Southwest shares 29-4A lead after win over East Central
TEAMS INCLUDED:Burbank, Central Catholic, East Central, Edison, Harlandale, Kennedy, Memorial, Southside, Southwest.
Harlandale (6-1, 3-1) scored the first 14 points Friday at Frank Mata Stadium and it nearly ended up needing them in a District 29-4A game against Memorial (3-4, 1-3).
The Minutemen launched a strong comeback bid, but the Indians held them off for a 42-23 win. The victory not only got Harlandale back on track after an upset loss to Memorial’s sister school, Kennedy a week earlier. It lifted the Indians to a four-way tie for first in 29-4A with Floresville (5-2, 3-1), Medina Valley (5-2, 3-1) and Uvalde (4-3, 3-1).
Harlandale senior quarterback Brandon Ramon (9 of 14, 181 yards) connected with Caleb Aguirre for 23 yards and Carlos Martinez for 54 to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Martinez led the Indians with two receptions for 63 yards.
Memorial closed within 14-9 at halftime. The Minutemen notched a safety and 21-yard touchdown pass to senior Richard Casares from Alfred Ramos (10 of 15, 159 yards).
Harlandale’s Nicholas Martinez, who finished with 203 yards on 35 carries, extended the lead with a 12-yard touchdown run at the 8:52 mark of the third quarter. Memorial back Raul Rangel (99 yards, 16 carries) answered with a 10-yard scoring run. However, Martinez scored two consecutive touchdowns on runs of three and 28 yards to build a 35-16 lead after three quarters.
Memorial scored 59 seconds into the fourth quarter on a 57-yard pass play from Ramos to Ivan DeAnda (72 yards, 3 receptions). Manases Cano had five catches for 54 yards.
Harlandale capped the scoring with a two-yard run by Martinez. The Indians outgained Memorial 435-254. John Aguirre had 12 carries for 68 yards.
The Indians will play host to Southside (0-7, 0-4) 7 p.m. Thursday at Harlandale Memorial Stadium. The Minutemen travel to Uvalde for a 7 p.m. game Friday.
Southwest 41, East Central 21
Southwest (4-3, 2-0) carried a two-game losing streak into the District 28-5A season. A week later, the Dragons are tied for first with Steele (6-1, 2-0) after winning their second-consecutive game Friday at East Central.
The Dragons broke a 14-14 tie with three unanswered touchdowns in the second quarter. Each of them was scored by senior Nathaniel Scott (193 yards, 19 carries).
Scott broke a 47-yard touchdown run little more than a minute into the second half. He added an eight-yard run shortly before halftime and a 63-yarder early in the third quarter.
Ahead 34-14, Jon Cruz added an 18-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for Southwest. East Central’s final score came courtesy of a 16-yard pass to Trayvon Hinson from Justin Upshaw-Mendoza (10 of 16, 164 yards). The quarterback also finished with a team-high 58 rushing yards.
Upshaw-Mendoza began the scoring with a 55-yard pass to Johnathan Jackson. Southwest had the equalizer, a 37-yard pass from Bowen Crisp (5 of 8, 87 yards) to Jaedon Johnson (74 yards, 4 receptions). Scott scored on a 15-yard run that gave Southwest the lead, but the Hornets answered immediately with a 43-yard touchdown reception from Kyle Lamey seven seconds before the first quarter ended.
Central Catholic 38, St. Anthony 13
The Buttons (3-4, 1-1) scored the TAPPS District 2-I game’s first 10 points, then pulled away with 21 unanswered points after halftime.
Junior quarterback Joseph Nava (61 yards, 13 attempts) scored Central Catholic’s first touchdown on a two-yard run and Justin Rodriguez booted a 42-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.
St, Anthony (2-5, 0-2) tallied all of its points in the last 7:40 of the first half. A 74-yard run by Kevin Stone at that point put the Yellowjackets within three. Justin Rodriguez (129 yards, 19 attempts) restored the Buttons’ lead with a 12-yard run, but St. Anthony cut it to 17-13 at halftime.
Jimin Suh and Rodriguez scored on short runs in the third quarter. Drake Burgon added a 45-yard dash with 3:21 remaining.
Central Catholic’s defense limited the Yellowjackets to 247 yards while returning to its pattern of holding opponents scoreless in the second half. The Buttons overcame three turnovers.
Edison 14, Burbank 6
Burbank’s defense held the Golden Bears (3-4, 1-2) to just 125 total yards, but Edison made the plays It needed to win this District 28-4A defensive struggle Friday at Wheatley Heights Sports Complex.
The game was scoreless at halftime. Edison got on the board first with a 26 yard pass from Jonathan Hernandez (32 passing yards) to David Sanchez with 4:04 left in the third quarter. Jesus Banuelos kicked the extra point for a 7-0 advantage.
Burbank (4-3, 2-1) scored with 16 seconds left in the quarter on a two-yard run from Jeremy Sanchez, who had a career night. Back at quarterback, Sanchez ran 34 times for 161 yards and passed for 24 yards.
Edison assured the win with a one-yard touchdown from Hernandez on the ensuing possession. The junior quarterback finished with 61 yards on 16 carries.
Daniel Gonzales added 79 rushing yards on 11 carries for Burbank. The Bulldogs accumulated 276 total yards.
Kennedy 21, Southside 6
Senior Matthew Avalos accounted for 20 points, leading the Rockets (5-2, 2-2) to their second-consecutive District 29-4A victory Friday at Southside (0-7, 0-4).
Avalos scored on a seven-yard run and a 25-yard pass from Eric Lira (53 passing yards) in the first half. He finished with 148 rushing yards on 33 carries.
Southside sophomore Timmy Rodriguez took the second-half kickoff back 88 yards for a touchdown, putting the Cardinals within 14-7.
Southside kept the game close despite mustering just 153 total yards against a Rockets defense that forced five turnovers. Kennedy committed two.
Avalos added a seven-yard touchdown run less than two minutes before the ed of the third quarter. Kevin Garduno kicked the extra point.
The may have dropped their first two district games, but they came back fighting and felled previously undefeated Harlandale (5-1, 2-1) 31-21 Friday at Harlandale Memorial Stadium. What’s more, Kennedy led from the outset.
Kennedy’s Matthew Guzman had two catches for 44 yards, 2 catches.
Jake Ramos threw for 118 yards for Southside. Noe Zavala made two receptions for 47 yards. Omar Guadarrama ran for 37 yards.