Ricebirds rip up Vipers for major blowout
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Chris Barbee No Hill For A Stepper A Victoria Viper comes up empty in his attempt to block this 36-yard Tyler Woods field goal just as the clock ran out on the first half in Victoria. Holding for Woods was Landon Appling. The kick gave El Campo a 17-3 lead going into the dressing room, and set the tone for the second half. El Campo defeated the Vipers, 39-3. The Ricebirds are now 3-0 on the season.

Anthony Terrell was unstoppable, and in many instances untouchable, for the entire game Friday night.

Combine that with a relentless defensive attack and you get a blowout - Ricebird style.

Terrell led the way with 245 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries while the defense forced several turnovers on the night.

Victoria made the first score of the game on a 28-yard field goal, but the Ricebirds responded with 39 unanswered points for the big win.

El Campo and Terrell's first touchdown came only a couple plays after the Vipers took the lead with a field goal on their opening drive.

The 'Birds started with the ball on their own 39-yard line and on first down, Terrell broke free with a spin move for an 11-yard run to put the ball on the 50.

Terrell took the hand-off on the next play and broke through a tackle to run the distance and give El Campo the lead. Gabe Lara connected for the extra point and the 'Birds led the Vipers 7-3.

The next series by the Vipers and Ricebirds both ended in punts.

El Campo held Victoria to a punt once again and this time, the 'Birds were sure to score.

The drive started on their own 20- yard line, and anchored on runs by Maverick Smith and Terrell, the 'Birds moved deep into Viper territory.

The biggest play of the drive came from Terrell on a 37-yard run to give El Campo the ball on Victoria's 16-yard line.

Smith finished off the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run and Tyler Woods came in to kick the extra point. El Campo's lead grew to 14-3 with only 59 seconds remaining in the first half.

The Ricebirds kicked off to Victoria and two plays later, El Campo was about to score again. Blake Korenek came in to pick off a Victoria pass, but the ball was knocked loose from his grip. No worries - Landon Appling grabbed an interception on the very next play.

Appling's grab gave the 'Birds the ball on their own 43-yard line.

El Campo drove to Victoria's 19 yard line after a blazing 26-yard run by Smith up the left sideline and eventually out of bounds with six seconds left in the half.

Woods finished the drive with a 36-yard field goal as time ran out. El Campo and Victoria entered the locker rooms with the 'Birds ahead 17-3.

Any idea the Vipers had of a comeback vanished by the start of the second half.

Terrell set up his own score on El Campo's opening second-half drive with a 41-yard run to Victoria's 9. He later scored untouched on a 7-yard run and his second score of the night.

The extra point attempt failed, but the 'Birds had the lead 23-3. El Campo's next score came after an interception by Woods.

The 'Birds started with the ball on the 50 yard line. Two running plays by Terrell and El Campo had another touchdown and Terrell his third of the night for a 30-3 lead.

John Orsak brought Victoria's scrambling quarterback down in the end zone in the next series for a safety. Orsak's hit boosted El Campo's score to 32-0.

One more score did it for the game and it followed another Victoria turnover.

Bryan Skow dove on top of a dropped snap on the Viper's 13 yard line to give El Campo the ball in scoring position. One hand-off to Terrell later and El Campo had another touchdown and the final score of 39-3.