Molina and time of possession became fast friends Thursday night.
A stingy ball-control offense paved the way for Molina to monopolize the
time and score two touchdowns in the second half in earning a 24-20 win
against Roosevelt at John E. Kincaide Stadium. The win put Molina at 4-0
for only the second time in school history.
Molina had the ball for 18 of the 24 second-half minutes, moving the
ball with its option-based offense. Thirteen of Molina's 18 first downs
came in the second half. Most of the plays were runs.
"This game gets us over the hump mentally," Molina coach Charles Deville
said. "They've been down so many years. Now they're really starting to
believe in themselves and their teammates."
Molina rode the running of Anthony Harper, William Richardson, D.J.
Suber and Josh Evans to help erase a 20-10 halftime deficit. Combined,
the quartet had 277 rushing yards on 50 carries.
Chris Coleman, a fifth rusher, only ran the ball three times, but scored
the team's go-ahead touchdown – a 2-yard run – with 2:41 left in the
third quarter.
Molina's offensive line – center Alex Vonganaphon, guards Myrick Loand
and Oscar Orozco, and tackles Carlos Ventura and Robert Garfias – helped
the team finish with a 5.3 yards-per-rush average.
"The strongest thing we have on this team is that offensive line,"
Deville said. "I told them they've got to make the holes and let the
running backs follow the holes. We go as they go."
As Molina produced yards, it also kept Roosevelt's dangerous all-purpose
quarterback, Vincent McNeil Jr., off the field. McNeil had 166 total
yards and had thrown a touchdown pass and rushed for another in the
first half.
McNeil finished with 232 total yards – 126 on the ground – but Roosevelt
was held scoreless in the second half.
"Our whole intention was to keep him in the pocket and let him throw the
ball. If you let him run it, there's no stopping him," Deville said.
Roosevelt (2-1) had a chance to take the lead midway through the fourth
quarter, moving the ball deep into Molina territory. But McNeil was
stripped by the Molina defense, and Suber was there to recover the
fumble with 6:16 left.
Molina then earned three first downs to run the clock out.
"The last drive was the difference of the game," Deville said. "If he
[McNeil] got back on the field, I knew what he was about to do."
Molina will go for its first-ever 5-0 record next week against Fort
Worth South Hills.
