Kerrville Tivy quarterback Johnny Manziel ran for four touchdowns and passed for three more in the Antlers' 49-21 first round playoff win over Hays Friday night at Clemens. (Photo by Tony Smith)
By JASON GORDON
After lightning struck, Johnny Manziel thundered over Hays
Kerrville Tivy’s all-state quarterback added to his gaudy numbers in a 49-21 win over Hays Friday night at Clemens High in the first round of the Class 4A Division I playoffs.
Manziel ran for four touchdowns and threw for three more to set up a rematch with Lake Travis in the second round next week. The three-time defending state champion Cavilers beat the Antlers 37-33 in late September.
“Even when there was nothing there, Manziel made something happen,” Hays defensive end Alan Marin said. “He’s so smooth on the field. It seemed like he was running in slow motion but we still couldn’t stop him.”
Hays was down 7-6 and was driving near midfield late in the first quarter when a huge bolt of lightning and subsequent crack of thunder temporarily knocked out some of the stadium’s lights and sent fans scrambling.
Tivy linebacker Connor Burney recovered a Hays fumble on the first play after a 40-minute delay and Manziel quickly went back to work.
Manziel, who has committed to Texas A&M, hit Steven Brant with a 25-yard pass to set up his own 3-yard touchdown run to make it 14-6 less than a minute after play resumed.
“We never could get the momentum back after the weather delay,” Hays head coach Bob Shelton said. “I thought we were doing a lot of things well up to that point.”
After another short Manziel TD scamper, he went to the option on Tivy’s next drive, faking a pitch and sprinting18 yards into the right corner of the end zone to make it 28-6 midway through the second quarter.
Manziel threw his 40th touchdown pass of the season shortly afterward, tossing a beautiful fade to the right corner of the end zone to Braedon White for a 22-yard score to help make it 35-14 at halftime.
Manziel led Tivy (10-1) on two more quick touchdowns drives after the break.
His last pass before being pulled midway through the third quarter was another work of art, as Manziel scrambled around in the backfield before effortlessly flicking the ball over the middle for a 45-yard score to receiver Deron Belford.
Manziel finished his abbreviated evening 14-of-20 passing for 251 yards. He ran for 140 more yards on 14 carries.
Michael Romero gave Hays (6-5) hope early with a 30-yard touchdown run on the Rebels’ first drive. The Rebs actually picked off Manziel, who had thrown only two interceptions all season, twice in the game. Hays defensive backs Francisco Marin and JT Sivils accomplished the rare feat, but it still wasn’t enough to slow the Tivy tide.
“I said going into the game Manziel was probably the best I’d ever seen and he didn’t do anything tonight to change my mind,” Shelton said. “He’s really good.”
