With last week’s game behind them, the Gobblers traveled to La Vernia to take on the Bears. “It’s on to the next one for us. We understand what type of team we just played and what kind of game we just played. We just gotta have a short-term memory and just use it for what it is and get ready for the next,” said receiver coach, Tre’Vontae Hights, entering Friday night’s contest. He added, “I think we can be a lot better protecting the ball and executing in the redzone” The Gobblers offense was much more efficient Friday night, finishing the night with over 300 yards total offense, 5 touchdowns, and 0 turnovers, while defeating the La Vernia Bears 3528. The Gobblers defense came out strong, with sacks from Aiden Stafford and Kason Roy, to go along with fumble recoveries by Roy and Barrett Smith on the 1st three Bear possessions. The second Bear turnover, from inside their own 10, set up the Gobblers’ first score of the night, a 2 yard plunge from Jace Gamez.
The Bears offense then got on the board, with a seven yard touchdown pass to Logan Maytum, with 1:25 left in the first. The quarter would end tied 7-7.
On the second play of the second quarter, the Gobblers would take the lead right back. Quarterback Jaxxon Marie would find Walker Dietze on a 24-yard touchdown pass, making the score 14-7.
Both offenses would stall on their next drives, before the Bears found their footing, moving the ball on the ground. Hajek would tie the score at 14 on a 6-yard touchdown run with 1:20 left in the half.
The Gobblers’ offense opened up the 2nd half with a balanced attack. Marie found Brayden Hernandez for a 17-yard touchdown. Hernandez juked three defenders on his way to the end zone. The Gobblers led 21-14 with 10 minutes left in the 3rd.
The Gobblers defense would stop the Bears on their next drive, and the offense would begin their next possession around midfield. Two plays later Marie threw his third touchdown pass of the night, a 39 yarder to Dietze. Dietze had two touchdown receptions in the game.
Trailing 28-14, the Bears cut into the Gobblers’ lead with a 63yard pass from Hajek to Maytum, trimming the deficit to 28-21 halfway through the 3rd.
Jaxxon Marie then found Hernandez for a 26-yard gain, setting the ball up inside the 10. On the next play, Davyon Varela scored from 5 yards out, making the lead 35-21. The Bears would score their final touchdown on another run by Hajek. This time it was a 14 yarder left side. The score was 3528 with 10:48 left in the game.
The Gobblers moved the ball down to the 1 yard line, running out the clock, before facing a 4th and Goal. The Gobblers passed on a FG attempt and failed to convert on 4th down, giving the Bears the ball on their own 1, with less than 2 minutes left.
Cornerback Aiden Strecker ended their hopes of a comeback on the next play, intercepting the Bears’ pass. The Gobblers ran out the remaining time and the final score was 35-28. Marie finished the night 10 of 20 for 162 yards and 3 TD. Dietze had 4 receptions for 82 yards and 2 TD and Davyon Varela added 114 total yards and a TD.
The Gobblers will face Yoakum, for the 115th time, on Friday at Bulldogs Stadium, in one of the oldest rivalries in the state.
