BEAUMONT — The Titan tempo was off rhythm, but Memorial survived to win 10-3 over Beaumont United at Beaumont ISD Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

On the second play of the game, Memorial quarterback Kameron Ladia threw the ball down field, but the Timberwolves (0-3) intercepted it. The following drive ended with the Titans (3-0) blocking a punt, taking over on the United 36. Memorial was unable to capitalize on the field position, fumbling on the next play.

Bad snaps plagued the Titans, causing rhythm problems with both the running and passing game.

“We were down to our third center,” Memorial head coach Brian Morgan said. “We lost our starting center last week. We tried to play him tonight, and he wasn’t ready to go. Then we tried to play number two, and he wasn’t ready to go.”

The Titans got on the board with 27-yard field goal with 3:45 left in the first half to take a 3-0 going into halftime. Neither team could get anything going on offense in the first have. The Titans had 35 yards of offense in the first half to United’s 56 total yards.

In the third quarter, the Timberwolves matched with a 23-yard field goal to make the score 3-3 with :23 left in the quarter.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Ladia threw a prayer toward the end zone after avoiding pressure only to have the pass picked off by Terrence Brown on the United 5-yard line.

 

The game changed when …

Following the interception, the Timberwolves’ drive never got going and took a turn for the worse when a low snap on the punt forced the United punter David Azua to run with the ball. Azua was forced out of bounds well short of the first down marker and the Titans took over on the United 10.

With 6:11 left in the game, Ladia found Teajawon Mack in the end zone for a 7-yard score.

 

The game ball goes to …

The Memorial defense. Despite the offense’s struggles, the Titan defense held strong only allowing three points. Because of the bad snaps and lack of offense, United started five drives in Memorial territory. The Titan defense held United to 147 total yards, including 16 rushing yards on 33 carries.

Morgan said while this game wasn’t ideal, playing and winning a close, sloppy game will help in the long run.

“The first two games weren’t really close at all,” Morgan said. “Down the road, there is going to be some close games. We got to have confidence on both sides of the ball that we can go in and get a win. It was pretty, but we did that.”

 

Next up …

The Titans have a bye week before starting district play against Galena Park. That matchup will be at Port Arthur’s Memorial Stadium on Sept. 28. The Timberwolves will also have a bye week before taking on Baytown Sterling at Beaumont ISD Memorial Stadium.

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Chris Moore: 721-2427. Twitter: @Chris_Moore09

Titans 10, Timberwolves 3

Memorial 0 3 0 7 — 10

United 0 0 3 0 — 3

Second quarter

Memorial — Kenny Pham 27 field goal, 3:45

Third quarter

United — David Azua 23 field goal, :21

Fourth quarter

Memorial — Teajawon Mack7 pass from Kameron Ladia (Pham kick), 6:11

Memorial United

Rushes-yards24-9 33-16

Passing yards120 131

Total yards129 147

Comp-Att-Int18-32-2 12-27

Fumbles-lost4-2 3-1

Penalties-yards8-60 6-55

 

Individual leaders

RUSHING — Memorial:Brandon Chaney 12-22, Mack, 4-(-3), Jacob Washington 4-18. United: Xzavier Vaughn 9-(-5), Jamarion Eaglin 9-(-7), James Wilson 11-32, Isiah Jackson 2-4, Devin Hunt 1-0.

PASSING — Memorial:Ladia 18-32-2, 120. United:X. Vaughn 12-27-0, 131.

RECEIVING — Memorial: Chaney 3-9, Kenneth Washington 6-40, #4 3-27, Chan Rubin 2-19, Cameron Smith 1-10, Mack 2-12, Tavion Gipson 1-3. United:Hunt 2-18, Harrison Seals 2-20, Jackson 2-24, Eaglin 1-0, Zachary Vaughn 3-59, Christian Relford 1-5.