Needville remains perfect in shootout
NEEDVILLE – Preparing for Needville, Navasota knew they needed to score 40 points to have a chance against the Bluejays potent offense. The Rattlers achieved that goal, but mistakes allowed Needville to remain undefeated with a 56-42 win.
“We knew going in this was going to be a high scoring game,” said Navasota Head Coach Casey Dacus. “They [Needville] do a lot of things schematically on offense that were going to cause some issues.”
Needville (7-0, 3-0) drove 70 yards on their opening possession scoring on an 8-yard run by quarterback Keilan Sweeny. Mohamed Jaber added the kick. The Bluejays second score came less than a minute later, an 18-yard pass connection from Sweeny to Sherman Jones. The kick made it 14-0 with 8:11 remaining in the opening quarter.
Navasota’s offense answered on a leaping grab by Cameron Ross for a 28-yard touchdown. This was the first of two touchdown passes from quarterback Javyn Jessie. Juan Vargas narrowed the lead, 14-7, with the kick.
The Bluejays had consecutive scores, one in the first and the other to start the second quarter to extend the lead, 28-7. Both scores were short rushes by Da’Shawn Burton, good for three and four yards.
Markerian Wesley Stamps secured a diving grab in the middle of the endzone with his back to the goal posts for a 23-yard touchdown from Jessie. Vargas tacked on the point-after.
Trailing 28-14, it appeared the Rattlers may narrow the lead to single digits before halftime, but their drive stalled. Needville blocked the kick and returned it for a touchdown extending their lead, 35-14, with 1:27 remaining in the half.
Navasota answered with a drive capped by Jessie’s 10-yard run with 10 seconds remaining.
A couple successful plays to start the second half were nulled by a fumble that Needville returned for a touchdown. The Bluejay lead was extended 41-21. Navasota was never able to pull back within single digits.
Jamal Thomas had a pair of touchdown runs in the third, for three and two yards, with a Bluejay 1-yard score by Sweeny in-between.
“We competed,” said Dacus. “You know competing wasn’t the problem. Tonight, it was just mistakes. We had a kick blocked that went for six the other way, then we got a fumble right out of the half that was also returned for a score. A couple big mistakes that cost us.”
Dacus said he was disappointed they weren’t able to finish drives. “We didn’t finish plays very well tonight,” he explained. “We did good, we would drive down there then shoot ourselves in the foot. We can’t do that kind of stuff. We have to get in the endzone.”
Needville and Navasota each had a fourth-quarter score. Burton scored on a 2-yard run for the Bluejays and Hudson Minor scored from the one. Minor replaced Jessie at quarterback late in the game due to injury.
Jessie finished with 306 yards passing while completing 17 of his 26 pass attempts. He also rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. Ross caught eight passes for 142 yards.
Navasota hosts the Iowa Colony Pioneers (6-0, 2-0) Friday, Oct. 13, at Rattler Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
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