FINAL: Port Lavaca Calhoun 54, Mercedes 26

DCTF's Travis Stewart will be blogging live from the fifth game of the tenth annual Texas Football Classic between Port Lavaca Calhoun and Mercedes at the Alamodome. Check in with Travis just before kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Question or comment? Send Travis an email.

FINAL: PORT LAVACA CALHOUN 54, MERCEDES 26(10:03 p.m.)Well, nothing else happened, so I stayed absent. Still, a high-scoring game is always entertaining, even if it isn't close. I'll skip the recap, but thanks for reading, and if you were with us all weekend, we hope you enjoyed all the blogs and games -- we know we did! Good night -- TCALHOUN ... AGAIN ... 54-26(9:36 p.m.) Daylan Bubenik just broke a record for the classic with another rushing touchdown -- the 54-26 margin is now the most amount of points ever scored in a Classic matchup. Sadly? There's still more than two minutes left in thethird.With apologies to fans, I'm going to take a break for a bit to work on our college scoreboard ... I'll check back in from time to time.MERCEDES SCORES, 48-26(9:31 p.m.) Mercedes just completed a nice 85-yard drive with a short QB dive to bring it to 48-26. Just 7 more points would make this game the highest scoring affair in Classic history. Interesting sidenote.Calhoun fielded the kick and starts now from the Mercedes 30 (an excellent return!), 4:47 left in the third.RIGHT BACK AT YA'(9:23 p.m.) Two consecutive punts -- what a novelty. Calhoun three-and-outed as well, and just sent it back to Mercedes, which starts at its own 15. 7:44 left in the third, Calhoun still up 48-20.MERCEDES PUNTS(9:20 p.m.) Mercedes just had a three and out, punted, and now Calhoun takes over at midfield.YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS(9:14 p.m.) When I said this game could reach the hundreds, I wasn't kidding. Calhoun's Archangel just took a handoff 76 yards right up the gut for a touchdown ...on the first play from scrimmage.This has to stop eventually, right? It's now 48-20, Calhoun. I think the scoreboard operator is getting another check after this game. Poor guy.Mercedes fielded the kick and starts at its own 16 ... not like it matters. It'll be a touchdown in, like, 7 seconds anyways.SECOND HALF UNDERWAY(9:10 p.m.) Calhoun just kicked off and Mercedes returned it for a touchdown! What a great start! A 76-yard return by Israel Vela -- that makes it 41-20 Calhoun, since the Tigers opted for a two-point conversion and failed.Looks like there's no quit in this game! Calhoun just fielded the kick and starts from its own 26.HALFTIME: Calhoun 41, Mercedes 14(8:40 p.m.) Well, there's still 24 minutes left and this one is pretty much over, with Calhoun and a bruising running game holding a 41-14 lead. Like last game, I've got work to do, so I'll check in right before the second half.NEVER MIND(8:38 p.m.) Check that. Mercedes just coughed up the ball and couldn't fall on it until the 20. From sure touchdown to maybe field goal, just like that. Only two seconds left on the clock. What a mess.MERCEDES GETS A FREEBIE(8:37 p.m.) Mercedes had to punt, but the kick was ultra high and deep, and the returner muffed it.It was recovered by Mercedes at the 1 yard line, so the Tigers have a great scoring chance here with 35 seconds in the half.EZZELL IS THE MAN, 41-14(8:31 p.m.) Incredible. Ezzell got hit near the 3-yard line, then just bulled his way through the defense -- all three defenders were pushed helplessly into the endzone. What a man. Calhoun leads 41-14. This one might be over already, incredibly.Mercedes fielded the kick at the 34 with 1:47 left in the half. If the Tigers don't score before the half is up, I might be fashioning a tombstone to put over this game.ANOTHER FUMBLE(8:25 p.m.) It's all unraveling for Mercedes -- QB Albert Chavez was running smoothly upfield when the ball was brilliantly poked out from behind -- Chris Baldera fell on it and returned it to the Mercedes 48, and that's where Calhoun starts its pounding ground attack again. Rough stuff for Tiger nation. Calhoun still leads 34-14.ANOTHER SAND CRAB SCORE, 34-14(8:22 p.m.) The relentless triple-option rushing attack from Calhoun is really hurting Mercedes, and Xaviar Archangel just strolled in from 11 yards out to make it 34-14. Mercedes is fast enough to get to the runner, but they just cant read the plays right -- Calhoun is mixing it up too well. Unless the RBs get tired, this is going to be a long night for Mercedes.The Tigers just fielded the kick and start now from their own 38 with 3:51 left in the half.OH NO, ROUND 2(8:18 p.m.) On the first play of the drive, the exchange on the handoff was bad and Mercedes fumbled, so Calhoun takes over from the Tiger 26.TRICKERY! 27-14(8:15 p.m.) Just as I was idly wondering if Calhoun had attempted a pass tonight, the Sand Crabs ran a halfback pass to Corey McDonnough and he ran in untouched for a 36 yard touchdown pass. Beautiful! Calhoun is now up 27-14 .. this game could end in the hundreds. Seriously.Mercedes just fielded the kick and will begin its drive at its 28. 7:22 left in the half.TREVINO ROCKS, ROUND 2(8:08 p.m.) Trevino just made everyone in the stadium miss on a two-yard dive, which is hard to do. Mercedes inches closer, 20-14. Calhoun fielded the kick at the 35 and starts its drive with 10:54 left in the half.TREVINO ROCKS(8:06 p.m.) The boys at RGVSportsforum.com -- a good database I might add -- and someother fans have been talking Alex Trevino something big, and they're right. He just caught a desperation dumpoff and took it down to the 2-yard line. What a fast kid.FIRST QUARTER ENDS(8:04 p.m.) The first quarter is over, and I'm exhausted. Mercedes down 21-7 but threatening in the redzone.LITTLE MAN MAKES BIG PLAY, 20-7(7:58 p.m.) Plays are coming fast and furious out here, as 5-foot-8 Daylan Bubenik just took it in from 12 yards out on a wide, deep pitch that turned into a blistering run in a heartbeat. Calhoun's crowd is now fully back in the game, so Mercedes has work to do again.Mercedes fielded the kick and begins from its 25 with 1:02 left in the first. I'm breathless! What a quarter!MERCEDES MAKES IT LOOK EASY, 13-7(7:53 p.m.) See, that wasn't so bad! Mercedes just drove 77 yards in two plays, capped by a 54-yard touchdown run by Israel Vela, to bring the score to 13-7 and make this a football game. Alex Trevino finally got in the game for the first time -- I wonder why he hasn't played until now?Calhoun just fielded the kick and starts the drive from its own 48, 2:08 left in the first. Mercedes drumline is COOKIN'.MERCEDES AVERTS THE FREEFALL(7:51 p.m.) The TIgers finally got the stop they needed, holding Calhoun on a third-and-2 from midfield. They just fielded the punt and will begin their drive from their 23. Finally, something to quiet Calhoun down a little.MERCEDES PUNTS(7:46 p.m.) Mercedes went backwards -- a lot. Calhoun's defense forced the Tigers all the way back to the shadow of their goal line, but a good punt averted the danger and now the Sand Crabs start from their own 31 and up 13-0. Mercedes desperately needs to stop the triple option run.EZZELL STRIKES AGAIN, 13-0(7:40 p.m.) Ezzell is quite the runner! He just ran the same play as the earlier touchdown to the oposite side, and it was the same result -- a touchdown. For a big kid, he's got good speed, and he broke a tackle to beat everyone to the corner and scamper over the goal line.A very rough start for Mercedes, and Calhoun is brimming with momentum. I write in my preview that Mercedes couldn't get buried under early pressure, and that's exactly what's happened. a Good drive here is essential. The Tigers start now from their 31 with 8:32 left in the first.OH NO.(7:36 p.m.) Bad start for Mercedes -- first a sack, then a fumble on a bubble screen gone bad. Calhoun fell on it, and now the Sand Crabs have another scoring chance from the Mercedes 42.THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG! 6-0(7:32 p.m.) What a beginning! Calhoun QB James Ezzell just took the first play from scrimmage 50 yards for a touchdown on a little keeper outside that no one on Mercedes saw coming -- he went untouched. Just like that, a touchdown -- the PAT was blocked, so we're at 6-0.Mercedes must be a little shell-shocked, if not disappointed, but it takes over now from its 32 with 11:44 to play. Wow, I did not see that coming. Crazy!UNDER WAY(7:30 p.m.) WOW, this place is loud -- I love it! Calhoun has fielded the kick and will open the game from the 50 yard line. These fans are going to be a factor, I promise you.TEAMS ON THE FIELD(7:26 p.m.) The mariachis are playing, the Calhoun stands are rocking and the smoke is flying as Calhoun and Mercedes prep for the final game of the Texas Football Classic.I've seen a lot of these games, but not many feel this electric so early on. Both crowds are HUGE -- Calhoun has the lower bowl filled out all the way to the 10 yard lines.Mercedes is in the white tops and bottoms with orange lettering and black piping, and Calhoun is in those striking black unis with gold letters and white trim. A fitting close to a TFC full of good looks.Calhoun will open on offense, moving right to left across your dial.SIGNING ON(6:30 p.m.) Just checking in to say hey -- kickoff is at 7:30, so I'll be back then with game action.