LD Bell guts out close win over Arlington Sam Houston, Blue Raiders stay undefeated
With six ticks left on the clock and his team inches away from victory, Arlington Sam Houston High School quarterback Andre Saulsbury stepped to the line to take his first snap of the game from under center.
But the snap was fumbled before the ball was finally scooped up by the Texans as time expired and the LD Bell Blue Raiders exited Wilemon Field on the victorious end of a 10-7 defensive battle on Friday night.
Defense ruled in a highly contentious gridiron battle between the visiting Blue Raiders (3-0) and the Texans (0-3).
“Bend, but do not break,” sums up the defensive effort for both clubs. Anchored by senior inside linebacker, 3-star Trey Wilson, Bell’s defense recovered after giving up the early touchdown with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Wilson is No. 33 in the Star-Telegram Top 100, and ranks in the Top 50 of all Class of 2023 edge rushers in the country, according to 247Sports.
Malachi Sadler took the handoff from his own 49-yard line before running into a wall of Blue Raiders. Sadler refused to go to the ground before bursting through the backside of the wall.
With no one left to beat it was all fresh-cut fairway for Sam Houston’s senior running back en route to a 51-yard touchdown. Unfortunately for the Texans, that would be the only movement on the home side of the scoreboard for the entire game.
Bell took over possession deep in Sam Houston territory on three separate occasions Friday. The Blue Raiders only managed to plunder a single touchdown from the Texans defense, however, despite several short field opportunities.
Gracien Anto scrambled 37 yards into the end zone for the lone Bell touchdown to cinch the game at 7-7 with 37 seconds remaining in the first quarter following the extra point attempt.
Trailing late in the second half, the Texans defense came up big with a pair of turnovers deep in their own territory to hold Bell at bay. With just 43 seconds remaining in the third quarter, AJ Dendy forced a fumble and recovered it on his own 7, stalling out a 6-play, 63-yard drive by the Blue Raiders as they threatened to score.
Bell’s following possession ended just as unceremoniously as Anthony Miles picked the pocket of Blue Raiders wide receiver Jalen David. Sam Houston set up shop on its own 24 with 10:03 remaining in regulation.
The Blue Raider defense answered back two plays later with a turnover of their own. With second-and-8 from his own 26-yard line, Saulsbury dropped back in the pocket before unleashing a deep pass. Two defensive backs had the Texans wide receiver blanked, giving John Marlow the opportunity to come away with the interception.
Saulsbury had pressure in his face all game from Wilson and Bell defensive lineman Tristan Johnson. Wilson hurried the quarterback a pair of times in crucial downs on the Texans final possession. Johnson snuffed out several attempts to evade pressure by the Sam Houston signal-caller while also collecting the only sack of the night for his defense.
Bell improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2012.
The Blue Raiders won just two games in 2020 and 2021. They won three games in 2019, one game in 2018, one in 2017, three in 2016, two in 2015 and one in 2014.
Sam Houston was without 3-star TCU committed tight end Lafayette Kaiuway. He was in uniform and took part in the coin toss, but didn’t play. Kaiuway is No. 21 in the S-T Top 100 and the 26th ranked Class of 2023 tight end in the country, according to 247Sports.
This story was originally published September 9, 2022 at 11:59 PM.