DICKINSON, Texas — The Battle of the Gulf Coast I was a decisive victory for Texas on Friday night.
Bay traveled west to open its season against Dickinson High School and was shut out 26-0, the Tornadoes (0-1) falling behind 20-0 at halftime and unable to recover.
The Gators (1-0) scored two touchdowns in the first quarter to lead 14-0. Brad Woodard had a 7-yard scoring run and Jordan Myers scored on a 21-yard pass from Cameron Martin.
Myers and Martin clicked again in the second quarter, this time for an 80-yard scoring play. Leland Young’s 18-yard run in the third quarter capped the scoring for Dickinson.
The matchup was billed as the Battle of the Gulf Coast with each school bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Bay, which totaled 390 yards last week, but scored only one touchdown in a kickoff classic loss, was again unable to convert offensively.
“We got the ball to the 2-yard-line first and goal and couldn’t get it in,” Bay coach Jimmy Longerbeam said. “We had it down their another time and couldn’t convert. We were in the Red Zone three times and didn’t come away with any points.
“They were a very good football team, very well coached. It was a great experience for our guys to kind of see where we are and that kind of thing. Our kids kept battling. That is encouraging.”
Longerbeam said the game attracted an estimated crowd of 10,000, and he called the environment “awesome, unbelievable.”
The schools also are scheduled to meet in the Houston suburb next season.
Bay hosts Port St. Joe next week.