Devin Jennings, Kyle Cox and Joel Young gang tackle Hutto quarterback Ryan Higgins in a game that started out as a shootout but ended as a defensive struggle. Hutto held Hays scoreless the final 35 minutes of the contest in a 27-13 win at Shelton Stadium. (Photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
By JASON GORDON
Just when it looked like the matchup between Hays and Hutto would be a shootout, the members of the Hippos’ defense decided they had other ideas.
After Hays scored its second touchdown of the game in the first minute of the second quarter, Hutto shut out the Rebels the rest of the way in a 27-13 win at Shelton Stadium.
Hays was averaging 34 points per game through its first three games.
“They had a lot of big dudes on defense and they were real fast,” said Hays receiver Mason Cervenka. “Their speed was definitely a factor.”
Defensive linemen Tanner Thrift, Amir Adkins-Shakur and linebacker Shane Fielder helped lead a Hippo defense that tackled Hays behind the line of scrimmage on nine plays, including six quarterback sacks.
“I’ve always been a defensive-minded coach,” Hutto head coach Steve Hale said. “We gave up some big plays early but we shut them down after that.”
Hays (2-2) looked to be driving for the go-ahead score late in the second quarter when Taylor Mayes stepped in front of a Caleb Kimbro pass an picked it off near midfield with 37 seconds left until the break.
It didn’t take long for the Hippos (4-0) to add to their lead, as Ryan Higgins found Matt Olsen breaking free down the left sideline with a 30-yard touchdown pass to put Hutto ahead 21-13 at the half.
The two teams went back and fourth before that, as Hays opened the scoring when Kimbro found Cervenka jetting down the seam on fourth-and-6 for a 29-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive of the game.
Hutto answered as Greg Pitre’s 72-yard run set up Higgins’ 6-yard touchdown scamper.
Hays went back up 14-8 early in the second quarter when Kimbro’s 44-yard pass to Granger Studdard led to Michael Romero’s 37-yard scoring run, but Hutto again had the answer when A.J. Lopez’s 70-yard kickoff return led to Pitre’s 6-yard touchdown run with 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
Pitre led Hutto with 131 yards rushing on 12 carries. Kimbro passed for 248 yards for the Rebels.
The Rebs don’t have much time to get over the loss, as Hays will play Lehman in the District 27-4A opener for both teams next Friday night. The Lobos will be the home team at Shelton Stadium.
Lehman is 4-0 and looking for its first-ever victory over Hays.
“Lehman has a lot of momentum,” Cervenka said. “There’s always a lot of energy when we play them. It will definitely be a big game.”
