The Yorktown Wildcats opened their season at home in a highscoring battle with the Karnes City Badgers, Friday, Aug. 29.
Despite a late rally, the Wildcats came up just short, falling 5648 in a thrilling contest.
Karnes City struck first, taking an early 60 lead. Yorktown answered when Mathew Olguin set up the offense with a strong run into Badger territory. Quarterback Brody Metting then broke free down the left side on a keeper for the Wildcats’ first touchdown. With the extra point good, Yorktown pulled ahead 7-6.
On defense, David Williams made a key tackle for a loss, but the Badgers responded on third down when quarterback Savion Nixon-Thompson scrambled under pressure and connected with Israel Soto for a 60-yard touchdown. Karnes City ended the quarter on top, 13-7.
Early in the quarter, McKenzie Yanta broke loose on a long run before being brought down at the 13-yard line. Moments later, Metting dashed into the end zone with 10:16 on the clock, giving Yorktown a 14-13 advantage.
The Badgers answered quickly with a 48-yard quarterback run up the middle, regaining the lead 19-14. A Yorktown fumble set up another Karnes City score, and with 6:11 left in the half, the Badgers punched it in and converted for two, stretching their lead to 27-14.
Another Wildcat turnover gave Karnes City a short field, and they capitalized again with 2:22 remaining to make it 34-14. Yorktown responded before halftime as Metting powered into the end zone from seven yards out with just 24 seconds left, cutting the deficit to 34-21 at the break.
Karnes City wasted no time, needing just two plays to score on a 61-yard quarterback keeper, extending the lead to 40-21. Yorktown battled back when Metting connected with Olguin to move the ball deep into Badger territory. Yanta capped the drive with a touchdown run to make it 40-28 with 8:16 left.
The Wildcats struck again after a facemask penalty put them near the goal line. Metting found Clayton Schendel on a 15-yard touchdown pass, and Yanta’s extra point cut the gap to 46-35. Karnes City held that 46-35 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
The Badgers opened the quarter facing fourth down at the Yorktown 10 and settled for a field goal, 4935. The Wildcats then seized momentum when Daylon Meyer blocked a Karnes City punt and Ryan Knostman knocked the ball into the hands of Connor Saunders, who raced it forward before being stopped short of the goal line. Metting finished the drive with a touchdown run, pulling Yorktown within 49-42 with just over five minutes to play.
(Editors Note: The Sept. 3 issues of the Cuero Record and the Yorktown News were published early on Friday, Aug. 29, instead of the regular Monday schedule due to the Labor Day holiday. The early deadline prevented coverage of the Friday night, Aug. 29, sports games in the Sept. 3 issues. The Record and the News apologize for the inconvenience to readers.)
Schendel dashes past his opponent on his way towards the endzone. Photo by Deirdre Alexander
