio's Alamo Stadium. The winner gets the winner of the game between Alice and Pharr-San Juan-Alamo.
   The short week of preparations for the 8-2 Trojans hasn't been all bad considering their postseason inexperience.
   "The best thing for us has been the fact that the game's on Thursday. We've been in such a hurry-up, hurry-up mode, we haven't had time to worry about it," Coleman said.
   The Trojans haven't needed to worry about much the last two weeks, shutting out their opponents while scoring 74 points to earn the third playoff spot out of District 30-4A. Lanier, however, poses a much different obstacle with a defense that is ranked sixth in the San Antonio area.
   The 3-7 Voks were forced to forfeit six wins last week because they used an ineligible player and they needed a win over rival Fox Tech last Saturday to make the playoffs. They got it, 23-7, earning a second straight postseason berth after a 40-year absence.
   "I'm sure it motivated them Saturday because it put them in a must-win situation," Coleman said of Lanier's forfeits. "I hope from all of that, having to go through that and having to win, I'm hoping they haven't had time to catch their breath."
   Already assured of their best record of the decade, the Trojans would like to take the field with running back Garrett Tindol at full speed. However, Tindol, who has gained 803 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, reinjured his shoulder during Tuesday's drills. Whether he plays likely will be a game-time decision, Coleman said.
   Lanier, 8-2 on the field, predominantly has been a rushing team, with Yvan Salazar running for 1,348 yards and 10 touchdowns. But in last week's win over Fox Tech, quarterback Roger Rodriguez threw for 114 yards and two scores.
   Beeville does have senior quarterback Dusty Stewart, the school's all-time leader in passing yards. He has thrown for 1,487 yards and 15 TDs this season. B.J. Arredondo has caught Stewart's passes 26 times for 574 yards and six scores, and Spencer Chaisson has rushed for 703 yards and eight TDs to help successfully diversify the Trojans' attack.
   "We're playing real well right now. We're so balanced," said Coleman, in his third season at Beeville. "They have a good defense. Lanier's only giving up 170 yards a game. They have a great run defense. I really believe if they stop our run, our best matchups are with our wide receivers and their defensive backs."



Staff writer George Vondracek can be reached at 886-3731 or by e-mail at vondracekg@caller.com

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