Central Catholic, Holy Cross romp to district wins

TEAMS INCLUDED: Central Catholic, Edison, Holy Cross, Lanier.

Senior quarterback Nicholas Garcia was back in the Lanier lineup Friday at Wheatley Heights Sports Complex, and that was good news for the Voks (3-5, 3-1).

Garcia (14 of 16, 220 yards) fired three first-half touchdown passes, providing the Voks with a lead they never relinquished on the way to their third win in four games. Lanier posted a 35-14 victory over Edison (3-5, 1-3) in the District 28-4A game.

The 6-foot-3, 216-pounder tossed a four-yard scoring pass to senior fullback Steven Veliz, who had replaced him at quarterback a week earlier, to open the scoring.

The turning point came in the final 43 seconds of the first half. With Lanier ahead 7-0, Garcia found tight end Steven Horton for a 15-yard strike. Little more than a half-minute later, the pair hooked up again, with Horton (134 yards, 5 receptions) scoring on a 42-yard pass play.

The Voks scored again before Edison recorded its first touchdown. Junior Joe Orta (106 yards,9 carries) ran in from five yards away with 7:10 remaining in the third quarter. Lanier led 28-0.

Edison scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass from from Jonathan Hernandez (21 of 34, 250 yards) to Marcello Zavala (124 yards, 10 receptions) with 3:26 remaining in the third quarter.

A 28-yard touchdown run by Orta with 10 seconds left in the quarter sealed the win for the Voks. The Golden Bears added a 14-yard pass from Hernandez to David Sanchez with two minutes left in the game.

Lanier’s balanced offense generated 428 total yards. Edison tallied 277.

Edison senior Rodrigo Garcia caught four passes for 48 yards. Andres Alcantar didn’t play for the second-consecutive game.

Holy Cross 35, Victoria St. Joseph 0

Junior Greg Scott ran for 104 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries as the Knights (5-3, 3-1) claimed a share of second place in TAPPS District 3-II.

Holy Cross’ win in Victoria enabled it to rise to second-place tie with Austin Regents (7-1, 4-1), which lost 27-24 to Austin Hyde Park Baptist (8-0, 5-0).

David Sanchez caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Cisco Flores (12 of 21, 155 yards) for a 7-0 lead with 5:56 left in the opening quarter. Scott scored the Knights’ next two touchdowns on runs of three and 18 yards for a 21-0 halftime lead.

Flores, who also ran for a team-high 129 yards, threw 26 yards to senior Greg Kelly (92 yards, 6 catches) for the Knights’ first touchdown of the second half. Scott scored again on a four-yard run with 10:05 to play in the game.

Holy Cross outgained Victoria St. Joseph (1-7, 1-4) 415-65 in total yards. The Flyers gained just 17 yards on the ground.

Central Catholic 48, Corpus Christi John Paul II 0

The Buttons (4-4, 2-1) won their second-consecutive game, scored a season-high 48 points and rose to third place in TAPPS District 2-I Friday at Bob Benson Stadium.

Central Catholic’s homecoming never was in doubt against the Centurions (0-8, 0-3), who have not scored in the 2013 season.

The Buttons scored three touchdowns in the first quarter. Jacob Rodriguez (76 yards, 14 carries) found the end zone on a three-yard run, Jimin Suh (79 yards, 6 carries) ran 22 yards for a score and Will Barr caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Joseph Nava (5 of 7, 83 yards).

Justin Rodriguez nailed field goals of 23 and 30 yards in the second quarter. Jacob Rodriguez and Suh also notched their second rushing touchdowns as Central Catholic’s lead ballooned to 41-0.

Drake Burgon scored from nine yards out in the fourth quarter. Burgon finished with 58 rushing yards.

Central Catholic accumulated 363 total yards. The Buttons limited John Paul to 41 yards and forced five turnovers. They have not allowed a point in the last six quarters.