Sports
Gainesville 30, Bonham 0
By Allen Rich
Sep 6, 2003

Gainesville -- The big, red machine rolls on.  Gainesville steamrolled their second opponent of 2003, downing the Bonham Warriors 30-0 at home Friday night, but for most of this game the teams matched up better than the score indicates. Gainesville’s offense didn’t score until the Leopards gave running back Terrius Purvey two good blocks on the outside and the speedy junior went 35 yards down the hometown sidelines for a touchdown with just over one minute to play in the first half. But, much like the game between these two teams last year, Gainesville proved they can ring up points on defense, too.

Bonham’s offense went three-and-out after receiving the kickoff, giving Gainesville great field position, Then, for just a moment, the Warrior defense showed a glimmer of how they are capable of performing. Will Moss hammered a Leopard ball carrier on first down. Jordan Eaton came up to pop Gainesville on a sweep and Bonham gathered up the loose ball for a big turnover. It was the best thing that could have happened to a young team of underdogs playing on the road.

The worst thing that could happen came next, though. Bonham put the ball on the ground in front of the most dangerous man on the field and Darcel McBath took it to the house. McBath scooped up the ball on the outside with nothing but green grass between him and the goal, giving the Leopards a 7-0 lead following the PAT by Steven Arenas.

Wade Hammock returned the ensuing kick and the Warriors took over at their own 35-yard line after a face masking flag. A handoff to Bubba Scott ran smack dab into big Colt Eberbart, a 6’ 2", 230-pound Gainesville lineman for no gain. On second down, Bonham had nice blocking at the corner and Scott rambled for a first down out near midfield. That play was the highlight of the drive, however, as Bonham fumbled on the next play. Bonham recovered, but one of the Warrior stalwarts in the trenches, Robert McCormack, came limping off the field on the next play. Just minutes earlier Bonham center Owen Sanderson came to the sidelines hurt. That put almost half of Bonham’s offensive line on the bench injured with over three quarters still to play in the contest.

The Warrior defense came up big in the next series with sophomore Chris Bridenthal smothering a runner on second-and-long. Bonham got the ball back and tight end Will Moss gave the Purple and White a boost with a spectacular twisting, one-handed grab over the middle. Moss almost shook off a tackle for big yardage, but his knee touched and the Warriors were happy to settle for a 20-yard gain. A fumble on the next play was recovered by Bonham and the first period ended with only McBath’s fumble return separating the two teams.

The Warriors shut down Gainesville’s first offensive series of the second period and the Bonham line began giving Bubba Scott room to run inside. Scott picked up 17 yards after a nice hole opened up over his right guard. Scott went straight up the middle for another seven yards on the next snap. Gainesville swarmed the play the third time, dropping Bonham for a five-yard loss.

A Bonham punt gave Gainesville good field position and the quickness of Leopard quarterback Chris Brown began to show. The lanky senior picked up eight yards on the first carry and 17 yards on his second rush. The drive faltered around the Bonham 20-yard line and a field goal attempt was wide right.

After Bonham’s offense went three-and-out, a short punt let the Leopards set up camp at the Warrior 42-yard line. Bonham’s defense was keeping them in the contest and Jameison Patterson ran down a sweep after a short gain. Will Moss shut down the next play, but Gainesville took control of the game with Terrius Pervey’s 35-yard sprint down the sidelines with 1:10 remaining in the second period. The Leopards took a 14-0 advantage and the momentum into the locker room at halftime.

Gainesville attacked quickly in the second half. QB Chris Brown hit a wide-open Darcel McBath racing between the cornerback and safety. McBath went 54 yards for his second TD and the Leopards were up 21-0. Gainesville got two more points on a safety and led 23-0 after three quarters.

The Brown-to McBath combination worked for another touchdown in the final quarter of play, this time from 70 yards out, giving Gainesville a solid 30-0 win over Bonham.

Gainesville senior signal caller, Chris Brown, waits on a snap.

Big wide-outs with speed means Gainesville can score in a hurry if QB Chris Brown has time to find his targets.

Bonham's D.J. Stewart gathers in the first kickoff.

Bonham's T. J. Washington spots a target. Washington had a pair of solid hits on defense, too.

Bubba Scott turns upfield.

The ball pops loose after a hit from the Gainesville defense.

Gainesville quarterback Chris Brown hit wide-out Darcel McBath for a pair of TD tosses to distance Bonham Friday night.

The Warrior defense forces Brown out of the pocket on this play.

A Gainesville ball carrier finds running room.

T.J. Washington, one of two quarterbacks that split time for Bonham, fights to hold onto the ball.

Wade Hammock picked up good yardage on three kickoff returns.

Two weeks into the season and no one has scored on the Leopard yet.