Brahmas use second half to stampede past Rattlers
Examiner photo by Matthew Ybarra Navasota’s Artavian Rutherford makes a diving attempt trying to bring down Sam Hranicky. The Brahma scored on the play and twice in the 31-3 win.
Examiner photo by Matthew Ybarra Navasota quarterback Javyn Jessie throws the ball away to prevent a sack in Sept. 9, action at Bellville. The sixth ranked Brahmas prevailed 31-3.
Examiner photo by Matthew Ybarra Juan Vargas connects on a 40-yard field goal in third-quarter action against Bellville. Senior Cameron Quezada tees up the ball.
BELLVILLE – Bellville erased any thoughts of being upset on homecoming night with four second half touchdowns to defeat the Navasota Rattlers, 31-3, Sept. 8.
Navasota (0-3) held the No. 6 ranked Brahmas to a lone field goal, a 37-yarder by Fernando Grajiles, in first half action but couldn’t overcome penalties to establish any offense.
“We have to quit making mistakes,” said Navasota Head Coach Casey Dacus. “When you start drives first-and-15, or you get a big play called back by a penalty that had nothing to do with the play. It has to be fixed and has to be cleaned up.”
Bellville (3-0) scored quickly out of the half on a 72-yard run by Sam Hranicky, 58 seconds into the third quarter.
Navasota answered with a good drive but settled for a 40-yard field goal from Juan Vargas, the Rattlers only score of the game.
The Brahmas scored two more touchdowns in the quarter, a 51-yard scamper by Corrian Hood and Hranicky’s second touchdown, a 51-yard run. Hood finalized the scoring at the 9:40 mark of the fourth quarter, escaping for a 71-yard run.
Dacus said despite frustration from the loss he has to keep things in perspective. “I know what is in front of us. I know that is the best team we played in pre-district and I know they have a big defensive end that is going to Alabama or Georgia, wherever he wants to go. I know our offense was probably a little geared-up for that and maybe a little jumpy because of that. But that is no excuse, and those guys won’t make that excuse. We just have to be better about not making mistakes.”
The Rattlers are looking to pick up their offense in the final pre-district matchup. “You have to have 11 guys do right every play, that is hard to do,” said Dacus. “Sometimes on defense you can get away with one or two guys not doing exactly right because the other guys can cover him up. But on offense if one or two guys don’t do right then it is either a penalty or missed assignment that turns a good play into a bad play.”
Dacus said his team is young at outside receiver and they are still working to find the best combination of players on the offensive line. “We have a lot of room for improvement and a lot of things we have to do better,” said Dacus.
Navasota hosts the Huffman-Hargrave Falcons (0-3) for Homecoming 2023, Friday, Sept. 15. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.