By JASON GORDON
No Caleb Kimbro, no problem.
For one game at least, Hays survived without its star senior quarterback.
Taven Mayberry and Marco Solis both rushed for career highs to lead Hays to a 28-10 win over rival Lehman Friday night at a rainy Shelton Stadium in the district opener for both teams.
“Marco and Taven are two of the toughest kids on the team,” said Hays cornerback Christian Rodriguez. “We knew it was up to them to make plays tonight and that’s what they did.”
Mayberry tallied 170 yards rushing and one touchdown and Solis added 134 yards on the ground and two scores.
Mayberry’s touchdown in the fourth quarter came after he cut back to the left side of the field and made a shifty move at the 10-yard line, causing two would-be Lehman defenders to fall down. He dove into the end zone for a 19-yard score to give Hays a 28-3 lead.
“Taven and Marco played unbelievable tonight,” said Kimbro, who has 40 total touchdowns and more than 4,000 total yards the past two seasons but sat out the game after injuring his shoulder two weeks ago against Rouse. “I think you have to give an awful lot of credit to our offensive line, too. They played all out from start to finish.”
The Rebel defense was once again stout, allowing Lehman only 121 total yards. Hays has allowed opponents only an average of only 145 yards this season and the first team defense has only given up one touchdown all year.
“I don’t know if there’s another team in the state that can say their first team defense has allowed only one touchdown through four games,” Hays head coach Blake Feldt said.
“We have a great defense and they’re only going to get better,” Hays offensive lineman William Trevillion said. “Lehman could barely do anything tonight.”
Lehman quarterback Josh Guerrero agreed it was tough sledding against the Hays defense.
“We didn’t have an answer for them,” Guerrero said. “They just came out and played their game and did what they needed to do.”
Hays held Lehman’s leading rusher Paul Brown to only 24 yards on 12 carries.
After a Solis touchdown and a perfectly-timed 16-yard touchdown pass from Jordan to Granger Studdard in the left corner of the end zone gave Hays a 14-3 halftime lead, the Rebels added to their advantage on another Solis short touchdown run in the third quarter to make it 21-3 heading to the final period of play.
Lehman (1-3, 0-1) still has never beaten Hays in the seven-year history of the series. Paul Matthews led the Lobos offensively with 76 yards rushing. Lehman scored its lone touchdown when Tyler Dodero returned a fumble 65 yards midway through the fourth quarter.
In a great show of sportsmanship both Rebel and Lobo players and coaches joined in unison to raise their hats and helmets to the crowds on both sides of the field as their respective bands played the Hays and Lehman school songs after the game.
Hays will face a tough test on the road next week at Kerrville Tivy.
Feldt said the plan is for Kimbro to be back in the starting lineup against the Antlers.
“I’ll be playing against Kerrville,” Kimbro said. “No doubt.”
Lehman returns to action in its homecoming game next Friday night at Shelton Stadium against Boerne Champion.
