Hondo Anvil Herald

Big second quarter carries Jackets past CP

 

     Center Point -- The Sabinal Yellowjackets overcame a slow start and used a big second quarter to take control of Friday’s District 14-2A-II contest, defeating Center Point 43-30.

     Both teams were held scoreless in the first quarter as the Yellowjackets worked to find their rhythm. Center Point struck first early in the second quarter, taking a 6-0 lead after a failed extra point.

     Sabinal answered when Jace Clark broke off a 30-yard run to set up his own 2-yard touchdown run with 7:57 remaining in the first half. The extra point attempt was unsuccessful, tying the game at 6-6.

     The Yellowjackets’ defense came up with a big play when they recovered a Center Point fumble with just over three minutes remaining in the half. Sabinal capitalized when Hunter Vasquez connected with Andres Reyes on a 35-yard touchdown pass. Clark added the two-point conversion to give the Yellowjackets a 14-6 lead.

     Sabinal added to its advantage when a Center Point punt snap sailed over the punter’s head, resulting in a safety and two more points for the Yellowjackets. With 55 seconds left in the half, Andreas Reyes returned the ensuing kick to the 20-yard line, setting up Clark for a 20-yard touchdown run. Sabinal carried a 22-6 lead into halftime.

     The Jackets continued to build their lead in the second half. Early in the third quarter, Vasquez found Blake Beza for a 43-yard touchdown pass with 11:06 remaining. The successful extra point extended Sabinal’s advantage to 29-14.

     In the fourth quarter, Clark found the endzone again on a 5-yard run, followed by a successful extra point to make it 36-14. Beza later came up with a clutch 12-yard reception on fourth down to keep another scoring drive alive. Clark capped the drive with a 16-yard TD run, his fourth score of the night. The extra point pushed the Yellowjackets’ lead to 43-14.

     Center Point battled back late, scoring 16 additional points to make the final score 43-30, but Sabinal had done enough to secure the victory.

     The Yellowjackets showcased their ability to make big plays on offense and take advantage of key opportunities throughout the game. After a slow opening quarter, Sabinal found its rhythm, built a strong halftime lead, and earned a hard-fought win over Center Point.

After playing for eight straight weeks to open the season, the Jackets will have their open date this Friday, Oct. 23.