By Spencer Spilman
The Hays Rebels travelled to Austin to face the Akins Eagles Friday night. The Rebels couldn’t have expected the Eagles, who were winless in district play, to battle the way they did. But in the end the Rebels’ defense was just too suffocating and they were able to hang on to win their final game of the season, 28-20.
The first quarter was scoreless. However, Akins was in the middle of an 11-play drive near the end of the quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, the Eagles punched it in from four yards out, but failed to convert the extra point. Hays found themselves down 6-0.
The Rebels countered with an 11-play drive of their own, with a majority of the work coming from running back Jackson Effiom, who dominated on the ground all night. Effiom put it into the end zone, helping Hays take a 7-6 lead.
The first half score remained at 7-6 with both defenses standing strong.
The scoring started up quickly in the second half. Akins received the ball to start the third quarter, and they beat up the Rebels’ defense on the ground on their way to a 10-play touchdown drive. The Eagles added the two-point conversion to regain the lead 14-7.
Hays came right back at the Eagles when they got the ball back. Effiom and quarterback Braedon Kent tore it up on the ground. On the eleventh play of the drive, Kent found Brandon Hunter for an eight-yard touchdown pass to tie it at 14.
The Rebels regained the lead early in the fourth quarter. This time Kent capped off the drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Hollis Cagle in the back of the end zone to take a 21-14 lead.
Akins bounced right back on offense, with their longest drive of the game. Eagles’ quarterback Ryan Medrano orchestrated a perfect 15-play drive, capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Patrick Dickerson, who normally plays defensive tackle. Akins once again had problems on special teams. This time, Rebels’ Garrett Quinn blocked the extra point to maintain the lead 21-20.
Akins got the ball back with a chance to take back the lead after forcing Hays to punt. On the first play of the drive, Medrano threw a pass intercepted by Rebels’ Emory Cuzze.
The Rebels leaned on Effiom to increase their lead. This time it took Hays just four plays to find the end zone. Effiom pounded it in for his second rushing touchdown of the game. He finished with 191 yards to go with the two scores in his final game of his high school career.
Theoretically, Akins still had a chance to tie, down 28-20 with just 56 seconds left in the game. That idea was quickly shut down by the Rebels’ defense which got another interception, this time from linebacker Kendall Stovall. The interception was the nail in the coffin, and Hays closed out the season on a high note, beating Akins 28-20.
After thanking his offensive line, senior Jackson Effiom talked about his feelings now that the season and his high school career are over.
“I’m just going to miss the brotherhood of my teammates,” said Effiom.
After the game Hays coach Neal LaHue was proud of his team.
“I’m going to miss the seniors, they had a great career. I’m really proud of them,” LaHue said.
