Michael Romero, who had 108 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving, follows Rebel center Boone Feldt toward the end zone in Hays' playoff-clinching 41-7 win over Lockhart Friday night at Shelton Stadium. (Photo by Bruce Ruckel, www.chaparralphoto.com)
The Hays football team looked like it was going to take a major step backward as play progressed throughout the first half Friday night against Lockhart with a playoff berth on the line.
The Rebels squandered scoring chances, had drives stall with illegal procedure and holding penalties, and looked more like a team playing their first game rather than their eighth.
All of that changed in the second half, as Hays looked like a new squad, romping to a 41-7 win over the Lions at Shelton Stadium.
“When we execute and don’t screw up we’re pretty good,” Hays head coach Blake Feldt said. “The way we played in the second half is how we have to play the whole game.”
Hays squandered two scoring chances inside Lockhart’s 10-yard line in the first half, but looked almost perfect after the break.
Quarterback Caleb Kimbro got things started for the Rebels in the third quarter by breaking a tackle at the line of scrimmage before zigzagging his way into the end zone from 18 yards out.
Michael Romero’s 57-yard run set up a Kimbro 6-yard touchdown pass to Granger Studdard on Hays’ next possession. After Jared Rodriguez thwarted Lockhart’s fake punt attempt to set the Rebels up at midfield, Kimbro again found Studdard, this time on a 25-yard fade pattern in the left corner of the end zone to make it 27-0 and the rout was on.
Romero had 108 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving to help lead the Rebels. Kimbro finished 19-of-28 through the air for 301 yards. He was 9-of-9 passing in the second half. In all, the Rebels finished the game with 542 yards in total offense.
“We definitely showed how powerful we can be in the second half,” Hays receiver Taven Mayberry said. “Once we stopped making mistakes, we got on a roll.”
With the victory, the Rebels (5-3, 3-1 27-4A) clinch a playoff spot and keep the Lions (2-5, 0-3) winless in district play.
“We knew how important this game was,” Romero said. “We came out after halftime ready to play.”
Hays has an open week now, and will next face Canyon on the famous red turf in New Braunfels on Oct. 28. If the Rebels beat the Cougars, they will earn the right to play Smithson Valley for the district title on Nov. 4 at Shelton Stadium.
