The Hays Rebels (8-2) capped off the regular season Friday with a thrilling 56-42 win over the Del Valle Cardinals (5-5) on senior night at Bob Shelton Stadium.
The Rebel offense scored on their opening possession of the game with a 2-yard run by senior running back Xavier Green. However, Del Valle countered by taking a 21-7 lead via three straight scoring drives. Del Valle quarterback Jace Wilson hit wide receiver Caleb Burton for 13 and 42-yard touchdown passes, which was then followed by a 19-yard touchdown dash by running back Tavierre Dunlap.
Hays’ offense answered back with three touchdowns in the second quarter to retake the lead. Two touchdowns by Xavier Green, both from the 1-yard line, and a 9-yard touchdown catch by senior running back JoeAngel Carrasco from junior quarterback Durand Hill gave the Rebels a 28-21 lead at halftime.
Del Valle tied the score back up on their first drive of the third quarter with a 45-yard touchdown run from Dunlap. But Hays’ offense came back swinging with a 13-yard hard-earned touchdown run by senior running back Bobby Green.
On the following drive, with the Cardinals offense in the red-zone threatening to score yet again, Hays junior defensive back Michael Boudoin snagged a critical interception and returned it 97-yards for a touchdown, giving the Rebels a two score lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Although the Cardinals scored two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Hays also went on to score two more touchdowns in the final frame, a 21-yard quarterback keep by Hill, and the other a 6-yard run up the gut by junior running back Josh Rodriguez, sealing the Rebels’ 56-42 victory.
With the regular season in the books, Hays advances to the 6A, Division I playoffs and will hit the road next week to face Judson (9-1) in their Bi-District matchup.
