A pair of late fourth quarter touchdowns propelled the Georgetown Eagles to a 35-28 win over the Hays Rebels Thursday at Birklebach Field in Georgetown.
Hays (1-1), which at one point trailed 14-3 in the first half, rallied to take a 21-14 third quarter lead via a 23-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Xavier Martinez to senior wide receiver Gentry Brawith.
After a Georgetown touchdown to start the fourth quarter, Martinez connected with Brawith on a 32-yard touchdown pass to give Hays a 28-21 lead with 3:50 left in the game. Martinez went 24 of 33 for 223 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Brawith finished with eight receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
But the Rebels couldn’t halt Georgetown’s prolific offense from scoring 14 unanswered points to close the contest.
Eagle senior quarterback Cooper Bell tied the game at 28-28 on a 53-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Caden Leggett.
Following a Rebel miscue on the ensuing kickoff, Bell capped off a four play, 22-yard drive with a go-ahead four yard touchdown run to give the Eagles a 35-38 lead. Bell went 21 of 33 for 341 yards and three passing touchdowns, while also rushing for a pair of scores. Leggett caught eight passes for 238 yards and all three of Bell’s touchdowns.
Hays orchestrated one final drive to respond, but was thwarted by an interception near the goal line with less than 10 seconds left in the game.
Rebel junior running back Thailand Mayberry rushed for 51 yards on the night. Hays hosts in-county rival Dripping Springs Sept. 15 at Shelton Stadium.
