HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL FOR REVIVED LA MARQUE; CLEAR SPRINGS’ HUDSON MAKES HISTORY

What was once darkness could become an unexpected dawn for La Marque, who goes into Wharton on Friday with a chance to lock down a 10-4A-2 playoff spot. After losing their first six games, the Cougars have rebounded with district victories over Houston Scarborough and Houston Washington by a composite 78-7 margin. First-year coach Shone Evans credits the team’s willingness to not give up for the recent turnaround that has the program with a chance to make the playoffs for a ninth straight year. “It’s a true testament to these young men and their desire to want to get better,” he said. “They’re still getting up at 6:30 every morning and coming to practice. Even when we were 0-6, they still believed,” said Evans. “These young men deserve all the credit.” The Cougars have resorted to a running game that has produced over 400 yards in their two wins as seniors Perry Preston and Norvan Saldana have led the way while freshman William Garner and sophomore DaMarcus Nelson have contributed as well. *Clear Springs running back Todd Hudson II etched his name into the program’s history books when he became the Chargers’ all-time leading rusher in Saturday’s 49-6 win over Alvin. Hudson rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns in just five carries as he surpassed current Texas-San Antonio receiver Matthew Guidry atop the Springs career rushing list. The senior has drawn the interest of Rice and Ivy League schools Columbia, Pennsylvania and Princeton. Hudson will get two more chances to extend his record, starting with Friday’s game against Clear Lake. The Chargers, who lead District 24-6A with a 4-0 mark (5-3 overall), will clinch at least a share of the district crown with a victory over the Falcons. *With All-America defensive tackle Ed Oliver sidelined for the University of Houston, former La Marque standout Aymiel Fleming stepped up and filled the role of the future NFL first-round pick in Saturday’s 57-36 win over nationallyranked South Florida. The senior recorded six tackles (two solo) as he helped the Cougars hand the Bulls their first loss of the regular season and move UH into 17th in this week’s Associated Press poll. Houston visits SMU on Saturday. The Mustangs have a handful of local talent that includes receiver Tyler Page and tight end Ben Redding, both of Friendswood along with cornerback Terry Keys III and receiver Joshua Shelmire, both of Dickinson. *Only three receivers in the NFL are averaging better than 100 yards per game. One of them is Galveston Ball alum Mike Evans, who is averaging 110 yards per contest for the Buccaneers after recording a season-high 179 yards in Sunday’s 37-34 loss to the Bengals. Evans has recorded four 100-yard games this season and will seek a third straight game of triple digit production when Tampa Bay goes to Carolina on Sunday