Rattlers power past Apaches
Ja’Marion Frear breaks a big run in the Rattlers 28-21 win over the Gonzales Apaches. Frear had 130 yards rushing on nine carries and two touchdowns.
Ja’marion Frear waits patiently as Alex Santos and other members of the offensive-line clear a hole against Gonzales. The line allowed the Rattlers to rush for over 300 yards in the 28-21 win. Examiner photos by Matthew Ybarra
Xavier Steptoe fights an Apache receiver for possession of a ball in the Rattlers much-needed win. The pass fell incomplete, but Navasota got the win 28-21.
Sophomore quarterback Hudson Minor releases a pass Friday against Gonzales. He got the start due to an injury to senior quarterback Ja’mar Jessie. Minor passed for 82 yards.
Navasota knew entering senior night against Gonzales they controlled their own playoff destiny. Using a potent running attack and timely stops on defense pushed the Rattlers past the Apaches 28-21. A win at Giddings this week will ensure Navasota finishes in third place in District 13-4A.
The Rattler running duo of Jamall Thomas and Ja’marion Frear combined for 305 yards on 39 carries and four touchdowns.
“I thought the offensive-line did a really good job and they really have all year. The last three or four games especially,” explained Navasota Head Coach Casey Dacus. “We have been going into some loaded boxes with eight- or nine-man fronts, and we know that’s going to happen. But when you get banged up at receiver like we currently are, defenses get more confident and play a lot more zero and a little more man. So, you get more safeties creeping up in the boxes and the plus-ones. I thought the offensive line did a great job of handling that because there were a lot more bodies in there.”
Navasota forced the Apaches to punt on their first drive, then marched downfield, scoring on a 1-yard run by Thomas. Juan Vargas converted all his extra-point attempts on the night. Gonzales evened the score in the second quarter on a 45-yard pass
The Rattlers took a seven-point lead into halftime thanks to a pair of rushing touchdowns by Frear in the second quarter. The first was good for 21 yards and the second was a 47-yard run.
With just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Gonzales pulled within seven points with a 97-yard pick-six. Thomas responded with a 44-yard run up the middle extending the Rattler lead back to 14.
Navasota had a key goal line stand in the second half. Dacus talked about the stand in the postgame huddle. “There were lots of big plays tonight, but the thing I am most proud of tonight was the resilience,” he said. “We had some negative stuff happen again, but this time we overcame that. Right down here,” Dacus said as he pointed to the north endzone. “We had a goal line stand that was a big deal wasn’t it. The final score was 28-21. If we don’t bow our necks down here and get stiff, and they score, then it is a tie game and who knows what would have happened. Every play matters.”
Thomas had 175 yards rushing on 30 attempts and two touchdowns. Frear carried the ball nine times for 130 yards and two scores.
With 1:28 remaining in the game Gonzales scored on a 3-yard pass. A failed onside kick attempt allowed the Rattlers to line up in victory formation and take a knee.
The Rattlers play at Giddings Friday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. The Bi-District playoffs begin the following week.