JASPER — For the first few minutes of the game, the turnover nightmare looked as if it would continue for a second straight week for Vidor and its fans. Fortunately, the Pirates woke up.

The Vidor Pirates unleashed its high powered running attack and an opportunistic defense to dismantle the Jasper Bulldogs 42-21 on Friday Night at Bulldog Stadium.

Jasper (1-1) took the opening kickoff and moved the ball quickly down the field thanks to a big run by Decorian Holmes. A few plays later quarterback Reese Durand trotted in from the 6 and the Bulldogs lead 7-0.

The Pirates received the kickoff and barely moved the ball before the turnover bug struck again. In Vidor’s week 1 loss to Bay High (Fla.), the Pirates had six turnovers, and it looked as if the bad luck was continue. The Jasper defense scooped up the loose ball and JaKeithon Adams took it in 35 yards for a 14-0 lead following the Rafael Mijares extra point.

Just when it looked as if the wheels might come off the Pirates wagon, Coach Jeff Matthews loudly reassured his team and told them to pull it together. They did.

The Pirates offense, featuring the running back trio of Blake Rowe, Haylon Leckelt and Trevor Duff, alongside junior quarterback Kolbie Humble, awoke and unleashed its pent up frustration on the Bulldogs defense for the rest of the night.

It was Leckelt who found the end zone first for the Pirates as he scampered in from 37 yards out, which brought the first quarter to a close and Vidor trailing 14-7.

It was all Vidor in the second quarter as the defense made some key takeaways, while the offense continued to put points on the board. Rowe exploded up the middle on a 52 yard run to even the score with Jasper.

After a turnover, Humble sneaked in from 1 to give Vidor its first lead of the night and then Leckelt added another score, this time from 22 yards out, to put Vidor up 28-14 at the half.

The pace was much slower in the second half, but Vidor refused to relax and continued to use its defense to put pressure on the Bulldogs. When Jasper made a mistake, it was the Pirates who capitalized.

Humble scooted in from the 4 yard line late in the third quarter to give Vidor a 35-14 lead, and then, in the fourth quarter, Rowe scored his second touchdown of the night, this time from the 1 yard line, for 42-14 lead with 11:15 remaining in the game.

Jasper managed a late touchdown following a Pirates turnover by the second team offense, as Holmes barreled through from the goal line to close out the scoring for the night, 42-21.

Vidor (1-1) will travel to the Houston-area next Friday to take on the Channelview Falcons of District 21-6A, while Jasper comes to Orange County to battle the Mustangs of West Orange-Stark.

 

Scoring summary:

Jas – Reese Durand 6 run, Rafael Mijares kick

Jas – JaKeithon Adams 35 yard fumble return, Mijares kick

Vid – Haylon Leckelt 37 yard run, Bridger Quirante kick

Vid – Blake Rowe 52 yard run, Quirante kick

Vid – Kolbie Humble 1 yard run, Quirante kick

Vid – Leckelt 22 yard run, Quirante kick

Vid – Humble 4 yard run, Quirante kick

Vid – Rowe 1 yard run, Quirante kick

Jas – Decorian Holmes 1 yard run, Mijares kick