Published: November 03, 2009 10:42 am      

High School Football: TMI marches past San Marcos Academy

San Antonio — The San Marcos Academy Bears entered the road game in San Antonio versus Texas Military Institute late Saturday with one goal — secure a win and get into the TAPPS playoffs.

However, too many interceptions and a fumble deep in Panthers’ territory were too much for the Bears to overcome in a 34-13 loss.

TMI took the opening kickoff and drove with ease for a score. Tyler Barclay connected with Jake Watts to grab an early 7-0 lead with 9:01 left in the first quarter.

SMA bounced back with an Anthony Richardson 1-yard plunge and Trey Banks tacked on the extra point to tie the game at seven with 2:53 left in the opening stanza.

The Bears were poised to take a bigger lead on the ensuing possession when Jay Claiborne thumped Barclay, but the quarterback was ruled down before his fumble.

TMI took the new life and drove down the field before John Rowdy Key split the uprights on a 28-yard field goal.

SMA would drive down the field, but Michael Young fumbled at the Panthers’ 26-yard line early in the second quarter. Barclay would drive TMI down the field and score on a 1-yard run to push the lead to 17-7 in front of the homecoming faithful.

 After a Collin Cook incomplete pass on fourth down, the Panthers tacked on a 10-yard touchdown run with only 19 seconds remaining until halftime to close scoring at 24-7 in favor of the Panthers.

TMI dominated the stats at the half with 274 yards to only 139 for the Bears. 

After being intercepted in the first half, senior quarterback Collin Cook would be replaced by sophomore Aubrey Oswalt to start the second half, but both players struggled in the passing game connecting 6 for 19 for 75 yards. Cook’s two interceptions proved to be daggers in the Bears’ heart.

TMI continued its domination in the second half pushing the lead to 34-7 before the Bears would add a Mark Hamm 2-yard run with 41 seconds remaining in the game. Richardson would be stopped on the 2-point conversion to close the gap to 34-13. 

“Our kids played hard, it was my responsibility to get our defense ready to play and stop the screen pass, we didn’t do it,” SMA head coach Brian Gaylor said. “Our energy level after the turnovers just zapped our kids, we just didn’t have it.”

The Bears fell to 5-4 on the season and will return to close out the season on senior night against their rival Austin Hyde Park at home on Friday night­.

SMA will make the playoffs with a win.