Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Only the results of halftime were special Saturday night

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Wednesday, September 29, 1999

Only the results of halftime were special Saturday night
Harms: We didn't do anything different to spark rally
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times

KINGSVILLE - Halftime of last Saturday's 34-24 loss to Sam Houston State University wasn't any different than it usually is.
   Down by 27 points after an aerial assault by the Bearkats in the first two quarters, Texas A&M-Kingsville's offensive and defensive units separated into their usual huddles.
   Ideas were considered and schemes were changed, which was evident when the Javelinas scored 18 straight points to open the third quarter and nearly rally for the win.
   As A&M-Kingsville prepares to open its Lone Star Conference South Division schedule Saturday against Tarleton State, the Javelinas are looking for the same kind of resurgence to lead them through their next seven conference games.
   "We went in there and made some strategic adjustments," A&M-Kingsville head coach Ron Harms said. "As far as a fire and brimstone kind of speech, that's not what happened. We came out with a better plan and made some plays that ignited the team."
   The spark, Harms said, was a 75-yard pass from Terrance Bennett to running back Ahmad Carter on the Javelinas' second play from scrimmage just one minute into the third quarter.
   A&M-Kingsville then intercepted Sam Houston quarterback Chris Chaloupka on two consecutive possessions, and converted both turnovers into touchdowns.
   In a span of six minutes, the Javelinas had erased a 27-point deficit and brought them to within 24-18. Although A&M-Kingsville could not complete the rally, their second-half resurrection was enough to impressed Harms.
   "(The mood in the locker room) was like you would expect after getting thrashed. What happens is your confidence goes down, if there isn't a complete lack of it already," Harms said. "Then all of a sudden we had some big plays and we were back in it. Their defense looked like they were unsure of themselves, and ours stepped it up and thwarted their offensive attempts.
   "There's just things that have an effect on how the game is played. We were just a couple of plays away from having an honest chance of winning it. The fight the players showed was very gratifying to me. It showed some things to themselves as well."
   Following Sam Houston's 27-point first-half onslaught, the Javelinas tightened up on defense and held the Bearkats to just one touchdown late in the third quarter.
   A passing attack virtually void of coverage in the first and second quarters was not as open for the Bearkats in the second half, and the Javelinas rejuvenated offense began to wear down Sam Houston.
   A&M-Kingsville quarterback Abel Gonzalez, who was 7 for 11 passing for 108 yards and two touchdowns against Sam Houston, said a cohesive play on both sides of the ball brought the turnaround.
   "We didn't show any character in the first half. That's what the talk was about in the locker room," Gonzalez said. "We were down by 27, and we knew had to go out there and put something together. We have to plat as a team and be good on both offense and defense at the same time."



Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or by email at becerraj@caller.com

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