Brackenridge overcomes scoreless first half to win in overtime

Highlands (2-2) romped to an 18-point lead by the early stages of the second quarter, but the rain seemed to slow down the Owls. For the second-consecutive year, Central Catholic’s defense shut them out after halftime. That was the jump start the Buttons (2-2) needed to secure a 28-25 victory Friday at Bob Benson Stadium.

Central Catholic quarterback Joseph Nava passed for a touchdown and ran for another to seal the win. His 15-yard scoring run with 4:40 remaining was the clincher.

The Buttons blanked Southside last week for their first win and its defense has not been scored upon in four of the last six quarters. Despite the early scoring flurry, Highlands finished with just 211 total yards.

Central Catholic limited the Owls’ prolific passer, Jordan DeLuna, to 119 yards and nine completions in 22 attempts.

The Highlands senior, nonetheless, ran for a two-yard touchdown and passed six yards to Darian Todd that gave Owls a 25-7 advantage with 7:34 until halftime. The first score from DeLuna, who has thrown for 787 yards, followed a three-yard ice-breaking touchdown from the Owls’ Elijah Garces. John Cervantes threw to Octaviano Camacho for the two-point conversion.

Trailing15-0, Nava (9 of 20, 116 yards) completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Michael Gonzales in the waning seconds of the first quarter. Nava rushed for 113 yards on 27 tries. Along with Jacob Rodriguez (98 yards, 22 carries), he gave the Buttons a 1-2 punch that helped them account for 212 rushing yards.

Highlands answered with a 35-yard field goal from Americo Ayala, whose field goal was the margin of victory in its season-opening win over Floresville. Central Catholic closed within 25-14 at halftime on a 16-yard pass from Nava to senior Ray Cortez (4 receptions, 43 yards).

Nava hurled a 15-yard touchdown pass to Will Barr (3 receptions, 37 yards) with 3:31 left in the third quarter to put Central Catholic within four points.

Jaime Nava’s second interception of the game, with 1:15 to play, crushed Highlands’ victory hopes.

Owls senior receiver Xavier Long made four catches for 87.

Brackenridge 20, Del Rio 14 (OT)

The Eagles (2-2) trailed 14-0 after a quarter in the non-district game at the Wheatley Heights Sports Complex.

Del Rio (1-3) took the lead with 9:20 remaining in the first quarter when Gus Sandoval completed a 59-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Bradshaw. Ramon Richards (151 passing yards, 79 rushing yards) brought Brackenridge within 14-6, scoring from a yard out with 1:06 until halftime.

Neither team scored again until the fourth quarter and, of course, the Rams didn’t score after Emilio Villarreal’s touchdown with 4:54 to play in the opening quarter.

Junior back Trey Mathis (78 yards,16 attempts) ran for a dramatic four-yard score with 3:29 left in regulation. Mathis also ran for the two-point conversion that made it 14-14.

Richards finished the comeback, running for a 20-yard touchdown in the first overtime. Brackenridge outgained Del Rio 316-268 in total yards. Eagles sophomore Josh Leal made three receptions for 72 yards.

Edison 40, Sam Houston 12

The Golden Bears (2-2) took control of the non-district contest late in the first half to win their second-consecutive game after opening the season with back-to-back losses.

Edison senior back Andres Aguilar (115 yards, 25 carries) scored three consecutive touchdowns to lead the assault. Aguilar scored on runs of 23 and 22 yards in the last three minutes of the first half. He added a five-yard scoring run with 8:38 to play in the third quarter.

The Bears’ final touchdown was provided  Juan Ramos on a one-yard run with 6:05 remaining. It capped a run of 27 unanswered points.

Sam Houston (1-3) absorbed its second-straight loss.

The Hurricanes fell behind 14-0 on the first two of Aguilar’s five touchdowns. He broke away for a 64-yard pass reception from Jonathan Hernandez (79 passing yards, 49 rushing yards) and a 23-yard scoring run. Aguilar caught two passes for 79 yards.

Sam Houston rallied behind senior back Erin Mack (111 yards, 16 carries). Mack scored on runs of 12 and eight yards to bring the Hurricanes within 13-12 with 5:02 until the half.

Edison played turnover-free while the Hurricanes threw three interceptions.

Judson 49, East Central 7

The Rockets (3-1) scored 49 unanswered points after Hornets quarterback Jeremy Jones ran for a one-yard touchdown with 8:45 remaining in the first quarter. The blitz included four touchdowns in about six minutes  and it began within half a minute.

Andre Wilson (4 receptions, 121 yards) hauled in the first of three-consecutive touchdown passes to start the streak. The catches covered 35, 19 and 46 yards. Judson quarterback RayJohn Austin-Ramsey (15 of 20, 302 yards) added two more touchdown passes to the Rockets’ lead before halftime.

East Central (2-2) lost for the second-consecutive week after winning its first two games under first-year coach Clint Hartman.

The Hornets compiled 254 total yards, but were plagued by four turnovers. Jones completed seven of 19 passes for 140 yards. Wanya Ward caught four passes for 82 yards. Javion Polk made two receptions for 56 yards.

Judson amassed 520 total yards.

Brennan 48, Southwest 0

Host Southwest (2-2) limited the Bears (4-0) to one touchdown in the first quarter Friday, but the flood of points began shortly thereafter and never really abated.

Makai Green (81 yards, 9 carries) scored on a 31-yard run just 46 seconds into the second quarter. Brennan scored 27 points in the period, with help from both a fumble return and an interception return.

Da’Shawn Key completed five of six passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns. The Dragons held Brennan’s explosive offense to 211 yards, but couldn’t visibly reduce its scoring average.

Southwest mustered just 93 yards while being shut out for the first time in more than five seasons.

Junior back Reilly Riggs led Southwest with 41 rushing yards. The Dragons completed three of seven passes for 44 yards.

Floresville 34, Lanier 12

The Tigers (2-1) scored 37 unanswered points and ran up 377 total yards Friday in Floresville.

Lanier (0-4) scored its first touchdown with 14 seconds remaining in the third quarter on a six-yard pass from quarterback Nick Garcia (9 of 25, 71 yards) to Jesus Martinez. Garcia also threw a four-yard scoring pass to Steven Horton late in the fourth quarter.

Joshua Esquivel carried the ball 12 times and led the Voks with 67 rushing yards. Senior receiver Rodrigo Garcia made five receptions for 49 yards.

Gilbert Ortiz led Floresville’s 253-yard rushing attack. Ortiz carried 17 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns, including the first of the game on a nine-yard run with 8:46 left in the first quarter.

Koby Wilkerson completed eight of nine passes for the Tigers, covering 123 yards. He also ran for a touchdown.