Saturday, April 20, 2024
With just over seven minutes left in Gatesville’s football victory over Salado on Friday, the Hornets faced a bit of a situation.
Nursing a 42-28 lead, they had driven inside the Salado five-yard line and looked to put the finishing touches on their first district win. But consecutive penalties forced the Hornets backward and had given a bit of life to the stunned and reeling Eagles.
In the moment, it was easy to envision the worst happening. It was possible to remember previous games or previous seasons when the Hornets didn’t believe they could win or simply didn’t know how.
But as the home side of the stadium got loud and Salado’s band fired up its rendition of “Tequila” during a stoppage in play, there were no signs of nerves, no signs of folding under pressure, nor any evidence of belief that the Hornets were the inferior team.
Instead, standing in the slot on the line of scrimmage, there was Trevor Smith. Dancing.
“When I was dancing on the field, I was just showing our team that there is no reason to be nervous about the game or folding,” Smith said. “I was in my element and felt like there was no way we could be defeated.”
Smith’s confidence proved to be spot-on as Rayshon Smith scored just a few plays later to give the Hornets a 49-28 lead and provide all the cushion they needed for the eventual 49-35 win.
Jacob Newkirk played the best game of his young varsity career – and one of the better games in recent memory by a Gatesville quarterback — throwing for 308 yards and six touchdown passes. He completed 19 of 27 – 16 to Trevor Smith and Tyler Shea.
Smith had nine catches and set career highs in receiving yards (158) and touchdown catches (3). Shea had 7 catches, 91 yards, and two touchdown catches – all career highs.
The win evens the Hornets district record at 1-1 but it was also big for the Hornets beyond just the standings.
In 2020, Salado routed the Hornets 63-3 and won again last year 42-6. Despite having lost four of their last five games, the Eagles came into this one favored by as many as 16 points.
“We are still in that building process. These guys have never won a game like this. This is the first game we have won all year that we weren’t favored or that wasn’t a toss-up,” head coach Aaron Hunter said. “Our guys are still learning how to overcome that and understand that our opponent doesn’t matter. Just show up and do what you do and you’re a good football team.”
It took the Hornets a quarter to show up but once they did, they left no doubt they were a good football team.
Salado scored twice in the opening frame and led 14-0 lead after the first quarter. The scoreless first was the seventh straight quarter in which the Hornets had not scored a touchdown. They were shut out in the second half of their win over Mineral Wells and kicked two field goals in their district-opening loss to Connally.
But in the second, the offense found its footing thanks in part to the hands and feet of Lawson Mooney.
With Salado driving and looking to extend its 14-0 lead, the junior safety stepped in front of a Luke Law pass and returned it to the Salado 31-yard line. Four plays later Newkirk hit Shea for a 15-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 14-6 after a failed 2-point conversion.
After forcing a Salado punt on the Eagles’ next possession, Smith took a quick-out from Newkirk and raced 65 yards for a touchdown. A successful pass from Newkirk to Shea for a two-point conversion made it 14-14.
In the closing moments of the half, the Hornet defense struck again as Ayden Necessary intercepted a Law pass and returned it inside Salado’ 20-yard line. Moments later Newkirk found Shea again for a score and the Hornets took a 20-14 lead into halftime.
Shea, who largely played on special teams in 2021, has evolved into quite the complement for Newkirk alongside Smith. Smith points to Shea’s attitude as well as his talent as keys to his rapid improvement.
“The guy is never negative and always brings positive energy to the team. I also know that I can trust him to go make a play when we need it,” said Smith. “We know that if one of us is locked down then the other guy has to be open, which is a weapon against other teams because they have to make a choice on who to guard.”
Shea also credited Smith – who Hunter calls the Hornets premiere practice player – for some of his growth.
“I think the reason Trevor and I have grown to be such a great duo on and off the field is our hunger to always get better. If you watch us practice, he never takes a play or a drill off and he always competes. We also have the same weight room group and he’s always pushing me to get stronger and be a better player all around.”
In the third quarter against the Eagles, it was more of the same from Smith and more of the same from the defense.
Newkirk hit Smith for an 8-yard score on the first possession of the half and Rayshon Smith’s conversion run made it 28-14.
On the ensuing possession, Law tried to throw the ball away via a back-handed flip, but it was snagged by Mason Mooney who returned the ball to the Eagles’ 12-yard line. Another quick Newkirk-to Smith scoring pass made it 35-14 Hornets.
“(Trevor and Tyler) very special on the outside and Jacob Newkirk is very special,” said Hunter. “When Jacob is comfortable and getting the ball to our guys, great things happen.”
After Salado scored to make it 35-21, Newkirk found Kyle Shafer – another trusted target — for a 44-yard touchdown and a 42-21 lead.
Rayshon Smith’s 3-yard fourth quarter run made it 49-28 and the Hornets picked up one final interception when Sean Aguilar intercepted a tipped Law pass attempt with less than a minute to go.
Rayshon Smith, who had just eight carries against Waco Connally because of a bad ankle, was back to his old self against Salado. The sophomore finished with 129 yards including more than 100 in the second half.
Lawson Mooney (17), Ashtyn Culley (12), Mason Mooney (10), and Sean Aguilar (10) all posted double digits in tackles. Thiele Alvarado had eight tackles including two for a loss.
The win likely puts the Hornets one win away from clinching a playoff berth and keeps them alive for the second-place spot in District 11-4A. For Hunter and his team, all that matters is Madisonville – the Hornets final home opponent of the year.
“We just have to keep getting it together,” he said. “The sky is the limit, but we’ve got to go back to work for next week.”
