Mustangs can’t hold on to land first 2013 victory

Lanier assembled the long drives and manufactured the key plays when needed to record its second-consecutive win.

The Voks (2-4, 2-0) took the lead with a 15-play, 96-yard drive near the end of the first half. Then they rallied to regain it late in the District 28-4A game and produced a stop on Jefferson’s final possession for a 20-14 win at the SAISD Complex.

In the waning seconds of the first half, following Lanier’s go-ahead touchdown, a skirmish broke out on the field and a Lanier player was ejected.

“When that play happened,” Lanier coach Don Gatian said, “our guys were fired up. One of our guys got ejected, and I thought one of their guys should have been ejected.

“I’m going to fight for our guys. I believe in them.”

The Voks had taken a 12-8 lead with 59 seconds until halftime. Senior tight end Steven Horton scored on a 26-yard pass play from Nicholas Garcia. The touchdown capped a drive that consumed 7 minutes, 29 seconds. The drive enabled Lanier to double Jefferson’s time of possession in the half.

On the ensuing kickoff, tempers escalated. Despite some pushing and shoving, no further incidents occurred.

Jefferson (0-7, 0-3) wrestled the lead back with 5:23 remaining in the third quarter, following a fumble recovery by defensive end Troy Mendez on the Voks 16. The big defensive play temporarily stopped Lanier’s momentum as it was driving off a 59-yard interception return.

The Mustangs went ahead 14-12 on a screen pass to the right flat from Weston Redding (10 of 17, 205 yards), son of Jefferson coach Doyle Redding. Senior receiver D’Andre Melton turned the short pass into a 69-yard touchdown.

A 59-yard pass from Voks quarterback Nicholas Garcia  (11 of 21, 205 yards) to senior Rodrigo Garcia (83 yards, 3 receptions) set up the winning touchdown.

Lanier sophomore back Joe Orta (91 yards, 18 carries) scored on a four-yard run with 4:04 left in the game. The Voks quarterback dashed around left end to add the two-point conversion, giving Lanier a six-point lead.

Then it was up to Lanier’s defense to preserve it. The Voks stopped Jefferson at the 50-yard line and turned the ball over to the Voks’ offense to run  out the clock.

Jefferson’s defense forced a fourth-and-1 at the Mustangs 41. However, Orta rambled behind a block from fullback Stephen Veliz to the 28-yard line and a Jefferson penalty put the Voks inside the red zone.

“When we get inside of the 30, we’re in four-down territory,” Gatian said. “Our offensive coordinator made a great call, and we executed it.”

Jefferson was ahead 8-0 with 10:26 remaining in the first quarter. With the wind at his back, Redding connected with sophomore Phillip Hudspeth (61 yards, 3 receptions) for a 44-yard touchdown. Redding’s backup, senor Brian Febus threw to Jesse Brito for the two-point conversion.

Orta picked up a fourth-and-6 for Lanier on a screen pass from Nicholas Garcia. That put the Voks at the Jefferson 5. Veliz scored from there on the next play, pulling Lanier within 8-6 as the first quarter ended.