Saturday, October 12, 2024
Following Gatesville’s 28-12 loss to Glen Rose, Aaron Hunter was okay hearing about his team’s effort, fight, and defensive execution in falling to the No. 2 ranked Tigers. But he didn’t want to be congratulated.
“I don’t like hearing that just because we stayed close or won the first half. I want to finish those games and win those games, and that is what we are going to do,” he said.
Glen Rose’s vaunted offense, led by quarterback Canyon Evans, scored 45 points in their week one win and went 14 plays on the opening drive to take a 7-0 lead.
It looked to be a continuation of their week one offensive fireworks, but the Gatesville defense dug in and the offense methodically moved the ball and kept the Tigers offense off the field.
Gatesville capped their opening drive with a 33-yard field goal from freshman Leonardo Leon to cut the lead to 7-3. Quarterback Gehrig Keeton connected twice with receiver Jack Erwin on the drive, while Rayshon Smith did damage on the ground.
Smith finished with 212 yards on 20 carries and scored Gatesville’s only touchdown. It was his second straight 200-yard rushing effort and the fifth of his career. He now has 3,259 career rushing yards and moved into third place in career rushing yards behind Taurean Henderson (6,340) and Lashon Thayer (5,336).
“He’s patient, and you think, ‘OK, we got him,’” Glen Rose head coach Cliff Watkins told the Waco Tribune-Herald after the game. “And then all of a sudden he bursts through the hole, and he’s got a quick burst but he’s so big and strong, (he’s) hard to bring down.”
The Tigers would not score again in the first half. On their second possession, Dutch Nielson brought down Evans with a sack on fourth down. Then the Hornets forced a punt on Glen Rose’s third possession.
On the tenth play of the ensuing drive, Smith went 47-yards around the right end and scampered into the end zone for a 9-7 lead. Smith had gains of 61, 47, and 24 in the game.
Glen Rose lined up for a 47-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the half, but Zaviar Clater split a pair of blockers and blocked the kick to preserve the 9-7 halftime lead.
For the second week in a row, Gatesville held their opponent to less than 80 yards rushing. Taylor had 34 yards rushing in week one, while Glen Rose had 77.
Clater had ten tackles in the game, including three for a loss. He had two sacks and two quarterback pressures. Amos Phillips led the Hornets defense with 23 tackles (nine solo), while Dylan Watts had 13 tackles. Cam Hendrix and Logan Biggs each had ten tackles apiece, while Logan Morgan had nine tackles and a sack. Kaden Coffman had Gatesville’s other sack.
“The defense has been playing really good football, and I like where we are defensively,” Hunter said. “Clater played lights out football the other night.”
Evans threw his first touchdown pass of the night to give Glen Rose a 14-9 third-quarter lead, but Gatesville cut into the lead when Leon drilled a 38-yard field goal to make it 14-12.
In the fourth, Glen Rose added a pair of short rushing touchdowns to seal the 28-12 win.
On offense, Keeton completed seven passes on the night including four to Erwin, two to Phillps, and one to Daniel Gonzalez. He also rushed for 19 yards in his second varsity start.
Gatesville travels to Mexia to take on the Black Cats on Sept. 13 before returning home for a homecoming contest with McGregor.
