For the 13th straight year in a row, the Hays Rebels proved too much for the Lehman Lobos to handle.
Close to 500 yards gained on the ground by Hays Oct. 18 spurred a 62-7 Rebel win over Lehman at Shelton Stadium. Hays’ 55-point margin of victory is now the largest in the history of the series.
District 25-6A standings
Hays 5-0
Lake Travis 5-0
Westlake 4-1
Bowie 3-2
Anderson 3-2
Del Valle 3-3
Austin 1-5
Lehman 0-5
Akins 0-6
But all Rebel eyes now converge on a grueling final third of the season that begins Friday with a test against state-ranked Westlake. While Rebel head coach Les Goad doesn’t deny the talent Westlake brings, preparing for each opponent in the same manner remains the approach.
“All we can do is control what we can control and try to get better and eliminate those mistakes, get healthy and put the best game plan together,” Goad said. “Westlake is a top 10 team in the state, but we have to control what we can control.”
Hays (7-0, 5-0) took the latter mantra to heart by hitting the ground running early and often against the Lobos. All told, Hays amassed 493 rushing yards on 60 carries in the contest, while also out-gaining Lehman 544-189 in total yards.
The Rebels leapt out to a commanding 20-0 first quarter lead highlighted by an 80-yard touchdown run by running back Xavier Green.
The onslaught continued into the second frame as Xavier Green tallied two more rushing touchdowns, giving Hays a 34-0 advantage at intermission.
Xavier Green led all rushers with 186 yards on nine carries and three touchdowns in only one half of work. Hays’ Christian Garcia finished with 64 yards and two scores, while Rebel Bobby Green rushed for 48 yards and two touchdowns.
Xavier Green said execution of team’s base plays, along with blocks from of the offensive line, helped to usher the quick start. Cohesion across the board among the team has also been a vital ingredient for success.
“This is the most connection I’ve had with any group. We hang out with each other before school and after school,” Xavier Green said. “We’re like family and I love those guys.”
Meanwhile, Lehman (1-6, 0-5) struggled to get the ball rolling from the get go. Five total turnovers, four of those coming from lost fumbles, stymied progress on the offensive side. Hays scored 34 of its 62 points off Lehman turnovers.
Goad said Hays’ defense, led by coordinator Dave Holmgreen, has been able to swarm to the ball and scheme effectively against opponents, which helps to offset an undersized front seven. Improvement when it comes to tackling along with relying on their speed and technique also kept Lehman’s offense in check.
“Playing 11 man defense and not giving up the big play. That’s the big key to being good on defense,” Goad said. “If you can continue to get the turnovers we’ve been getting, it puts you in position to compete with anybody.”
Even with second and third string players in the contest, Hays kept momentum and built a 55-0 lead in the fourth frame before the Lobos orchestrated their lone response.
A six-yard touchdown run by Lobo quarterback Logan Travis capped off a three-play, 75-yard drive that was aided by a key 67 yard run by Kanui Guidry.
Guidry led all Lobos with 78 yards rushing on four carries, while running back Keyshaun Williams finished with 73 yards on 13 carries.
Lehman quarterback Joey Guajardo went 4 of 8 for 24 yards and an interception, while Hays quarterback Durand Hill went 2 of 4 for 51 yards.
Fixing the little things will be what Goad plans to work on as the ready for Westlake. Limiting mistakes, such as penalties, will be important. Those mistakes are “something that as a coaching staff continues to haunt us,” Goad said.
“We’re trying to get the dub (win),” Bobby Green said. “We have to continue to get our blocks and be strong running the ball.”
