Torrance Smith caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Kimbro to give Hays the lead early on against Alamo Heights but special teams turnovers eventually led to a 35-17 Rebel loss against the Mules. (Photo by Bruce Fisher)
By JASON GORDON
ALAMO HEIGHTS – There was nothing special about the Hays special teams last Friday night.
After being a strength all season it was Rebel special teams mistakes that helped Alamo Heights hand Hays its first district defeat.
Hays lost three fumbles on special teams in a 35-17 loss to the Mules.
“It’s surprising since we’ve played so well on special teams this year,” Hays head coach Bob Shelton said. “We can’t afford to give a good offense like Alamo Heights as many chances as we did.”
Alamo Heights quarterback Steven Elder took advantage, completing 17 of 20 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns.
After Alamo Heights took a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter on Elder’s 49-yard strike to Zach Richter, the Mules’ squib-kicking strategy worked to perfection.
Hays (3-3, 1-1 27-4A) fumbled the side-winding football and Alex Cisneros recovered for the Mules to set up a 27-yard Kristian Stern field goal.
Mason Cervenka countered for Hays by completing a 31-yard pass to Torrance Smith to set up his own 10-yard scoring run on fourth-and-1 to cut it to 16-14.
Consecutive quarterback sacks by Hays defenders Dalton Johnson and Mark Oldham forced an Alamo Heights punt and it looked like the Rebels would have a chance to take the lead late in the second quarter, but a fumble on the return attempt was recovered by Alamo Heights’ Skyler Nelson.
Three plays later Elder looked off the Hays defense before zipping a 6-yard touchdown pass to Richter and the Mules (5-1, 2-0) led 23-14 at halftime.
Hays drove 16 plays to start the second half but only managed a 27-yard JT Sivils field goal after having a first-and-goal at the 7.
Alamo Heights answered with a 11-yard Andy Brooks touchdown run and Hays then put the final nail in its own coffin by losing another fumble on the ensuing kickoff.
Elder threw his third touchdown pass of the game moments later on third-and-15, lofting a 19-yard fade pass to Wyatt Ponton midway through the fourth quarter to seal the win.
“We knew they had good return men, so we tried not to kick to them,” Alamo Heights head coach Don Byrd said. “The ball took some funny bounces and it worked out well for us.”
Elder completed passes to eight different receivers.
“Elder reads defenses very well and he’s very poised in the pocket,” Byrd said. “We expect performances like that from him.”
Hays’ first touchdown came on an exciting play when Caleb Kimbro lofted a 25-yard touchdown pass to a leaping Torrance Smith on fourth-and-4 and the Rebels led 7-6 with two minutes left in the first quarter.
“I thought we did some real good things tonight,” Shelton said. “We just made too many mistakes.”
Hays hosts Clemens Friday night in a game that will be pivotal to the playoff hopes of the Rebels.
