AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Brackenridge, East Central, Lanier, Southwest, . Central Catholic, McCollum, Holy Cross, Sam Houston????
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER WEBSITE:
The wait went on much longer than either Brackenridge, East Central and Southwest are accustomed to, but it ended simultaneously for the area football powerhouses.
Each of the three schools, who have a combined 23 consecutive playoff appearances, picked up their first win of the 2015 season on Sept. 25.
East Central (1-4), which has qualified for the postseason each of the past six years, and Southwest (1-4) have stopped their skids in time for the District 28-6A season. Brackenridge (1-4, 1-2) also kept its playoff hopes alive in District 28-5A.
“Any team in our district can beat any of the others on any given night,” East Central coach Clint Hartman said, “but we plan on winning district. If we fall short, we coaches have done something wrong.”
The Hornets edged Del Rio (3-2) 31-27 at East Central Stadium.
Senior Cody Nuckols (47 yards, 9 carries) scored the winning touchdown with about 4 ½ minutes remaining. East Central then made a defensive stop, but lost a fumble to the Rams. Del Rio scored to pull within four points, but the Hornets’ Dalton Tarr blocked the extra point.
The Rams then attempted an onside kick, but East Central sophomore Kahjah Matthews leapt to recover the onside kick in the air and end the threat.
“We did everything we needed to do to win at the end,” Hartman said. “This has been a two-year process to get where we’re at and the camaraderie on this team is our reward.”
Nuckols was one of six Hornets who returned from injuries to make contributions. The group included standout back Jauwan Hall (108 yards, 11 carries), who ran 61 yards for a third-quarter touchdown.
“Two things happened,” Hartman said. “Jauwan ran for 108 yards Friday and he felt fine Saturday. So he’s going to get a lot more than 11 carries next game. Jauwan made a huge difference, but so did all the guys we got back.”
Also back in action for East Central were two key offensive linemen, Juan Trevino and Isidro Diaz (a four-year starter), defensive end Braden Sekula and receiver Kyle Lamey.
Del Rio led 14-10 at halftime, despite the first of two touchdown passes from Justin Upshaw-Mendoza (13 of 22, 162 yards) to Matthews (88 yards, 5 receptions). The sophomore scored on a 71-yard pass play with about three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Matthews also scored on a 12-yard pass with about five minutes to play in the third quarter, just before Hall’s touchdown.
“Kahjah is extremely special and he’s an extremely hard worker,” Hartman said. “In my opinion, he’s a sure thing. I think he’s scored a touchdown in every game.”
Donald Holden had 48 yards on five receptions for East Central.
Brackenridge 31, Lanier 14
The Eagles won a district game against Lanier (0-5, 0-3) at Alamo Stadium beyond 377 passing yards and five touchdowns from senior quarterback Antonio Lopez.
The Voks took a 6-0 lead on a three-yard run from senior Frank McCumber with 10:46 until halftime. Brackenridge tied it on a 63-yard pass from Lopez (25 of 41) to 6-foot-6 senior Jalen Davis (141 yards, 7 receptions). It was the first three touchdown catches for Davis.
Lanier regained the lead less than two minutes into the second half on an 88-yard pass play from Jeremiah Esquivel (7 of 18, 171 yards) to Julian Castillo (107 yards, 2 receptions). McCumber ran for the two-point conversion and it was 14-6.
Brackenridge took the lead for good with consecutive touchdowns later in the third quarter. Lopez connected for 29 yards to Justin Eaton (52 yards, 3 catches) and 18 yards to Davis. Eagles senior Jonathan King finished with 97 reception yards on five catches.
Eaton and Davis each added fourth-quarter scores.
Lanier’s Adrian Lopez caught three passes for 43 yards.
Southwest 28, Eagle Pass 21 (OT)
The Dragons’ Tyrone Middleton recorded three touchdowns, including the game-winner on a 23-yard run in overtime, to lead the host team to a non-district win at Southwest Stadium.
The North Texas recruit finished with 128 rushing yards on 23 attempts and caught a 64-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Robert Trevino. In overtime, Middleton had to fend off an Eagle Pass defender at the four-yard line to reach the end zone after taking a sweep around the left side.
Eagle Pass (2-3) tied it 21-21 in the fourth quarter after Southwest had broken a halftime deadlock with a third-quarter touchdown.
Southwest junior Marquis Jones ran nine times for 62 yards and a touchdown.
MORE TO COME
SAN ANTONIO SOUTH SIDE SPORTS 