AUSTIN – Out of all the plays Hays Rebels senior defensive back Jaidon Bialaszewski made Friday at Burger Stadium, fate allowed him to save his best for last.
By keeping a Bowie Bulldogs wide receiver one yard short of the end zone as time expired, Bialaszewski became the instant hero for Hays in a heart-stopping 35-28 district win.
Rebel running back Martin Shoemaker credited the play of the team’s offensive line, which he said “doesn’t get enough credit.”
For Bialaszewski, only one thought came to mind as he saw the wide receiver coming toward him – “Just protect the end zone.”
“I saw him coming in. I honestly thought he was going to score,” Bialaszewski said. “But I put everything I had into that hit.”
Bialaszewski’s play was the final act in a wild back-and-forth affair. When the dust settled, however, Hays (4-0, 2-0) claims the upper hand on third place in the standings.
Hays (4-0, 2-0) opened by scoring 14 unanswered points aided by a pair of Bowie miscues.
Anchoring the effort was a Rebel run game that finished with 266 total rushing yards. Rebel senior running back Martin Shoemaker led the way with 96 yards and two touchdowns, backed up by senior running back Nash Danford, who finished with 77 yards and a score.
Shoemaker credited the play of the team’s offensive line, which he said “doesn’t get enough credit.”
Hays head coach Les Goad said the team’s offensive line, made up mostly of seniors, has done well to adhere to a new system and a new style and keeps improving weekly.
The Rebels’ ability to convert on third and fourth down helped to extend drives. Hays went 6 for 11 on third-down conversions and 2 of 3 in converting on fourth down.
“If we have to take three or four downs to get a first down, we will keep doing what we need to do,” Goad said.
Bowie bounced back by scoring 14 unanswered points early in the second frame, highlighted by an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown by wide receiver Jackson Lord.
The Rebels responded on the next drive by going 75 yards in six plays, finished with a four-yard touchdown run by junior running back Xavier Green.
Bowie, however, closed the first half with a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Evan Mallett to Lord, retying the score at 21-21 at intermission.
Both teams quite literally hit the ground running in the second half.
Hays opened the third frame with a methodical 14-play drive that took 6:48 off the clock. A one-yard touchdown plunge from senior running back Devin Hines placed the Rebels ahead at 28-21.
Bowie responded with an equally meticulous ten-play drive capped off by a seven-yard touchdown run from Bulldog running back Terance Durst, which retied the contest at 28-28 heading into the fourth quarter.
But a critical fourth quarter defensive stop allowed Hays’ offense a chance to recapture the lead.
A 20-yard touchdown run from Shoemaker gave Hays a 35-28 advantage with 87 seconds left.
“That touchdown, that’s what we’ve been working on all season,” Shoemaker said. “NASCAR, we’ve got to go fast. There was only two minutes left on the clock and we had to get it in.”
Hays’ focus now shifts to its homecoming game against Akins Friday at 7:30 p.m. Following an emotional win, Goad said the mindset of getting back to work will be imperative.
“We’ve got to build on the positives and study what we’re doing and see what other things we need to get better at,” Goad said. “Next week is big. All of them are as big as the next one.”
