Caleb Kimbro passed for 279 yards and rushed for 64 more to lead Hays to a 21-17 win at Canyon Friday night. (Photo by Christopher Farias)
With Hays’ district-title hopes hanging in the balance, it was the defense that came up with a big play late to help secure a 21-17 Rebel victory on Canyon’s famous red turf in New Braunfels last Friday night.
Canyon looked to be marching in for the go-ahead score as time ticked away in the fourth quarter.
After Cougars’ quarterback Austin Day rushed for 5 yards to the Hays 35 on fourth down to keep a drive alive with under four minutes to play, Dakota Billings fumbled the ball after being popped by Nate Paez. Rebel defensive back Anthony Valdez fell on the football, and Canyon never regained possession.
“Our defense played great all game and came up with a huge play when we needed it most,” Hays quarterback Caleb Kimbro said.
Kimbro completed his first nine passes and finished 16-for-19 for 279 yards with two touchdowns. The talented signal caller threw in 64 yards on the ground for good measure, none bigger than the four yards he gained on fourth-and-1 at midfield with two minutes to play that allowed the Rebels to run out the clock.
Canyon had scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, on a Day 11-yard run and a Kyle Hoegenauer 37-yard field goal, before the rally fell short.
“Canyon is such a big, strong football team and I was afraid of how we’d match up with them physically,” Hays head coach Blake Feldt said. “This was by far the best we’ve played offensively all season. It’s about time, it’s the ninth game of the season.”
The victory means Hays (6-3, 4-1) can grab a share of the District 27-4A title with a win at home next Friday in the last game of the regular season against Smithson Valley.
“We’ve worked since two-a-days to have a shot at the district title,” Kimbro said. “Now we have that opportunity.”
Hays came out of the gate hot as Kimbro completed a 50-yard pass to Granger Studdard to set up his own 8-yard touchdown run less than two minutes into the game.
Canyon answered the Hays score late in the first quarter when Day capped a 10-play, 86-yard drive with a 5-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown.
On Hays’ next possession, Kimbro threw a fade pass to the deep left corner of the end zone and Studdard made a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch for a 35-yard score and the Rebels led 14-7 at halftime.
The Rebs increased the margin to 21-7 when Michael Romero sprung free down the left sideline for a 48-yard touchdown run with two minutes left in the third quarter.
Romero finished the game with seven catches for 107 yards, while Studdard had six grabs for 118 yards for Hays. In all, Kimbro completed passes to five different Rebel receivers. Canyon (7-3, 3-3), which had already clinched a playoff berth coming in, was paced by Billings’ 153 yards on 15 carries.
“Our guys made some awesome catches tonight,” Kimbro said. “Our coaches had a great game plan coming into the game and everything came together for us.”
Kickoff Friday night against Smithson Valley at Shelton Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Rangers are ranked as high as No. 2 in statewide Class 4A polls.
