Gillis reflects on season, La Marque game
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

With the football season officially over, El Campo Coach Bob Gillis looked back on his team's year and expressed pride in the Ricebirds.

"I think from where we started, I think we had a great year," Gillis said. "I'm very, very proud of our seniors. We were picked sometimes fourth or fifth in district. We overcame a lot of adversity and our guys really rallied together as a team. I'm as proud of that as anything."

The team has faced several injuries, including broken collarbones on the starting and backup quarterbacks early in the season.

"Our guys have overcome a lot all year," Gillis said. "They've overcome a lot of adversity as far as injuries and different people being in and out of the lineup.

"I told our guys that this was one of the best teams, as far as playing together as a team. What I mean is, some of these guys played different positions because it was best for the team, but it may not have been best for them individually. That's a sign of a good team. When you ask a young man to do something even though they may get more exposure by playing another position, and they do it without any griping and do it 100 percent. I think that's a good attribute of a team. That's what this bunch of kids had."

Saturday's game against La Marque was a clear example of El Campo's teamwork. The Ricebirds showed their heart throughout the game.

Perhaps one area that sparked the team was the return of starting quarterback Dakota Pietsch to the lineup. Pietsch was recently medically cleared to play football and helped lead the Ricebirds at quarterback along with Tyler Woods and Landon Appling.

"He got released and we worked him out a little bit," Gillis said. "I wasn't really sure, but as the week went on, he got better and took some licks.

"I'm glad he got a chance. He's a senior and I'd try to do that for any senior that I could. He did good. He went in, played a little bit and threw a couple of passes. I was glad he got to play."

El Campo ultimately fell 31-6, but took the first lead of the game on a field goal by Woods.

After La Marque scored a touchdown to take the lead, the 'Birds answered with a great drive for another field goal to make the score 7-6.

The Ricebirds' next series resulted in a play that impacted the game greatly in the second quarter on a potential goahead scoring drive.

El Campo drove the ball to the 13- yard line before a fumble gave the ball back to La Marque.

Terrell took the hand off and cut through the Cougar defense to move inside the 5 yard line. As the fullback went down, La Marque's defense attacked and the rest of the play is still hotly debated.

One official signaled Terrell down, but another signaled a fumble and maintained his opinion to give the ball to La Marque on the 6 yard line. After the play ended, Terrell handed an official the ball and Gillis sought an explanation.

The official eventually threw a flag against Gillis that moved the ball up 15 yards. It was his first penalty in his coaching career.

"He didn't explain anything, he wanted me to get on the sideline," Gillis said. "He said he'd get an explanation for me and I'm still waiting for an explanation. All I wanted was two things: The back judge pointed Anthony down, then if he wasn't down, how did Anthony hand the ball to the official?

"I wanted an explanation on those two things. I never got an explanation on why they called him down when another guy didn't. I got the explanation that the umpire felt like the La Marque guy had it, but I didn't see it that way. It was a different judgment."

Though the play eventually led to a La Marque score on the following drive, Gillis felt the change of possession did not change the outcome of the game.

"I would never say that is what beat us," Gillis said. "That's not what beat us, but it was a big turning point. Instead of us going up, whether we scored a touchdown (to go ahead 13-7) or kicked a field goal to go ahead 9-7, they go into the halftime and make some good plays and they go up 14-6."

After looking at film, Gillis said the play was very close and probably could have gone either way.

"It is hard to tell, honestly," Gillis said. "It was a real close play on whether he was down or not. But there was no question that he had the ball and he gave it to the field judge."

Despite the turn of events, the Ricebirds fought through for what Gillis said was a great effort.

"I was proud of our kids," Gillis said. "We played really hard. We had some crucial turnovers that really hurt us and were game changers. La Marque took advantage of them and you can't have turnovers against a good team.

"I've said all along, La Marque is still a good football team. I don't think they're as good as they have been. I certainly believed that we had a real legitimate shot to beat them and I still do. We're disappointed and I wish we could still be playing this week."

Gillis said he thinks La Marque has a chance to go far again in the post season, but with a tough playoff schedule, it may be hard to do. The Cougars next opponent is Lumberton Friday night.

"They better get ready for Lumberton," Gillis said. "They're not a bad football team. Then they'll play the winner of Waller and Yates. Our bracket is really, really tough.

"Texas City and Dayton is going to be a football game because Dayton is pretty good. It could be a Waller-Dayton quarterfinal or Yates. But it very well could be La Marque."