We’re only three weeks into the 2022 high school football season, and I’m already running out of superlatives. Drama was everywhere on Friday night, and it wasn’t restricted to the fields of play. Lightning and weather delays significantly impacted at least 13 games on the schedule, and one of those games lasted until early Saturday morning.
It’s a credit to everyone in the greater San Antonio community that the vast majority of these games were played in relatively safe conditions, and our staff here at KSAT 12 was working around the clock to keep everyone updated with the latest information regarding start times, scores and eventually highlights. The end result was heart-pounding action on the gridiron. Ten games were decided by a single possession or less, and three went to overtime.
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Before we take a deep dive into the incredible results from Week 3 of our Big Game Coverage (BGC), let’s recap the biggest moments from the week that was in the Best of BGC!
Week 3 was full of memorable plays from all across the greater San Antonio area! On Instant Replay, we selected the best of the best, including highlights from Bandera, Harlandale, Warren and Jourdanton.
>> Click here to check out the Best of BGC from Week 3! <<
Be sure to check out all of the highlights from Week 3 as well!
New teams have broken into KSAT 12′s Top 12 rankings after Week 3′s results. See who made the cut!
>> See the full Week 4 rankings by clicking here! <<
BRENNAN 48, HARLAN 10
It certainly looks like the Bears are still the kings of District 29-6A.
Brennan (2-1, 1-0) opened district play by dominating Harlan (2-1, 0-1) from start to finish on Friday night in a game that many billed as the defacto district title game. Quarterback Ashton Dubose manufactured an efficient aerial assault, completing 21 of 26 passes for 355 yards, and five total touchdowns.
Avron Carter opened the scoring by catching the first of Dubose’s two touchdown passes on the day, a 33-yarder that gave the Bears an early 7-0 lead. Harlan answered with a six-yard TD run from Jacob Gonzales, but Brennan took over from there by scoring 20 straight points. Aaron Dubose capped the run with a 20-yard TD catch with 34 seconds left in the second quarter, as Brennan entered halftime with a 27-7 lead. The Bears’ defense was just as impressive as the offense, limiting a dynamic Hawks attack to 210 total yards of offense.
One final note: after suffering a scary injury at the end of Brennan’s season opening 35-34 loss to Steele in the final game of the 2022 KSAT Pigskin Classic, wide receiver Armando Acevedo returned to the lineup and caught five passes for 117 yards. It’s great to see him back on the field and contributing for the Bears.
WAGNER 42, SAN MARCOS 41 (OT)
The Thunderbirds and Rattlers set the tone for Week 3 with a dramatic overtime thriller on Thursday night.
San Marcos (1-2) found themselves trailing by 10 points with a little over five minutes left in regulation. Senior Jake Rodriguez-Scholz capped a crucial drive with a three-yard touchdown plunge on fourth-and-goal to make it a three-point game, 34-31. Rodriguez-Scholz then recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt, and the Rattlers had a chance to drive for the win. Thanks to another key fourth-down conversion, San Marcos methodically used the clock, and junior Joseph Mendoza booted a game-tying field goal that eventually forced overtime with the game tied at 34-all. San Marcos’ momentum carried into their first offensive possession in OT. Senior quarterback Isaiah DeLeon found the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown to give the Rattlers an improbable 41-34 lead.
But Wagner (1-2) had a chance to answer back. On their first offensive snap of overtime, Jeremiah Chery took an inside handoff the distance for a 25-yard touchdown to pull within a point. Chery carried the ball 14 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns on the day. Rather than kick the extra point and go to double-overtime, the Thunderbirds decided to roll the dice and go for the win. Junior running back Juan’Ye Taylor capped a remarkable effort with the game-winning two-point conversion. His final stat-line: 10 carries, 129 yards and three scores, as Wagner escaped with an unforgettable victory -- their first of the young season.
JOURDANTON 27, PLEASANTON 25 (5OT)
The Battle for Highway 97 turned into a war that lasted well into the night at Eagle Stadium.
Jourdanton (3-0) and Pleasanton (0-3) ended regulation tied at 17-all. Eagles quarterback Sean Ramos completed 21 of 36 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns, both to wide receiver Jayden Palacios. The Indians countered Pleasanton’s passing attack with a steady ground game that racked up 199 yards on 44 carries. Dual-threat quarterback Matthew Hicks carried the rock 19 times for 98 yards and scored the Indians’ first touchdown. He also found Josiah Reyna for a 21-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
The first four overtimes flew by, with both teams trading clutch conversions, until Jourdanton had an opportunity to walk off with the win in overtime No. 5. With the game on the line, Hicks rolled out and found wide receiver Rustin Schuchart for a leaping grab in the end zone, setting off a wild celebration as the Indians won an instant classic.
SHINER 22, POTH 21
Last year, the Comanches demolished the Pirates on the road 39-10 en route to yet another undefeated season and their second straight state title.
This year, the script was very different.
Shiner (2-1) powered ahead to a 14-7 lead at halftime thanks to a pair of second-quarter touchdown runs from Ryan Peterson and Texas A&M commit Dalton Brooks, who ripped off a 63-yard scamper right before halftime. But Poth (2-1) turned the ties with a late rally. Matthew Bunn found paydirt on a three-yard score early in the fourth quarter, then Bunn struck again on their next possession with a rumbling 17-yard touchdown run to give the Pirates a 21-14 lead with five minutes left in regulation.
Never underestimate the heart of a champion. Shiner marched downfield and set up Brooks on a one-yard dive over the goal line for what appeared to be the game-tying touchdown. The Comanches weren’t thinking overtime. They wanted to win. The ensuing two-point conversion started with a toss to Brooks heading towards the right sideline, and the Poth defense immediately swarmed in his direction. But Brooks stayed on his feet and spun out of three tackles as he cut back against the grain to score in remarkable fashion.
The difference between 2-1 and 1-2 can be a fine line. Shiner’s thrilled to 2-1.
NB CANYON 35, NEW BRAUNFELS 32
The Unicorns entered Friday night’s Wurst Bowl matchup against the Cougars riding a seven-game winning streak in the all-time series, and a balanced offensive attack helped give them a late lead in 2022′s edition of the rivalry. Once trailing 28-17 in the fourth quarter, New Braunfels (2-1) cut the deficit down to three on a Mtuele Pettes touchdown run with 7:17 remaining in regulation. After forcing a Canyon (3-0) three-and-out, the Unicorns found the end zone again on a stunning 46-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Leighton Adams to wide receiver Vantz Mills. Leighton completed 22 passes for 247 yards and three total touchdowns, as New Braunfels vaulted ahead late 32-28.
Now down by four, the Cougars got the ball back with 3.5 minutes to play. They only needed half that. Quarterback Deuce Adams capped a clutch nine-play drive with his fourth touchdown of the night, a jump ball to his brother Eli Adams, as Canyon stole the lead back 35-32 with a little over a minute and a half left in regulation. Deuce completed 20 passes for 304 yards on the night, and senior wide receiver Xayvion Noland caught six of those passes for 137 yards and two scores, as Canyon earned their first win in the rivalry since 2013.
CHURCHILL 25, MADISON 23 (2OT)
There was no better representative of Friday’s crazy weather-affected schedule that Churchill and Madison’s double-overtime tilt that lasted well past midnight at Heroes Stadium.
The game was postponed by a whopping two-and-a-half hours of lightning delays. When play finally kicked off, Madison jumped ahead 7-3 midway through the first quarter on a 57-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Landon Gill to Jordan Clay. Churchill added a second field goal from Kameron Van Prooyen early in the second quarter and trailed 7-6 heading into halftime. The Chargers then wrested the lead back in the fourth quarter on Hunter Pavlicek’s 41-yard touchdown run with 3:16 left in regulation. Add a two-point conversion, and Churchill led 14-7. A little over 90 seconds later, Madison’s Ke’Shaun Rodgers tied the game at 14-all with a 13-yard touchdown run, and we were heading to overtime.
After trading field goals in the first overtime, Churchill pulled ahead on Pavlicek’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Diego Marsh in the second overtime, and with a successful two-point conversion, the Chargers led 25-17. Madison took the field next and scored quickly. Gill found Clay once again, this time for a 15-yard strike, and the Mavericks pulled back within two. It came down to the ensuing two-point conversion. Ultimately, the Churchill defense held, and the Chargers stormed the field to celebrate in a game that started on Friday night and ended Saturday morning.
For the first time in my five years at KSAT 12, I was allowed the opportunity to hit the road for our weekly BGC Road Trip with photographer Eddie Latigo. Ironically, Eddie and I were riding in the KSAT Storm Chaser, and we were treated to crystal clear skies all night.
Our three-game journey began in D’Hanis, where the Cowboys had the rare opportunity to play a home game on a Friday night. The atmosphere at Clayton “Butch” Woolls Field was classic high school football. The community was out in full force to support a D’Hanis team looking for a bounce-back win against Junction. After a slow start offensively, defensive back Jaime Rodriguez secured an interception that turned the tide. Soon after, quarterback Daelyn Gonzales found Colton Dalton for the Cowboys’ first touchdown in an eventual 21-6 victory. I’ve spent the last four years covering the D’Hanis softball and baseball teams, a run that includes four total UIL Class 1A State titles. Seeing the football team in action at home, it’s clear there’s something undeniably special about that town.
Our next stop was right down the road on Highway 90, where Hondo hosted Brackett at a raucous Barry Field. It felt like college game day, and the game itself was just as insane. Eddie and I arrived late in the first quarter and saw the Owls take a 21-14 lead on a touchdown pass from Ryan Gilliam to Brandon Jasso. Hondo came up just short in an epic 51-49 shootout, but I would absolutely love to catch a game at Barry Field again. The Owls are easily one of the nicest fanbases I’ve ever interacted with.
The final stop on our three-game tour was in Castroville, where Medina Valley hosted Southwest Legacy at Panther Stadium with both teams eager for a win. The home team extended their lead to 14 points early in the third quarter thanks in part to an incredible 62-yard run from running back Anthony Guerrero. He capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal, as the Panthers took a 21-7 lead. With Guerrero leading the way, it looked like Medina Valley was on cruise control... until the Titans started to rally in the fourth quarter. After tying the game at 21-all, Southwest Legacy recovered a surprise onside kick. On the very next play, Fernando Flores burst into the clear for a 34-yard touchdown run. Within a span of three regulation minutes, the Titans had scored 20 points to take a 27-21 lead. They went on to win 34-21. If that wasn’t crazy enough, as soon as the game ended, the lights went out in the stadium! Southwest Legacy fans turned their phone lights on and started waving them back and forth. It was a surreal scene, but one of many examples as to how wild and unpredictable Week 3 ended up being.
In case you missed it, here’s some more local sports highlights and stories from the last week:
We’ll see you on Thursday night for the start of Week 4!
Andrew Cely, KSAT 12 Sports Producer and Reporter
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