Hondo Anvil Herald

Owl D steps up in double OT win over Uvalde

 

By Jeff Berger

Anvil Herald Publisher

 

     Hondo’s defense came up with five takeaways – including four interceptions – Friday, Sept. 11, at Barry Field, as the Owls held together for a 20-14 double overtime win over Uvalde.

     The Owls wrapped up non-district play with their first win of the season, and now will host the District 14-3A-I preseason favorite Jourdanton this Friday, Sept. 18, in a 7 p.m. home game. Both teams come in with a 1-2 season mark.

     “Our focus in the past week was to do every little thing right,” said Hondo coach Dustin Templin. “We certainly weren’t perfect, but we didn’t allow adversity to get to us. We responded well to any breaks that went against us.

     “We’re super proud of the kids for being locked in all game.”

     All of the scoring during regulation happened during Friday’s second quarter. Neither team scored again until Andrew Tapia’s five-yard walk-off touchdown run in the second overtime period.  

     Hondo opened Friday’s game with a 30-yard sweep by Cade Aelvoet, reaching the Uvalde 40. But snap issues doomed the drive and the Owls turned the ball over on downs.

     Within five plays, the Coyotes had a 2nd-and-2 at the Hondo 16, but a tackle for  a loss by Fernando Cuellar, followed by two pass breakups for Aelvoet and Twister Kluth ended the drive.

     After a Hondo three-and-out, the Owls got the ball right back on an interception by Tapia, the middle linebacker.

Uvalde returned the favor with an interception by Anthony Gatto as the second quarter started. 

     Starting at the Hondo 26, the Coyotes needed three plays to reach the endzone, with Cord Williamson scoring from 17 yards away.  Colton Wiemers blocked the extra point attempt, leaving the score at 6-0 with 10:34 left until halftime.

     Hondo reached midfield on its next drive, but officials ruled that a loose  ball which appeared to have bounced out of bounds, had actually stayed in the field of play, with the Coyotes recovering.

     Two snaps later, Kaleb Coronado intercepted and the Owls were back in business at the Uvalde 43. On second down, sophomore quarterback Bryson Howard dumped off a short pass to Layton Pope, who eluded tacklers and turned on the speed for a 43-yard scoring play. Gabriel Rodriguez added the PAT and the Owls had a 7-6 lead with 7:08 on the clock.

     Uvalde then put together the only long, time-consuming touchdown drive of the night, going 79 yards in nine plays, capped by a 30-yard TD run from Andrew Martinez. The Coyotes were successful on their two-point try, a halfback pass from Williamson to Samuel Graham. That gave Uvalde a 14-7 lead with 2:35 left until halftime.

     The Owls then went into two-minute mode. Jayden Motes returned the kickoff to the Hondo 37, then freshman quarterback Aaryn Leyva scrambled 15 yards for a first down. After a short pass to Wiemers, he found Aelvoet deep over the middle for 25 yards and a first down at the 16. On 2nd-and-10, Leyva found Pope in the endzone for his second TD reception of the night with 48 seconds left. Rodriguez tied the score at 14 with his extra point.

     In the third quarter, the Coyotes’ first possession ended with an interception from Nolan Graff. 

    The teams exchanged punts, with the Owls set up at midfield following a 25-yard return from Kyron Rodriguez. Hondo moved deeper into Uvalde territory after the Coyotes were flagged for a personal foul, but the drive stalled at the 29.

     The Coyotes drove for three first downs, but their possession ended with a Peter Luna fumble recovery and return.

The next four possessions all ended with punts, as time expired in regulation.

     Hondo went on possession first in overtime, and officials ruled on first down that a Leyva pump-fake, which got loose and was recovered by Williamson, was a fumble, even though the QB’s arm was clearly moving forward.

     On their turn, the Coyotes could drive only to the 19-yard line, and lined up for Derek De La Cruz to attempt a 36-yard field goal to win it. The snap, however, was high, forcing the holder Williamson to try to run for the first down. He was stopped short of the line to gain by Graff and Coronado.

     In the second OT period, Uvalde started on offense and a first-down pass attempt was intercepted by Kyron Rodriguez, who looked for a moment as though he might end the game with a pick-six, but he was tackled just across midfield after a 40-yard return.

Hondo’s final turn on offense produced a first down carry of nine yards for Kluth, with a face mask penalty added to the end of the run, putting the ball at the 5. On the next play, making his first rushing attempt of the night, Tapia plowed ahead for the game-ending score.

     “We played a lot better this week,” Coach Templin said. “We still had a few busts, but we’re working to fix that. The offensive line was better, but overall, we still aren’t playing to our potential. Now is the time to reach that.”