Category: Week of Nov. 2-8, 2014

FOOTBALL WEEKEND REPORT (Nov. 6-8): Burbank downs Lanier, but misses postseason

St. Michael’s edges Buttons in overtime

AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Brackenridge, Burbank, Central Catholic, Lanier, Southside.

Burbank won its season finale, but wasn’t able to qualify for a second-consecutive playoff appearance.

The Bulldogs (5-5, 4-4) finished fifth in District 28-5A despite the 28-7 win over Lanier (2-8, 2-6) Friday at the SAISD Sports Complex.

Burbank quarterback Daniel Tello (132 passing yards, 3 touchdowns) hooked up with senior receiver Tru Bradford (110 yards, 4 receptions) twice for a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Tello (107 yards, 18 carries) also broke a 60-yard toucbhdown run 18 seconds before halftime to effectively put the game out of reach.

Bradford caught his third touchdown pass in the third quarter. He scored on a 25-yard pass play from Tello with 7:15 remaining in the quarter.

The Voks, who tied for seventh in the district, played without standout senior back Joe Orta (875 rushing yards). They scored their only touchdown on a 10-yard touchdown run from speedy Brandon Melchor with 2:20 remaining.

Julian Castillo led Lanier with 83 rushing yards on 15 carries. Phoenix Perez added 41 rushing yards. Rubyn Salazar ran for 46 yards on 12 attempts for Burbank.

Tello finished with 1,407 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. The senior also threw for 1,030 yards and 12 touchdowns with just four interceptions.

He has been selected to play in the San Antonio Sports All-Star game, along with Bulldogs tight end Jonathan Salazar and offensive lineman Roger Rodriguez. Brackenridge receiver Lee Terrell will join his Burbank rivals on the West team. Highlands defensive lineman Joshua Brown will play fof the East.

The all-star game will take place Jan. 3 at the Alamodome.

Austin St. Michael’s 35, Central Catholic 28 (OT)

Central Catholic (6-4, 3-2) couldn’t hang onto a late lead and fell in overtime to Austin St. Michael’s (5-5, 4-1) in its TAPPS District 2-I finale Friday at Benson Stadium..

The Crusaders scored on a four-yard run from Jameson Houston (81 yards, 4 carries) with 2:43 left in regulation. They recorded the game-winner on a 17-yard pass from John Albert Mansour (16 of 25, 139 yards) to Marcus Whipper in overtime.

Central Catholic took the lead with three touchdowns over a six-minute span.

Senior Troy Lozano (104 yards, 7 receptions) caught a 17-yard scoring pass from Joseph Nava (13 of 27, 146 yards) with just 50 seconds to play in the third quarter. Lozano also scored on an 18-yard reception in the second quarter.

On the Buttons’ next possession, senior Jimin Suh (63 yards, 17 carries) ran four yards for a touchdown that tied the score 21-21. Sophomore Thomas Palomera (99 yards, 16 carries) put Central Catholic ahead with a nine-yard touchdown run at the 7:15 mark of the final quarter.

Nava ran for 131 yards on 32 attempts.

The Buttons play host to Midland Christian (6-4) in a 7:30 p.m. TAPPS bi-district game at Benson Stadium.

Southside 40, Laredo Cigarroa 21

The Cardinals (8-2, 5-2) shut out Laredo Cigarroa (4-6, 2-5) after halftime Friday for a District 29-5A victory at Southside Stadium.

Southside, which finished third in the district, used touchdown runs from Matt Collier and Brandon Herrera to put some distance between itself and the Toros in the second half. Herrera ran for 146 yards and three touchdowns on 16 attempts. Collier finished with 224 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 27 carries.

Cigarroa led 14-7 after a flurry of activity following the opening kickoff. In less than three minutes, the Toros scored on a 43-yard run by Noe Medrano and a 59-yard pass from Eddie Guzman (21 of 36, 321 yards) to J.J. Salas. The Cardinals scored in between, on a one-yard run from Herrera.

The Cardinals scored the next two touchdowns, on a 51-yard run from senior Eliud Mendez and a 21-yarder by Colier. Cigarroa closed within 26-21 at halftime.

Southside amassed 483 total yards, all but 20 in rushing yardage.

The Cardinals were scheduled to face undefeated Corpus Christi Flour Bluff (10-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a home game.

Brackenridge 42, Highlands 6

The second-place Eagles (7-3, 7-1) took some momentum into the playoffs with a commanding District 28-5A victory over winless Highlands (0-10, 0-8) Thursday at Alamo Stadium.

Senior back Trey Mathis (119 yards, 13 carries) accounted for three touchdowns, including the game’s first two, and a two-point conversion for the Eagles.

Highlands senior Darnelle Odom scored the Owls’ only touchdown with 8:04 remaining in the third quarter. Highlands was within 15-6.

Macco Marble scored on an 11-yard pass and Terrell (61 yards, 8 receptions) had an 18-yard reception from Antonio Lopez (18 of 29, 149 yards), giving the Eagles a 28-6 advantage with 7:24 left in the game. Following a 17-yard scoring run, speedy cornerback Robert Allen returned an interception 54 yards to bring about the final score.

Brackenridge produced three interceptions and Highlands had two.

Owls back Jared Cephas ran for 75 yards on 16 attempts and Armando Ferguson adde 46 yards. Marble added 51 rushing yards for the Eagles. Jalen Davis caught two passes for 44 yards.

Brackenridge is scheduled to play Lockhart (6-4) in a bi-district game `1 p.m. game Saturday at San Marcos High School.

VOLLEYBALL: Dragons view 2014 as a season to build upon

Clark sweeps Southwest in 6A bi-district

AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Southwest.

Southwest celebrates its three-game victory over Highlands.
Southwest celebrates a victory early in the season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER WEBSITE:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/communities/southside/article/Southwest-volleyball-team-looks-forward-to-future-5884107.php

 

Southwest’s season came to a somewhat disappointing end Nov. 4 for nine seniors, but for the returning Dragons and their coach appear to have bright days ahead.

The senior contingent, which featured middle blockers Kassy Cruz and Candice Kelley and setters Dori Martinez and Yasmine Garcia, helped Southwest fashion a 21-17 record. Clark (33-10) eliminated the Dragons 25-14, 25-9, 25-17 in a Class 6A bi-district match at O’Connor.

“Three of them were starters, and those three have been with me from the very beginning,” fourth-year coach Erin Morgal said. “Some of them started out on the JV team and two were on the freshman team. It’s a testimony to their hard work and willpower that they came through it.”

The Dragons will welcome back a nucleus that includes sophomore Aashlyn Sulaica, junior setter Angie Aguilar and junior libero Brandy Martinez. Up front, sophomore Samantha Webb and freshman Eliana Ponce show promise.

Between seasons, Morgal will turn her attention to other matters. Her first child, a son, is due to be born in early December.

Garcia said she was grateful that the Dragons’ season ended in the postseason, with a strong third game. Although Southwest never led in the game, the Dragons overcame a 5-0 deficit to pull within 8-7 and 14-11.

“It’s going to be good for next year,” Garcia said. “We didn’t want it to end. We played as a team.”

Clark went on to defeat Reagan in five games Nov. 7 in the area round.

Only two of the area’s 10 playoff qualifiers advanced from the first round. Holy Cross and Providence each reached the TAPPS state quarterfinals.

Clark, behind exceptional blocking, controlled the first game and scored 10 unanswered points to end the second. The third game was in the balance until the Cougars put together a four-point run that provided an 18-11 lead.

“They took advantage of what we were doing to them,” Clark coach Kristen Daniell said. “They’re known for playing really good defense. Tonight, they were really good and hard-working. They were picking up our tips.”

Zoe Marin started the Dragons’ comeback by serving an ace. Garcia (5 assists) had a kill for a sideout that brought Southwest within 7-4. Then Sulaica (11 digs, 6 kills) delivered a kill through a block attempt. Clark’s lead increased again to five points, but Cruz whittled it down to 11-9 with a kill.

“That was one of our goals, to make playoffs,” Garcia said. “That was a good way to go out. It got to me a lot. I came to Southwest as a junior. I met a lot of people from volleyball and had a lot of fun.”

Kelley produced a sideout that brought the Dragons within 13-10, but the Cougars responded with an impressive hitting display. Gabby Ware drilled a kill down the line and junior middle blocker Jasmin Sneed (9 kills, 3.5 blocks) prouduced back-to-back kills followed by a block.

Clark freshman Maylin Garrett ended the match with her 12th kill.

Garrett slammed kills on three of the first six points in Game 1. Sneed scored points with a block in between. Ware added a kill as Clark stormed to a 6-0 lead.

“They complement each other really well,” Daniell said of Garrett and Sneed. “They’re both new to varsity. They put up a huge block and they’re good at attacking.”

The Dragons fell behind by a seemingly insurmountable 18-7 margin in Game 1. Consecutive Clark errors closed Southwest within double digits. A block by Megan Hernandez and a kill from Cruz kept the Dragons within nine, but a kill from Megan Pattison and an ace from Miranda Mendez on consecutive points kept the Cougars’ lead safe.

“We were making errors we don’t normally make,” Morgal said. “We were having a hard time getting good passes to our setters. There were a lot of balls that they normally dig that ended up hitting the ground.”

Clark’s blocking remained a barrier for Southwest into the second game. Sneed produced two more blocks and Lindsey McDonough had one

“We did a good job of blocking,” Daniell said. “That’s something we really rely on. That started us off with more consistency. It made it hard for them to run their attack.”

With Sulaica serving, Southwest reduced its deficit to 7-5 in Game 2. Clark capitalized on Dragons errors and McDonough’s block built a sizeable lead. With Ware serving, Clark turned out the proverbial lights with 10 uninterrupted points.

“It was a lot of our mistakes,” Morgal said. “A lot of times we were within an inch left or right of getting a kill. It took us one or two games to find our (comfort zone).”

For Southwest, Aguilar produced a team-high 10 assists. Senior Lindsey Calderon finished with two blocks.

FOOTBALL BOWL ROUNDUP: Nail-biter turns Edison’s way for playoff spot

Mustangs hail Mary goes unanswered

AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Edison, Harlandale, Jefferson, Kennedy, McCollum, Memorial.

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER WEBSITE:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/communities/southside/article/Edison-snares-playoff-bid-in-last-18-seconds-5883859.php

 

For the second-consecutive season, the Tommy Bowl went down to the wire. This year, it was Edison that broke the proverbial finish-line tape.

Golden Bears senior Michael Benavidez broke up a pass from Jefferson quarterback Weston Redding in the end zone as the game ended, preserving a 28-21 victory for Edison (5-5, 5-3). The Golden Bears had taken the lead in the District 28-5A contest just 18 seconds before.

The Mustangs scored with 10 seconds left a year ago for a six-point win, their only victory of the season.

“They were on the (Edison) 40-yard line, which is about the distance Weston can throw,” Edison coach Albert Torres said. “There was just one second on the clock. Fortunately, Michael was able to knock it down.

“The same thing happened last year, except we lost it. We scored to make it 22-21 with 4:15 left. They drove the length of the field and won on a hail Mary with 10 seconds left.”

With 18 seconds on the clock in the Nov. 7 game at Alamo Stadium, Torres said he instructed his kicker not to give brothers Jesse and Eric Flores a chance to take the kickoff return for a touchdown. The tradeoff meant giving the Mustangs (3-7, 3-5) the ball 65 yards from the end zone.

A 15-yard pass from Redding to Jesse Flores helped give Jefferson a chance to win.

Edison had perfectly executed a bubble screen, with Chris Velez throwing a crucial block, for the go-ahead touchdown. Golden Bears quarterback Jonathan Hernandez (11 of 21, 202 yards) hooked up with Bryan Bolton (120 yards, 5 receptions) on a 59-yard pass play.

“We felt we, hopefully, could get down there to score a touchdown or kick a field goal to win it,” Torres said. “but we didn’t want to give Jefferson a chance to win.

“Eric Flores is a pretty good kicker. He kicked a 47-yard field goal against McCollum.”

Taking the ball with 1:11 remaining, Hernandez (94 yards, 19 carries) ran for a first down and went out of bounds to stop the clock.

“We wanted to get a few more yards and then see where we were at,” Torres said. “We went with a bubble screen, because that’s a pretty safe play most of the time. We thought Bryan would get out of bounds. But he got an excellent block from Chris and he was able to take it all the way to the house.”

The win assured Edison of a third-place tie in the district and its first playoff appearance since 2010. The Golden Bears will face Boerne Champion (10-0) 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14 at Heroes Stadium in the bi-district round.

The Chargers won the 27-5A title and are the top-ranked team in the Express-News sub-6A area rankings.

“They definitely can score a lot of points,” Torres said. “But, at this point in the season, you don’t put in new plays or change what you do. You do what you know and what’s been helping you to be successful.

“It comes down to execution. They’re as tough a team as we’ve seen this season. We need to keep them in front of us defensively and keep making first downs. Hopefully, that will lead to points.”

Fifth-place Jefferson, which last qualified in 2012, had tied the score 21-21 on a 23-yard pass from Redding (7 of 16, 82 yards) to senior tight end Henry Bocko (56 yards, 3 catches) with 11:55 remaining. Edison led 13-7 at halftime.

For Edison, Hernandez threw for three touchdowns and ran for another.

“Jonathan got every rep in every game last year as a junior,” Torres said. “He learned a lot last year. This year, he took it to another level. He understood what he was good at and what he wasn’t good at, and he played to his strengths.

“I have to say he was a key to our success.”

Jesse Flores (181 yards, 22 carries) and Eric Flores (120 yards, 16 carries) each ran for a Mustangs touchdown. Jefferson had two long touchdowns called back because of penalties.

Like Edison, Jefferson improved throughout the district season.

“The Jefferson kids battled hard and their coaches coached their butts off,” Torres said. “They had a good line and some good skill-position kids. It was unfortunate that someone had to lose.

“They had been playing better against McCollum and Highlands. They had been coming on.”

The Mustangs had another trait in common with Edison. Both teams did their best work after halftime, as the Golden Bears proved once again in their regular-season finale.

“In most of our better games, we did a good job in the second half,” Torres said. “We concentrated on finishing the job at hand. I’m really proud of the kids for taking in the coaching and making adjustments.

“It was a matter of staying focused and not getting down on themselves.”

Frontier Bowl

Harlandale 7, McCollum 6

The Indians (6-4, 5-3) needed to beat their chief rival Nov. 7 at Harlandale Memorial Stadium to assure themselves of a third-place tie in District 28-5A and notch a playoff berth. McCollum made that extremely difficult.

The Cowboys (2-8, 2-6) scored their only touchdown as time expired on a 36-yard pass from senior quarterback Ralph Vidal (10 of 23, 84 yards) to junior Allen Ojeda. It was Ojeda’s only reception.

McCollum tried to run for the two points, but Harlandale’s defense repelled the conversion attempt to win the 51st Frontier Bowl.

Neither team scored until 6:57 remained in the fourth quarter, when Harlandale’s Hunter Orozco returned an interception 10 yards.

Indians quarterback Jacob Delgado completed 11 of 17 passes for 72 yards. John Aguirre added 61 rushing yards. McCollum junior Mike Ramirez ran for 63 yards.

Salsa Bowl

Kennedy 28, Memorial 21

After suffering the slings and arrows of District 27-5A, the Rockets (1-9, 1-7) scored in the fourth quarter to emerge from this battle of previously winless teams with a Salsa Bowl win over rival Memorial (0-10, 0-8).

Memorial led 14-7 in the first half, but Kennedy scored the next three touchdowns at Edgewood Veterans Stadium. The Minutemen tied it 21-21 with about two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

No statistics were available for either team.

PLAYOFF VOLLEYBALL REPORT: Brennan ends East Central’s 11-match win streak

Victoria West proves too powerful for Cardinals

AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: East Central, Highlands, McCollum, Southside.

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER WEBSITE:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/communities/southside/article/Southwest-volleyball-team-looks-forward-to-future-5884107.php

 

East Central (24-16) battled Brennan (29-12) on even terms in the first two games of a Class 6A bi-district match Tuesday at Cole. The Bears prevailed 28-26, 23-25, 25-13, 25-15.

The loss ended an 11-match winning streak for the District 28-6A champion Hornets.

Only two of the area’s 10 playoff qualifiers advanced from the first round. Holy Cross and Providence each reached the TAPPS state quarterfinals.

Junior Kaylin Mills led East Central with 33 assists and 10 digs. Madison Simon contributed 11 kills and 11 digs. Defensive leaders for the Hornets were senior Brandi Campos (17 digs) and Nichole West (16 digs, 2 aces).

The other top hitters were Lindsey Lubianski (9 kills, 5 digs), Skeyler Embry (8 kills) and Christie Cosper (7 kills).

Victoria West 3, Southside 0

Southside (20-16) ended its season with a solid performance against state-ranked Victoria West Tuesday in a Class 5A bi-district match in Seguin. The Warriors (31-9) won 25-12, 25-20, 25-17.

Victoria West, No. 12 in the current Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 5A poll, had a balanced offensive attack. The Warriors were led by Jillian Hermann (11 kills), Saige McLarty (10 kills) and Brooke Kirkpatrick (8 kills).

Ashley Sanchez and Analee Uriegas led the Cardinals with six digs apiece and Briana Martinez made three. Sanchez also finished with six kills.

Floresville 3, McCollum 0

McCollum (24-9) lost its second in a row following a 16-match winning streak Tuesday in a Class 5A bi-district contest. Floresville (27-16) defeated the district 28-5A champion Cowboys 25-13, 25-18, 25-10 at Wagner.

Senior Catie Gonzalez led McCollum with 17 digs. Savannah Borjas added nine digs. Neyda Sanchez finished her Cowboys career with six kills.

Michaela Sifuentes led Floresville with 28 assists, 11 digs and three aces.

Boerne Champion 3, Highlands 0

District 28-5A runner-up Highlands (25-13) was eliminated with a 25-10, 25-16, 25-12 loss to Boerne Champion (19-12) in a Class 5A bi-distrct match Monday at O’Connor.

Haley Higgins led the Chargers with 23 assists, six kills and four assists.

Highlands statistics were unavailable.

FOOTBALL WEEKEND REPORT (Oct. 30-Nov. 1): Southwest smashes Ray, sets up 28-6A showdown

East Central also holds first entering final week

AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Central Catholic, East Central, Edison, McCollum, Southwest.

Southwest (5-4, 3-1) demolished a team that took an undefeated record into the District 28-6A season Oct. 30 in Corpus Christi. Southwest rolled to a 27-7 halftime lead over Corpus Christi Ray (6-3, 1-3) as it maintained its hold on first place.

With the 61-7 win, Southwest shared first in the district with East Central and Corpus Christi Carroll (8-1, 3-1).

Holy Cross (7-1, 5-0), Brackenridge (6-3, 6-1), Central Catholic (6-3, 3-1), East Central, Sam Houston (8-2, 8-0), Southside (7-2, 4-2) and Southwest have qualified for the playoffs. Two more 28-5A teams to be determined will join them this week.

Dragons senior Jon Cruz ran for 183 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. Sophomore John Blaz accounted for 115 on four rushes, thanks to a 60-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

Southwest scored the first two touchdowns, on a 51-yard dash from Cruz and a 26-yard interception return from Adrian Gonzales. Following Ray’s touchdown at the 2:26 mark of the first quarter, the Dragons scored 48 unanswered points at Buccaneer Stadium.

The defense supplied another touchdown, in the form of Robert Fuentes’ 16-yard fumble return. Cruz scored again on runs of 24 and 54 yards. Quarterback Bowen Crisp threw for 53 yards and a touchdown.

The Dragons play host to Carroll Friday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

East Central 24, Corpus Christi King 15

The Hornets (5-4, 3-1) held off Corpus Christi King (6-3, 2-2) to win what was essentially a tie-breaking game Oct. 31 at East Central. Like Southwest, East Central clinched a playoff berth.

East Central scored the first 17 points. Justin Upshaw-Mendoza (12 of 16, 205 yards) connected with Kyle Lamey (70 yards, 3 receptions) for a 34-yard strike and Jauwan Hall for a 20-yarder in the first half.

Dalton Zigmond kicked a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter. D’Anthony Carter ran 29 yards for a score early in the fourth quarter for a 24-7 lead.

The Hornets finish the regular season with a 7:30 p.m. game Friday, Nov. 7 at South San (2-7, 0-4).

Edison 16, McCollum 14

The Golden Bears (4-5, 4-3) kept their District 28-5A playoff hopes alive while McCollum’s came to a difficult end. Edison scored all of its points in the first half and held off a comeback from McCollum (2-7, 2-5) to win the Nov. 1 Alamo Stadium.

Edison was tied for third place with Harlandale entering the final week of the 28-5A season. The Golden Bears finished with a 7:30 p.m. game Friday against Jefferson at Alamo Stadium.

Senior quarterback Jonathan Hernandez (12 of 31, 312 yards) threw a 14-yard pass to Chris Velez and a 63-yarder to back Matthew Garcia for the Golden Bears’ touchdowns. With 6:07 until halftime, Joseph Delgado kicked what turned out to be a crucial 22-yard field goal.

McCollum’s John Martinez cut the Bears’ lead to 16-6 by returning a blocked punt for a touchdown with 5:12 left in the third quarter. Senior quarterback Ralph Vidal punched in a one-yard touchdown 29 seconds into the fourth quarter and also ran for the two-point conversion.

Cowboys junior Mike Ramirez ran for 102 yards on 20 carries.

Michael Benavidez led Edison with 116 reception yards on three catches. Bryan Bolton and Joey Rodriguez had 51 reception yards apiece.

Central Catholic 44, Brownsville St. Joseph 8

The Buttons remained in a second-place tie with the commanding TAPPS District 2-I win Oct. 31 at Brownsville St. Joseph (5-4, 1-3) at location.

St. Joseph took an 8-point lead on its opening possession, when Mario Garcia ran 12 yards for a touchdown. Central Catholic recovered to roll to a 30-8 halftime advantage.

Buttons senior quarterback Joseph Nava passed for 159 yards and five touchdowns. Nava also ran for a team-leading 89 yards.

Senior back Jimin Suh (85 rushing yards), Caleb Salinas (85 yards) and Thomas Palomera (72 yards) also contributed to a 373-yard rushing attack.

Troy Lozano was the Buttons leading receiver, with touchdown catches of 44 and 32 yards. Lozano caught four passes for 78 yards.

VOLLEYBALL DIGEST (Oct. 24-Nov. 1): East Central wraps up undefeated district title

Jefferson defeats Edison, takes third in 28-5A

AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Brackenridge, Brooks Academy, East Central, Edison, Highlands, Jefferson, Sam Houston, South San, Young Women’s Leadership Academy.

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER WEBSITE:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/communities/southside/article/McCollum-takes-care-of-business-in-perfect-28-5A-5867658.php

East Central (24-15, 10-0) closed out its undefeated run to the District 28-6A championship with a 25-8, 25-13, 25-13 win over South San (17-21, 3-7) Oct. 28 at East Central. The Bobcats finished in a fourth-place tie in the district.

Ten area teams qualified for the postseason, including Brackenridge (14-24), Brooks Academy (10-9), East Central, Highlands (24-11), Holy Cross (37-14), Jefferson (26-9), McCollum (24-9), Providence (19-21), Southside (20-15) and Southwest (21-16, 6-4). Holy Cross and Providence were eliminated from the playoffs Nov. 1 in the TAPPS Class 4A state quarterfinals.

McCollum was the area’s only other district champion. The 28-5A champion Cowboys also had an unblemished district record (16-0).

Junior setter Kaylin Mills led East Central with 30 assists and eight digs. Lindsey Lubianski (8 kills, 1.5 blocks), Christie Cosper (7 kills, 3 aces, 3 blocks), Madison Simon (5 kills, 6 digs, 1.5 blocks) and Skeler Embry (5 kills) were the Hornets’ hitting leaders.

Brandi Campos made 12 digs for the Hornets . Nichole West recorded six aces and six digs.

The Hornets were scheduled to play Brennan (28-12) in a bi-district match Nov. 4 at Cole.

South San lost a fourth-place tie-breaker to Corpus Christi Ray (20-18, 3-7) Oct. 31 in Corpus Christi. The

Bobcats lost the first game 25-15, but evened the match with a 25-20 decision in Game 2. The Texans took Game 2 25-17, but South San rallied to tie again with a 25-19 win. Ray claimed the fifth game 15-10.

No South San statistics were available from either match.

Jefferson 3, Edison 1

The Mustangs (26-9, 11-5) secured third place with the four-game District 28-5A victory over Edison (14-24, 6-10). The Golden Bears, who lost 25-22, 17-25, 27-25, 25-22, Oct. 28 at Alamo Convocation Center placed sixth in the district.

Senior libero Cecilia Campos led the Mustangs with 42 digs. Gabby Vasquez added 16 kills. Angela Hardcastle produced 16 assists. Madelyn Chavez served six aces. Marisol Montejano and Marissa Vargas each notched two blocks for Jefferson.

Edison was led by Marissa Cortinas with 29 assists and 14 digs. Kayla Lyons pounded a team-high 14 kills and had five digs. Kalani Wood added seven kills and six digs. Alyssa Alanis finished with four kills.

Other defensive standouts for Edison were Emma Garza (17 digs) Lauren Gutierrez (12 digs), Destiny McCarty (11 digs) and Elizabeth Robledo (4 digs).

Highlands 3, Brackenridge 2

The second-place Owls (25-12, 13-3) seized control of the third game to defeat Brackenridge (14-24, 10-6) Oct. 28 in a District 28-5A match at Alamo Convocation Center. The Eagles fell to fourth place with the 19-25, 25-17, 18-25, 25-21, 15-9 loss.

Senior Emily Pearce and sophomore Kiara Pesina led Highlands with 17 digs apiece. Jazmine Jackson contributed 11 kills and four blocks. Analisa Garza distributed 27 assists. Angela Garcia served three aces.

Jolicia Shelton-Brown led Brackenridge with 13 kills and 20 digs. Marquanique Freeman chipped in with 33 assists and five aces.

Sam Houston 3, Young Women’s Leadership Academy 0

The Hurricanes (16-17) swept Young Women’s Leadership Academy (6-22) 25-20, 25-19, 25-12 in a non-district match Oct. 28 at Alamo Convocation Center. It was the final match for both teams.

No statistics were available for either team.

Brooks Academy

The Bengals (10-9, 3-7) secured what is believed to be the school’s first playoff appearance, according to first-year Brooks Academy coach Raul Hernandez.

Brooks Academy assured the postseason berth and fourth place in District 26-3A with a victory Oct. 24 at Fox Tech (6-33, 1-9) in their District 26-3A finale. Melody Gutierrez led Fox Tech with 18 digs.

Bengals statistics were unavailable.

VOLLEYBALL: McCollum takes care of business in perfect 28-5A season

Harlandale misses playoffs for 1st time in 15 years

AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Harlandale, McCollum.

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER WEBSITE:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/communities/southside/article/McCollum-takes-care-of-business-in-perfect-28-5A-5867658.php

McCollum’s perfect 2014 District 28-5A season had its roots in its 2013 finish.

“I think the key factor in all that started in the offseason,” McCollum coach Rose Ann Martinez said. “I could see they had such huge disappointment in the way they finished last year. The girls that returned this year weren’t ready for their season to be over.

“They started focusing right away on the things they needed to do to win more games this year.”

McCollum (24-9, 16-0), in winning the district, advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2010. The Cowboys made the unblemished 28-5A record official Oct. 28 at Harlandale (16-17, 8-8), with a 27-25, 26-24, 21-25, 25-19 win over their host.

Martinez is unaware of any previous McCollum team that won its district title with an undefeated record. There is reason to think a precedent exists, given that the Cowboys won the Class 4A state championship in 1976.

“We had a certain calmness to us,” Martinez said. “I think that was because we focused on us, and not what we had to stop the other team from doing.”

The season ended with a bit of frustration for rival Harlandale. The Indians were eliminated from the postseason, ending a remarkable streak of 14 straight appearances, days before the match.

Despite the disappointment, the Indians seemed to make the season finale into its unofficial bi-district match.

“Because of the rivalry, neither of these teams wants to lose to the other,” Martinez said. “The records don’t matter. It’s a big rivalry because of the community.

“The crowd was so huge. That might have been the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen in that gym for a Harlandale-McCollum game. It was nice, because there was a lot of support on both sides.”

Senior Neyda Sanchez led McCollum with 12 kills. Catie Gonzalez had a team-best 35 digs. Setters Savannah Borjas and Alicia Garcia (2 aces) each distributed 16 assists. Senior Victoria Yzaguirre had a team highs five blocks and also served two aces.

Setter Alicia Garcia led Harlandale with 25 assists and nine digs. Kianna Sandoval had a solid match with 12 assists, seven digs and four kills. Dominique Delgado (23 digs), and Keana Ramos (12 digs) and Kassandra Munoz (11 digs) also were defensive leaders for the Indians.

Munoz also finished with eight kills and two blocks. Ramos added two aces. Valeria Stokes made six kills and notched six blocks for Harlandale. Madaline Mendez had a team-high 11 kills.

“They played really well and played hard,” Martinez said. “They kept it interesting. Any time they challenged us, I called time out and told them not to think about the other team, just worry about ourselves. That was what really got us through the season.”

McCollum was scheduled to play Floresville (26-16), which placed fourth in highly competitive District 27-5A, Nov. 4 in the bi-district round.

Southside swept McCollum 25-18, 25-19, 25-8 Oct. 31 in a warm-up match.

Sophomore Alyssa Gallardo led Southside with 18 assists, five digs and four aces. Mia Soto produced 14 kills and five aces. Ashley Sanchez supplied 12 digs, five kills and two aces.

Analee Uriegas finished with a team-high 18 digs and five assists. Klaryssa Vela added eight assists and five digs. Tyler Bolton drilled seven kills. Amanda Esparza made six digs.

McCollum statistics from the match were unavailable.

The Cowboys also were undefeated in district on the junior varsity level. Their freshman team lost only to Harlandale.

FOOTBALL: Knights cap perfect TAPPS 3-II season with second-half surge

Holy Cross to host playoff game

AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Holy Cross.

Holy Cross broke open a scoreless game in the second half to nail down an undefeated TAPPS District 3-II. Now it has a promise to an injured teammate to keep.

The Knights (8-1, 6-0) scored three touchdowns in a 16-minute span to defeat gritty Austin Hyde Park (5-4, 4-2) Saturday at Harlandale Memorial Stadium. Senior back Greg Scott scored a pair of second-half touchdowns and defensive leader Genaro Coleman accounted for another as Holy Cross snared a 20-7 victory.

On Scott’s shoes, he scrawled a message that explained Holy Cross’ mission. The Knights are dedicating their postseason to injured quarterback Cisco Flores, who was lost with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

“We’ve got to get to state,” Scott said. “That’s No. 1 for us, so we had to win tonight. Now we’ve got to get through that first round of the playoffs. That’s what we need to do for Cisco.”

Holy Cross will play host to Arlington Pantego Christian (6-4) in a 7 p.m. bi-district game Friday at Harlandale Memorial Stadium.

“They have a quarterback, Hill Alexander, who’s all-everything for them,” Holy Cross coach Mike Harrison said. “He does it all. He’s very Cisco-ish.

“They are big, but they spread the field. They run a 3-4 defense, and they come after you with everything they have.”

Holy Cross knew that Hyde Park was a relentless, grind it out team. The Panthers controlled the ball in the first half, but didn’t reach the end zone until 3:36 remained.

“The defense stepped up,” Harrison said. “I like that bend-but-not-break philosophy. In high school football, as long as you don’t give up the big plays, you can be in every game.”

Hyde Park scored on Jack Palmer’s two-yard run. The Panthers also covered the ensuing onside kick, and put together a promising drive. However, Coleman threw Palmer for a two-yard loss from the Knights’ 17 with 30 seconds remaining.

Holy Cross ran out the clock to claim its undisputed district title.

The Knights capitalized on a muffed punt after going three-and-out off the second-half kickoff. Scott (108 yards, 21 carries) scored on a two-yard run for a 7-0 lead little more than four minutes into the half.

Holy Cross followed the game’s first touchdown with a 59-yard drive, which featured 26-yard pass from Steven Gutierrez to David Sanchez. Coleman muscled his way into the end zone from two yards out with 1:46 left in the third quarter.

A Chris Rodriguez interception led to the final, clinching Knights touchdown. Scott did the honors with a seven-yard run, 6:50 from the end.

The first half was characterized by long, but ultimately unproductive drives by both teams.

The Knights made fourth-down stops deep inside Holy Cross territory twice and squelched a Hyde Park punt attempt, which gave them the ball at the Panthers 27.

The stops came at the Holy Cross 25 with 4:32 remaining in the first quarter and at the 14 with just 14 seconds left in the first half. The Knights ran out the clock.

Holy Cross generated the only scoring opportunity in the first 24 minutes. A 27-yard field goal attempt hit the left crossbar with 7:32 to play in the second quarter.

MORE TO COME

FOOTBALL: Week 11 previews (Saturday’s game)

# – denotes current San Antonio South Side Sports area ranking

SATURDAY

Austin Hyde Park Baptist (3-1, 0-0) vs. #1 Holy Cross (2-1, 0-0) at Harlandale Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.

Holy Cross is closing in on a spotless TAPPS 3-II record and has already clinched a share of first, but has to view this as the beginning of the playoffs.

In the backloaded district schedule, the Knights’ two toughest tests were saved for the last two weeks. After being in the same situation last season against Hyde Park, and prevailing, expect Holy Cross to be ready for a formidable Panthers team.

After last week’s seven-touchdown performance in a 47-17 win over then district-co-leader Austin Regents, Knights back Greg Scott will be a marked man. Of course, that’s nothing new, and he has a habit of rising to the challenge – as his 385 rushing yards against Regents attest.

The quarterback tandem of Nazario Coleman and Steven Gutierrez did what was needed against Regents, and will need to again.

The biggest key for the Knights may be matching Hyde Park’s toughness. The Panthers play a physical, ball-control brand of ball.

Seth DeVries, Jack Palmer, Myles Diggs and Parker Burns are Hyde Park’s ballcarriers to watch.

Holy Cross will want to get on the scoreboard early and limit Hyde Park’s time-consuming drives. Mostly, they don’t want to give the Panthers hope for a co-championship bid.

Series leader (record): unknown. 2013 score: Holy Cross 28, Austin Hyde Park Baptist 14. 2014 favorite: Holy Cross.

FOOTBALL: Carroll denies Dragons first district title since 2009

Southwest to meet O’Connor in bi-district round

AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Southwest.

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER WEBSITE:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/communities/southside/article/Carroll-denies-Southwest-first-district-title-5883988.php

 

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE EXPRESS-NEWS WEBSITE:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/high_school/high_school_football/article/FBH-CC-Carroll-at-Southwest-5879886.php

Accountability may have been the hidden key to Southwest’s playoff season.

“We made it a priority to focus and leadership,” Dragons coach Peter Wagner said. “We need to do that moving forward. We have a group of kids that are very good leaders.

“They didn’t get rattled and stuck together, even after Carroll kicked that field goal.”

Corpus Christi Carroll (9-1, 4-1) used a 31-yard field goal from Zach Riley with 2:34 remaining to secure a share of first place in District 28-6A. Carroll scored the last 10 points after Southwest (5-5, 3-2) tied the score and won 24-14 decision Friday at Southwest Stadium.

The Tigers took advantage of the breaks it received to surge ahead. The clinching field goal ended a seven-play, 41-yard drive after both defenses had stiffened.

Carroll (9-1, 4-1) and East Central (6-4, 4-1) shared the 28-6A title, but the Hornets attained the district’s No. 1 seed with a 50-49 win over Carroll in the first week of district play.

The Tigers won their four remaining district games.

“That (loss) definitely motivated us,” said Tigers senior Noah Lisk, who scored the go-ahead touchdown with 3:01 remaining in the third quarter.

“We didn’t want to lose at all. We came back and hit every week harder. It got us to where we are now.”

Southwest had shared first place going into the game after building a three-game winning streak. The Dragons were seeking their first district title since 2009, when they won the 27-5A crown with an undefeated record.

The Dragons finished in third place tie with Corpus Christi King, but won the head-to-head meeting. Southwest will be the district’s No. 3 seed and compete in Division II.

Southwest will play O’Connor next Friday in a 7:30 p.m. bi-district game at Gustafson Stadium.

“They have an extremely tough defense,” Wagner said. “Right up the middIe, they’re very good. They have two very good linebackers and a safety who’s probably going to play in the Big 12.

“They pitched a shutout against Wagner and Steele had to figure out ways to get 10 points.”

The Dragons drove 76 yards off the second half kickoff to tie it 14-14. Jon Cruz (236 yards, 35 carries) scored his second touchdown of the game on a four-yard run.

Southwest committed six penalties in the third quarter, including two that gave Carroll first downs on its go-ahead drive. Lisk (80 yards, 15 attempts) scored on a five-yard run for a 21-14 edge, after the Dragons were penalized half the distance to the goal line.

“Our kids were really excited to play for the district championship,” Wagner said. “Those (penalties) really hurt our drives. That was a big difference. It may go down as a 10-point loss, but it was a lot closer than that.”

Carroll, which led 14-7 at halftime, made the field goal after stopping Southwest on fourth-and-6 at the Tigers 41.

“Coach (Tony Trevino) talked to us at halftime about finishing,” Lisk said. “We all executed and it paid off.”

Corpus Christi Carroll scored first, after partially blocking a.Southwest punt. Tigers quarterback Jesse Jones (111 yards, 19 carries), who ran for 100 yards in the first half, scored on a two-yard run with 3:54 left in the first quarter.

Carroll increased its lead to 14-0 on the first play of the second quarter. Lisk ran 15 yards for the touchdown.

“We haven’t come back from 14 points down before,” Wagner said, “but we came back and got after them.”

On a drive that consumed exactly five minutes, Southwest closed to 14-7 just 44 seconds before halftime. Cruz, who ran for 69 yards on the drive, scored up the middle from one yard out.

“This is a special group of kids,” Wagner said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them for the way they played football tonight.”

FOOTBALL: Scott’s great night secures first place for Holy Cross

Holy Cross clinches 1st for fourth-straight year

AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Holy Cross.

The results are in from the anticipated battle between two of the best running backs in TAPPS District 3-II and Holy Cross senior Greg Scott won in a landslide.

Scott ran for 385 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 38 carries. He scored 42 points in the Knights’ surprising 47-17 win at Austin Regents, which broke a first-place tie in the district.

“That was one of the best games I’ve ever seen a running back have,” Holy Cross coach Mike Harrison said.

Scott’s performance overshadowed Regents back Will Zudock, who scored the game’s first touchdown with a 46-yard run. Zudock finished with 140 rushing yards on 17 attempts.

“The offensive line played unbelievably well and Greg was explosive,” Harrison said. “He followed his blocks and, when he got into the second and third level, he did some things I hadn’t seen before. Zudock is for real, but Greg had a great evening.”

The win clinched at least a share of first place for Holy Cross (7-1, 5-0) for the fourth-consecutive season. The Knights will play Austin Hyde Park Baptist (5-3, 4-1) 7 p.m. at Harlandale Memorial Stadium Saturday, Nov. 8 in their final district game.

“They’re a very physical football team,” Harrison said. “Offensively, they’ll lineup and come right at you. They have a good running attack. They probably have the best defense we’ve seen since Antonian. Every year, they’re one of the better defenses in our district.”

After Zudock’s touchdown, Austin Regents (7-2, 4-1) didn’t score until the third quarter. Quarterback Jace Franklin found the end zone on a four-yard run to give the Regents Knights a 14-12 lead. Tyler Roberts kicked a 30-yard field goal with 7:12 left in the quarter for a five-point advantage.

Scott, who scored on three- and four-yard runs in the first half, began breaking away for his scores.

He ran 66 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, shortly after the ensuing kickoff. Quarterback Nazario Coleman passed to Jay Nava for the two-point conversion and the Knights led 20-17.

Coleman and Steven Gutierrez have divided quarterback duties since senior Cisco Flores suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury in the first quarter against Antonian.

“They’ve both played very well,” Harrison said. “When they come off the field, Cisco is right there to talk to them. It’s really been gratifying to see Cisco grow as an individual.”

Holy Cross outscored Regents 27-0 in the fourth quarter. Scott scored from 23, 49, 24 and 19 yards out.

“We didn’t play exceptionally well defensively,” Harrison said. “Our offense played really well in the second half. I don’t know if we’ve been that dominant in the fourth quarter all year.

“We haven’t had to play a four-quarter, all-out football game for a long time – since Hondo (Sept. 19). The kids really responded well. I’m proud of them.”

FOOTBALL: Area playoff pairings (complete)

NOTE: teams we cover are in boldface

 

Games of Nov. 14-15

 

Friday and Saturday games

 

CLASS 6A

Division I

BI-district round

East Central (6-4) vs. Stevens (7-3) at Gustafson Stadium, 7:30 p.m., Saturday

Southwest (5-5) vs. O’Connor (7-2) at Gustafson Stadium, 7:30 p.m., Friday

 

CLASS 5A

Division I

BI-district round

Brackenridge (7-3) vs. Lockhart (6-4) at San Marcos, 1 p.m., Saturday

Corpus Christi Flour Bluff (10-0) at Southside (8-2), 7:30 p.m., Friday

Harlandale (6-4) at Alamo Heights (8-2), 7:30 p.m., Friday

 

Division II

BI-district round

Edison (5-5) vs. Boerne Champion (10-0) at Heroes Stadium, 7:30 p.m., Friday

Sam Houston (8-2) vs. Kerrville Tivy (7-3) at Alamo Stadium, 7:30 p.m., Friday

 

TAPPS Division I

Bi-district round

Midland Christian (6-4) at Central Catholic (6-4), 7:30 p.m., Friday

 

TAPPS Division II

Bi-district round

Arlington Pantego Christian (6-4) vs. Holy Cross (8-1) at Harlandale Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m., Friday

FOOTBALL: Week 11 previews (Friday’s games)

# – denotes current San Antonio South Side Sports area ranking

FRIDAY

Austin St. Michael’s (4-5, 3-1) at #7 Central Catholic (6-3, 3-1), 7:30 p.m.

It may not make sense geographically that this is a rivalry, but it is one and the fact that they’re tied for second in TAPPS 2-I only adds fuel to the fire. So does San Antonio Christian’s 17-14 loss to Antonian, because that means first place might not be out of reach if the Apaches don’t travel well to Brownsville St. Joseph.

That’s a bit of a reach, though. However, the winner can put some subtle pressure on Antonian.

Central Catholic and St. Michael’s both seem to have found some stability in district play after riding the roller coaster previously. They’ve also both qualified for the playoffs.

The Buttons seem to be playing their best football of the season after beating San Antonio Christian by 13 and stomping St. Joseph 44-8 in the last two weeks. Central Catholic compiled 532 total yards in that win last Friday.

Central Catholic quarterback Joseph Nava threw for 159 yards on 24 attempts and ran for a team-high 88 yards.

In addition to Nava, Jimin Suh, Thomas Palomera and Caleb Salinas all ran for at least 72 yards.

Troy Lozano was the top receiver with 78 yards on four catches, but Nava has no shortage of receivers to throw to.

Defensively, the Buttons limited St. Joseph’s spread offense to 132 yards.

Austin St. Michael’s blitzed St. Anthony’s 46-8 last Friday.

De’Sean Johnson ran for 190 yards and three touchdowns on 16 attempts against the Yellowjackets. Those touchdowns included scoring runs of 57 and 84 yards.

John Albert Mansour has emerged as the Crusaders quarterback. Mansour threw for 151 yards and ran for 61 last week. He threw to seven receivers. Marcus Whipper led with three catches for 52 yards.

Like the Buttons, St. Michael’s has a solid field-goal kicker. It may come down to three points late in the game.

Series leader (record): unknown. 2013 score: Austin St. Michael’s 28, Central Catholic 17. 2014 favorite: Central Catholic.

Corpus Christi Carroll (8-1, 3-1) at #3 Southwest (5-4, 3-1), 7:30 p.m.

Each team takes a three-game winning streak into the game and has a chance to leave it with a share of first place.

No District 28-6A team is likely to win an outright title, not after four teams shared the lead last week. We’re down to three now, so we’re looking at a co-championship on the line at Southwest.

The key for the Dragons in district season has been the emergence of its defense. Southwest limited an explosive Corpus Christi Ray team to 177 total yards last week.

The unit will need to be at its best against a Carroll team that has scored 40 or more points in seven games. The Tigers did it again last Friday, defeating South San 58-20.

The Bobcats actually gained 292 total yards, so that bodes well for the Dragons’ increasingly high-powered offense. Southwest roared to an eye-opening 61-7 win over Corpus Christi Ray last Thursday in Corpus Christi.

It was the second time Southwest had topped the 40-point mark.

The Texans seemed to key on sophomore back Tyrone Middleton, but Jon Cruz (183 yards, 3 touchdowns) and classmate John Blaz (115 yards, 4 carries) both went over the 100-yard mark. It was a first for Blaz.

The three-headed monster should cause problems for a Carroll team that prefers to outscore opponents.

Southwest likely will try to slow down the Tigers as much as possible behind its strong offensive line and pick its spots for senior quarterback Bowen Crisp to exploit their secondary. It’s an encouraging sign, though, that East Central was able to beat Carroll in the scoring war in the first week of the season.

How fully Carroll has recovered from that loss might be worth debating.

Nonetheless, quarterback Jesse Jones (159 passing yards vs. South San) and back Noah Lisk (133 yards, 12 carries) are formidable weapons. Receiver David Segura had 93 yards and two touchdowns against the Bobcats.

Carroll won in 2013, but the Dragons had won the previous two games in the series.

Series leader (record): Southwest (6-3). 2013 score: Corpus Christi Carroll 42, Southwest 35. 2014 favorite: Southwest.

#8 Harlandale (5-4, 4-3) vs. #14 McCollum (2-7, 2-5) at Harlandale Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Frontier Bowl

When all the math was done, it turned out that Harlandale’s 28-27 win over Burbank last Friday accomplished all the Indians needed to for its third playoff appearance in five years – even though they remain tied with Edison for third place.

So, Harlandale now can relax and focus on the game in a rivalry known for crazy things happening and favorites occasionally stumbling.

McCollum seems to have righted its ship after nearly landing on the rocks in midseason. This is the Cowboys’ de facto playoff game.

The triumvirate of Ralph Vidal, Mike Ramirez and Jeff Valdez makes the Cowboys dangerous. They also are capable of causing problems on defense and special teams.

The key for Harlandale offensively is for junior quarterback Jacob Delgado to stay under control and make good decisions on longer routes.

The Indians’ offensive line is capable of dominating the game and senior back John Aguirre can move the chains consistently. That may be enough, as long as the defense isn’t having to defend Vidal and Ramirez on short fields.

The Indians have won the last two games in the series. McCollum had won five of the previous six.

Series leader (record): Harlandale (25-23-2). 2013 score:  Harlandale 27, McCollum 17. 2014 favorite: Harlandale.

#12 Jefferson (3-6, 3-4) vs. #9 Edison (4-5, 4-3) at Alamo Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Tommy Bowl

Edison needs to win this rivalry game to make its playoff plans. Jefferson, looking to bounce back after missing the postseason in 2013, needs to win as big as possible and cross its fingers.

That’s it in a nutshell, but nothing about the District 28-5A playoff possibilities is cut and dried – except that which involves Harlandale (and I’m still not sure quite how the Indians clinched, really, even though the math tells me they did).

More specifically, the Mustangs need to win by at least six points as long as Harlandale and Burbank both win tonight.

If both of those teams loses, it actually gets harder for Jefferson to make the cut. They’d have to win by 10 or more under that scenario.

Edison also can advance with a loss, as long as Harlandale also loses and Burbank wins. If Harlandale and Burbank also loses, the Golden Bears’ golden parachute is to lose by less than nine to Jefferson.

It may be as simple for Edison as winning the second half, because that’s when the Mustangs have been at their best.

Behind senior quarterback Weston Redding and with its Flores power (back Jesse and receiver/back/kicker Eric), Jefferson has had an uncanny knack for coming back.

Edison needs to establish the run early and avoid turnovers. Those have been the Golden Bears’ chief vulnerabilities this season. A lot is going to rest on the shoulders of second-year starting quaterback Jonathan Hernandez, but he’s proven himself more than capable of handling the load.

Expect a high-scoring game in which both coaching staffs pull out all the stops.

Jefferson upset Edison for its first victory of the season in last year’s Tommy Bowl. The Mustangs have won four of the last five games in the rivalry.

Don’t overlook the revenge factor for the Golden Bears, whose last win was in 2010.

Series leader (record): Jefferson (24-22-1). 2013 score:  Jefferson 28. Edison 22. 2014 favorite: Edison.

Kennedy (0-9, 0-7) vs. Memorial (0-9, 0-7) at Edgewood Veterans Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Salsa Bowl

Basically, this is the season for both combatants.

It’ll be hard for either Kennedy or Memorial to look it any other way after each has taken its lumps in District 27-5A.

Kennedy, which has controlled the series for several seasons, has been led by back Nicholas Gonzalez (633 rushing yards) and junior quarterback Eric Lira (529 passing yards).

In a 56-13 loss to Seguin last Friday, Lira completed 17 of 30 passes for a respectable 156 yards. Gonzalez ran for 103 on 27 carries.

The Rockets’ top receivers were Zachary Flores (54 yards, 5 catches) – who caught a 24-yard touchdown pass – Alfredo Jimenez (47 yards, 6 receptions) and Jose Flores (48 yards, 5 receptions).

If Memorial is to win, senior quarterback Alfred Ramos likely will lead the way. The third-year starter has thrown for 1,216 yards with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.

Ramos’ primary targets have been Greg Rosmond (471 receiving yards) and defensive standout Jose Pargas (400 yards). Jacob Martinez leads the Minutemen with 255 rushing yards.

Memorial is coming off a 54-14 loss to Kerrville Tivy. The Minutemen also put up a solid offensive showing with 299 total yards, with Ramos completing 14 of 26 for 186 yards without an interception.

Basketball standout Bryan Obregon emerged as a weapon with 100 yards on two catches, both for touchdowns. Carlos Conde ran for 63 yards on just seven carries.

Kennedy put up 300 total yards against the Matadors and only coughed up one turnover. The Rockets’ key will be its ability to control the ball, in order for Lira to work in play-action situations and avoid third-and-longs.

The Minutemen also will need to establish a ground game, but Ramos is capable of producing big plays with his arm – as long as he has the protection.

Memorial has not won in the series since 1999.

Series leader (record): Kennedy (34-12). 2013 score: Kennedy 54, Memorial 33. 2014 favorite: Memorial.

#5 East Central (5-4, 3-1) at #11 South San (2-7, 0-4), 7 p.m.

East Central has a chance to win its first district title since 2011, sharing it with the winner of the Southwest-Corpus Christi Carroll game.

The Bobcats have lost their last seven games, after winning the first two, so they would like to play spoilers and finish the season on a high note.

The Hornets have won two in a row, including an important 24-15 victory over Corpus Christi King last Friday. East Central outgained the potent Mustangs offense 418-349 in total offense.

Although the game was somewhat close, the Hornets scored the first 17 points and were in control throughout. They will want a repeat performance against a South San defense that can produce big plays. The Bobcats are at their best when they can control the ball and keep the score low.

The Hornets unveiled a new offensive wrinkle against King, with receiver Wanya Ward carrying the ball eight times for 84 yards. Ward complemented a 102-yard rushing game from Jauwan Hall, while catching a pair of passes for 69 yards.

East Central’s offense has developed as quarterback Justin Upshaw-Mendoza has grown into the position. A run-pass threat, Upshaw-Mendoza threw for 205 yards last week.

The Bobcats unveiled a new quarterback last week, senior Johnnie Alvarado. Alvarado had a solid debutcompleting 12 of 18 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

Back Justin Acosta caught four passes for 114 yardes and two touchdowns. Tight end Jacob Villapadierna also caught four passes.

Willie Sanchez and Gilbert Carillo will need to build on their rushing performances, and Acosta will need to pick up a few more carries to give South San a chance against East Central’s increasingly stingy defense.

East Central has won the last seven games in the series. South San’s last win was in 1998.

Series leader (record): East Central (18-8). 2013 score: East Central 50, South San 0. 2014 favorite: East Central.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Area results (thru Nov. 15)

NOTE: teams we cover are in boldface

 

Games of Nov. 7-15

 

Friday’s games

Non-district

Laredo St. Augustine Tournament

Central Catholic (1-0) 64, Laredo St. Augustine (0-1 ???) 35
Houston Westbury Christian (1-0 ???) 65, Central Catholic (1-1) 55

Saturday’s games

Non-district

Laredo St. Augustine Tournament

Houston Westbury Christian (2-0 ???) 74, Central Catholic (1-2 ???) 62

Thursday, Nov. 13 games

Non-district

Antonian Tournament

San Antonio Christian (1-0) 60, Holy Cross (0-1) 33

Friday, Nov. 14 games

Non-district

Antonian Tournament

Laredo St. Augustine (???) 54, Holy Cross (0-2) 44

Saturday, Nov. 15 games

Non-district

Antonian Tournament

Corpus Christi Incarnate Word (???) 73, Holy Cross(0-3) 57

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Area results (thru Nov. 15)

NOTE: teams we cover are in boldface

 

Games of Nov. 7-15

 

Friday’s games

Non-district

San Marcos Baptist (1-0) 62, Providence (0-1) 16

Monday’s games

Non-district

Holmes (1-0) 54, Sam Houston (0-1) 50 

Victoria West (1-0) 59, South San (0-1) 45

Southside (1-0) 51, Cornerstone Christian (0-1) 50

Jay (1-0) 74, Highlands (0-1) 48 

Tuesday’s games

Non-district

Marshall (1-0) 60, Jefferson (0-1) 22

Boerne Champion (1-0) 78, Brooks Academy (0-1) 14

Floresville (1-0) 51, Brackenridge (0-1) 39

Kennedy (1-0) 49, McCollum (0-1) 26

Pleasanton (1-0) 47, Providence (0-2) 28

Young Women’s Leadership Academy (1-0) 60, Fox Tech (0-1) 32

East Central (1-0) 67, Harlandale (0-1) 42

Hays (1-0) 78, Edison (0-1) 23

Steele (1-0) 68, Southwest (0-1) 55

Antonian (1-0) 74, Lanier (0-1) 41

Taft (1-0) 67, Memorial (0-1) 15

Wednesday’s games

Non-district

No games scheduled

Thursday’s games

Non-district

Texas Riviera Roundup

At Corpus Christi

Highlands (1-1) 71, Corpus Christi Moody 45

Corpus Christi King 71, Memorial (0-2) 16
Reagan 83, Brackenridge (0-3) 57
Georgetown East View 77, Brackenridge (0-3) 45

Pleasanton Tournament

Mathis 88, Fox Tech (0-3) 4
Pleasanton 42, Young Women’s Leadership Academy (2-1) 39
Pearsall 65, Fox Tech (0-3) 15
Young Women’s Leadership Academy (2-1) 55, Stockdale 40

Southside ISD Tournament

Southside (2-0) 57, Beeville Jones 51

Friday, Nov. 14 games

Non-district

Gervin Academy (0-0) at Brooks Academy (0-1) (score unavailable)

Southwest (1-1) 60, Del Rio (0-1) 34

Natalia (0-1) at Sam Houston (0-1) (score unavailable)

Texas Riviera Roundup

At Corpus Christi

Brandeis 60, Highlands (2-3) 40
Clemens 98, Providence (0-4) 11
Brackenridge (1-3) 82, Providence (0-4) 24
Highlands (2-3) 67, Corpus Christi Moody 42
Corpus Christi Ray 65, Highlands (2-3) 37

Harlandale ISD Tournament

At Harlandale

Championship bracket

Game 1: Marshall (2-1) 50, Lee (1-2) 37

Game 3: Kennedy (3-0) 48, Harlandale (0-3) 40

Game 5: South San (1-2) d. Jefferson (0-3) (score unavailable)

Game 7: Churchill (3-0) 60, St. Anthony (4-1) 39

Game 9: Kennedy (3-0) 48, Marshall (2-1) 39

Game 13: Churchill (3-0) 65, South San (1-2) 44 

Consolation bracket

Game 11: Lee (1-2) 39, Harlandale (0-3) 36

Game 15: St. Anthony (4-1) 49, Jefferson (0-3) 27

At McCollum

Championship bracket

Game 2: Boerne Champion (3-0) 66, Edison (1-2) 32 

Game 4: Holy Cross (1-1) 34, McCollum (0-3) 22

Game 6: Warren (1-1) 50, Burbank (0-2) 27

Game 8: Roosevelt (3-0) 53, Lanier (1-2) 34

Game 10: Boerne Champion (3-0) 60, Holy Cross (1-1) 32

Game 14: Roosevelt (3-0) 58, Warren (1-1) 28

Consolation bracket

Game 12: Edison (1-2) 55, McCollum (0-3) 28

Game 16: Lanier (1-2) 49, Burbank (0-2) 41

Pleasanton Tournament

Young Women’s Leadership Academy (3-2) 50, Fox Tech (0-5) 32
FEAST 67, Young Women’s Leadership Academy (3-2) 49
FEAST 52, Fox Tech (0-5) 8

Southside ISD Tournament

Jay 54, Southside (2-1) 17

Saturday, Nov. 15 games

Non-district

Texas Riviera Roundup

At Corpus Christi

OTHER AREA TEAMS – Memorial (0-2), Providence (0-4). 

Brackenridge (2-4) 60, Edinburg 56
Highlands (3-3) 60, Georgetown 49
Antonian 64, Brackenridge (2-4) 49

Harlandale ISD Tournament

At Harlandale

Championship bracket

Churchill (5-0) 53, Kennedy (3-2) 38

Third place

Boerne Champion (4-1) 52, Kennedy (3-2) 30

Championship

Churchill (5-0) 53, Roosevelt (4-1) 37

Consolation bracket

Lee (3-2) 49, St. Anthony (5-2) 41

Consolation championship

Lee (3-2) 56, Lanier (2-3) 35

Guaranteed games

Harlandale (1-4) 34, Jefferson (0-4) 26

Marshall (4-1) 60, South San (1-3) 43

At McCollum

Championship bracket

Roosevelt (4-1) 43, Boerne Champion (4-1) 31

Consolation bracket

Lanier (2-3) 65, Edison (1-4) 36

Consolation third place

St. Anthony (5-2) 38, Edison (1-4) 35

Guaranteed games

Burbank (2-2) 54, McCollum (0-4) 49

Burbank (2-2) 52, Harlandale (1-4) 41

Warren (2-2) 65, Holy Cross (1-2) 36

Marshall (4-1) 55, Warren (2-2) 48

Pleasanton Tournament

Pleasanton 66, Fox Tech (0-7) 11
Karnes City 68, Fox Tech (0-7) 13
Mathis 94, Young Women’s Leadership Academy (4-3) 33
Young Women’s Leadership Academy (4-3)  45, Skidmore-Tynan 34

Southside ISD Tournament

Cole 54, Southside (2-2) 37

FOOTBALL: Area rankings (thru Nov. 1)

Through Nov. 1

 

TOP 15:

 

Rank-Team-Last Week

1. Holy Cross – 1

2. Sam Houston – 3

3. Southwest – 4

4. Southside – 2

5. East Central – 5

6. Brackenridge – 6

7. Central Catholic – 7

8. Harlandale – 9

9. Edison – 10

10. Burbank – 8

11. South San – 11

12. Jefferson – 13

13. Lanier – 12

14. McCollum – 14

15. Highlands – 15

 

NR = not ranked

VOLLEYBALL: Area rankings (final)

Final

 

TOP 15:

 

Rank-Team-Last Week

1. Holy Cross – 1

2. East Central – 2

3. Southwest – 4

4. McCollum – 3

5. Southside – 6

6. Highlands – 5

7. Jefferson – 7

8. Providence – 11

9. Brackenridge – 9

10. Harlandale – 8

11. South San – 10

12. Sam Houston – 12

13. Lanier – 13

14. Edison – 14

15. Brooks Academy – NR

 

NR = not ranked

FOOTBALL: This week’s results (thru Nov. 8)

NOTE: teams we cover are in boldface

WEEK 11 SCHEDULE

(Nov. 6-8)

Thursday’s games

District 28-5A

Brackenridge (7-3, 7-1) 42, Highlands (0-10, 0-8) 6

Friday’s games

District 28-6A

Corpus Christi Carroll (9-1, 4-1) 24, Southwest (5-5, 3-2) 14

Corpus Christi King (7-3, 3-2) 56, Corpus Christi Ray (6-4, 1-4) 14

East Central (6-4, 4-1) 41, South San (2-8, 0-5) 12

District 27-5A

Alamo Heights (8-2, 7-1) 51, Kerrville Tivy (7-3, 6-2) 44

Kennedy (1-9, 1-7) 28, Memorial (0-10, 0-8) 21 (Salsa Bowl)

San Marcos (4-6, 3-5) 35, Lockhart (5-5, 3-5) 21

Boerne Champion (10-0, 8-0) 65, Seguin (2-8, 2-6)  43

District 28-5A

Harlandale (6-4, 5-3) 7, McCollum (2-8, 2-6) 6 (Frontier Bowl)

Edison (5-5, 5-3) 28, Jefferson (3-7, 3-5) 21 (Tommy Bowl)

Burbank (5-5, 4-4) 28, Lanier (2-8, 2-6) 7

District 29-5A

Somerset (7-2, 6-1) 33, Eagle Pass Winn (4-6, 3-4) 28

Southside (8-2, 5-2) 40, Laredo Cigarroa (4-6, 2-5) 21

Uvalde (9-1, 6-1) 27, Medina Valley (3-7, 3-4) 20 

District 15-3A

Division I

Goliad (9-1, 4-0) 41, George West (2-8, 1-3) 16

Hallettsville (6-4, 3-1) 61, Mathis (7-3, 2-2) 20

TAPPS I-2

Austin St. Michael’s (5-5, 4-1) 35, Central Catholic (6-4, 3-2) 28 (OT)

TAPPS II-3

Austin Regents (8-2, 5-1) 57, Cornerstone Christian (5-5, 2-4) 21

Victoria St. Joseph (2-8, 2-4) 36, TMI (4-6, 2-4) 25

Saturday’s games

District 29-5A

Laredo Martin (2-8, 2-5) 21, Laredo Nixon (1-9, 1-6) 10

TAPPS I-2

Antonian (9-1, 5-0) 49, Brownsville St. Joseph (5-5, 1-4) 0

San Antonio Christian (5-5, 2-3) 49, St. Anthony (1-9, 0-5) 16

TAPPS II-3

Holy Cross (8-1, 6-0) 20, Austin Hyde Park Baptist (5-4, 4-2) 7

FOOTBALL: Area playoff picture (thru Nov. 7)

Football playoff picture

These are the area teams that qualified for the playoffs (in alphabetical order):

Through Nov. 7

QUALIFIED: Brackenridge (7-3, 7-1), Central Catholic (6-4, 3-2), East Central (6-4, 4-1), Edison (5-5, 5-3), Harlandale (6-4, 5-3), Holy Cross (7-1, 5-0), Sam Houston (8-2, 8-0), Southside (8-2, 5-2), Southwest (5-5, 3-2).

FOOTBALL: Harlandale makes a stand when it counts

Indians edge Burbank with late-game stops

AREA TEAMS INCLUDED: Burbank, Harlandale.

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER WEBSITE:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/communities/southside/article/Harlandale-makes-a-stand-5867637.php

 

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE EXPRESS-NEWS WEBSITE:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/high_school/high_school_football/article/FBH-Burbank-Harlandale-5862835.php

Burbank seemed to be controlling the ball in the second half, right up to the point that Harlandale’s defense put its foot down.

The Indians (5-4, 4-3) stopped Burbank on fourth-and-one each of its last two fourth-quarter drives. The final stop, with 26 seconds remaining, sealed a 28-27 District 28-5A win for Harlandale Friday at Harlandale Memorial Stadium.

“Those last two drives, we kept them from getting a first down,” Harlandale coach Isaac Martinez said. “I thought it was big that, when Burbank tied it 21-21, we came right back and answered. That could have been a momentum shift.

“I’m proud of the kids. We haven’t been in a game like this since Brackenridge (Sept. 20).”

The victory kept Harlandale tied for third with Edison (4-5, 4-3) heading into the final week of the season. Burbank (4-5, 3-4) dropped into a fifth-place deadlock with Jefferson (3-6, 3-4).

Harlandale finishes the regular season with the Frontier Bowl next Friday against rival McCollum (2-7, 2-5) at Harlandale Memorial Stadium (7:30 p.m.). A victory will qualify the Indians for the postseason for the third time in five years.

The Bulldogs will play Lanier (2-7, 2-5) next Friday in a 7:30 p.m. at the SAISD Sports Complex. Burbank will need a win and help from Jefferson to return to the playoffs for the second-consecutive season.

“It was a difficult loss,” Burbank coach Mark Perez said. “My hat’s off to Isaac and his staff. This was a good game.

“We’re still in the hunt. After losing by two points (to Edison) last week and one this week, my kids are going to be ready to come back with a win.”

Burbank tied the score with an 18-yard pass from senior quarterback Daniel Tello to Jordan Santos. Tello (241 yards, 29 carries) had a hand in every touchdown, running for the other three.

“He’s a smart, crafty runner,” the Indians coach said. “You can’t stop him. We tried to contain him as much as we could.”

The Bulldogs drove 78 yards in 12 plays off the second-half kickoff to notch the tie.

Tello’s 11-yard touchdown run with 10:33 remaining accounted for the final score. Burbank missed the extra point.

Harlandale led 21-14 at halftime and only scored once thereafter. Quarterback Jacob Delgado (7 of 11, 129 yards) floated a pass over a Bulldogs defender for an 11-yard touchdown to Noah Avina with 2:43 left in the third quarter.

Burbank stopped the Indians on a fourth-and-2 near midfield on their next drive.

“A loss would have meant we (might not) be in the playoffs,” said Harlandale senior receiver Ian Martinez, who caught a 38-yard touchdown pass that kept the Indians ahead 28-21 at halftime. “Even the sophomores and juniors said they were going to do it for us.”

Almost miraculously, Burbank was able to overcome three lost first-half fumbles to close within a touchdown at the half. The teams combined for three touchdowns in the last 2:30 of the half.

Harlandale led 14-0 going into that stretch. The Indians scored on a 21-yard pass from Delgado to Vincent Hernandez in the first quarter and a 36-yard run by John Aguirre in the second.

Tello scored on runs of 34 and 14 yards, with Martinez’s reception between – capping a two-play, 56-yard drive.

On Burbank’s first touchdown, with 2:30 until halftime, Tello was unable to find an open receiver. From the Indians 34, he headed toward the right sideline, eluded two tacklers and went in to cut Harlandale’s lead to 14-7.

Martinez turned a simple screen pass into the 38-yard score just 26 seconds later.

Down 14 points, the Bulldogs manufactured a drive that spanned 57 yards and ate up most of the available clock time. Following a five-yard run from Jordan Santos, Tello completed short passes on three consecutive plays. That left Burbank 26 yards from the end zone. The quarterback covered the distance in two running plays.