Yoakum football: Hitchcock gets late splurge to defeat Yoakum 62-32 in district opener
By Alvin Gomez/Special to the Herald/Times
The Yoakum Bulldogs kicked off District 12-3A play hosting the Class 3A Division I No. 4 Hitchcock Bulldogs Friday night. The Bulldogs of Yoakum battled Hitchcock for most of the night and were able to keep the score fairly close until a late run by Hitchcock put the game out of reach. Hitchcock was able to score the game's final 22 points after Yoakum's final touchdown of the night made the score 40-32 with 4:03 remaining in the third quarter. Yoakum would go on to lose 62-32 and now go into the bye week with a record of 4-3 and 0-1 in District play. Yoakum quarterback Zach Taylor threw for 200 yards and four touchdowns in the loss with Trae Cuellar on the receiving end of two Taylor touchdown passes. The Bulldogs will return to the field Oct. 20 to face the Class 3A Division I No. 2 ranked Columbus Cardinals in Columbus with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.
Yoakum opened the game with possession at their own 36 and used five plays before facing a fourth-down situation. The Yoakum offense could not convert and Hitchcock would take over at their own 45. Hitchcock would use five plays to go down and score the game's first touchdown after a two-yard run. Their extra point attempt was no good so Hitchcock led 6-0 early in the first quarter.
Yoakum's next possession was short lived as Taylor was picked off and the Hitchcock defender returned the interception back for a score. Hitchcock converted the two point attempt and made the score 14-0 with 6:56 remaining in the first quarter.
Yoakum would gain some momentum midway through the second quarter as TyJuan Garza was able to come away with a fumble recovery deep in Hitchcock territory at their 12. Yoakum took advantage and Taylor punched it in from two yards out for the score. The Sanchez extra point was no good making the score 14-6 in the second quarter.
Hitchcock would only need seconds to recover as they ran the ensuing kickoff back 67 yards for a touchdown. The two point attempt was no good bringing the score to 22-6 with 4:10 remaining in the second quarter. Yoakum took over at the Hitchcock 45, used two passing plays in less than minute to answer back. Taylor would find Trae Cuellar for a 28-yard touchdown pass. Yoakum attempted a two-point conversion but was unsuccessful. The score now was 22-12 in favor of Hitchcock with 3:51 in the second quarter.
Yoakum, attempting to seize on the momentum, attempted a successful onside kick recovery made by Colby Jendzrey. The Yoakum offense came out and used three plays to score as Taylor found Jamar Hopkins who made a move and sprinted into the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown. The Hernandez extra point was no good making the score 22-18 with 2:08 left in the first half.
Hitchcock used a quick passing attack to make their way down the field and score before the half with a touchdown pass of 23 yards. The two-point conversion was no good and it made the score 28-18 with just 55 seconds left in the first half.
Yoakum would open the second half with a Sean Payton-esque onside kick that caught Hitchcock by surprise as Hopkins recovered the ball. Taylor found X'Zavier Barnett for a 45- yard touchdown pass for his third touchdown pass of the game. Hernandez's extra point would be good and make the score 28-25 early in the third quarter.
Hitchcock answered back, needing only two plays to score. Hitchcock's quarterback threw his second touchdown pass from 43 yards out. The two-point conversion was no good so the score was now 34-25 with 11:34 remaining in the third quarter. Hitchcock would score again after a Yoakum punt using 12 plays and over five minutes. Their two-point conversion failed and made the score 40-25 midway through the third quarter. After an exchange of turnovers by both offenses. Yoakum would take over following a Kadarius Price fumble return to the Hitchcock 8. Taylor found Cuellar once again from eight yards out for his fourth touchdown pass and Cuellar's second receiving touchdown. The Hernandez extra point would bring Yoakum closer now 40-32 with 4:03 remaining in the third quarter. Hitchcock would go on to score 22 more points in the remaining quarter and a half.
Yoakum rushing — Qyion Williams 8-33, Zach Taylor 8-32, X’Zavier Barnett 2-15, KaDarius Price 1-6, Trae Cuellar 5-3, Zarion Cuellar 2-4, TyJuan Garza 1-1, Ty Gordon 1-1.
Yoakum passing — Taylor 14-27-2-200.
Yoakum receiving — Williams 6-47, Trae Cuellar 4-45, Barnett 2-50, Jamar Hopins 1-37, Price 1-21.
Yoakum defense — Gordon 6 tackles; Barnett 6 tackles; Trae Cuellar 5 tackles; Garza 5 tackles, 1 fumbler recovery; Chase Polk 4 tackles; Zarion Cuellar 4 tackles; Kenneth Long 3 tackles; Williams 3 tackles; Price 1 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery; Drake Deel 3 tackles; Hopkins 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery; Kennan Dilworth 1 tackle; Colby Jendrzey 1 tackle, 1 fumble recovery.
Yoakum punting — Trae Cuellar 4-156/39.0 average
Yoakum penalties — 3-30
Yoakum opened the game with possession at their own 36 and used five plays before facing a fourth-down situation. The Yoakum offense could not convert and Hitchcock would take over at their own 45. Hitchcock would use five plays to go down and score the game's first touchdown after a two-yard run. Their extra point attempt was no good so Hitchcock led 6-0 early in the first quarter.
Yoakum's next possession was short lived as Taylor was picked off and the Hitchcock defender returned the interception back for a score. Hitchcock converted the two point attempt and made the score 14-0 with 6:56 remaining in the first quarter.
Yoakum would gain some momentum midway through the second quarter as TyJuan Garza was able to come away with a fumble recovery deep in Hitchcock territory at their 12. Yoakum took advantage and Taylor punched it in from two yards out for the score. The Sanchez extra point was no good making the score 14-6 in the second quarter.
Hitchcock would only need seconds to recover as they ran the ensuing kickoff back 67 yards for a touchdown. The two point attempt was no good bringing the score to 22-6 with 4:10 remaining in the second quarter. Yoakum took over at the Hitchcock 45, used two passing plays in less than minute to answer back. Taylor would find Trae Cuellar for a 28-yard touchdown pass. Yoakum attempted a two-point conversion but was unsuccessful. The score now was 22-12 in favor of Hitchcock with 3:51 in the second quarter.
Yoakum, attempting to seize on the momentum, attempted a successful onside kick recovery made by Colby Jendzrey. The Yoakum offense came out and used three plays to score as Taylor found Jamar Hopkins who made a move and sprinted into the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown. The Hernandez extra point was no good making the score 22-18 with 2:08 left in the first half.
Hitchcock used a quick passing attack to make their way down the field and score before the half with a touchdown pass of 23 yards. The two-point conversion was no good and it made the score 28-18 with just 55 seconds left in the first half.
Yoakum would open the second half with a Sean Payton-esque onside kick that caught Hitchcock by surprise as Hopkins recovered the ball. Taylor found X'Zavier Barnett for a 45- yard touchdown pass for his third touchdown pass of the game. Hernandez's extra point would be good and make the score 28-25 early in the third quarter.
Hitchcock answered back, needing only two plays to score. Hitchcock's quarterback threw his second touchdown pass from 43 yards out. The two-point conversion was no good so the score was now 34-25 with 11:34 remaining in the third quarter. Hitchcock would score again after a Yoakum punt using 12 plays and over five minutes. Their two-point conversion failed and made the score 40-25 midway through the third quarter. After an exchange of turnovers by both offenses. Yoakum would take over following a Kadarius Price fumble return to the Hitchcock 8. Taylor found Cuellar once again from eight yards out for his fourth touchdown pass and Cuellar's second receiving touchdown. The Hernandez extra point would bring Yoakum closer now 40-32 with 4:03 remaining in the third quarter. Hitchcock would go on to score 22 more points in the remaining quarter and a half.
Yoakum rushing — Qyion Williams 8-33, Zach Taylor 8-32, X’Zavier Barnett 2-15, KaDarius Price 1-6, Trae Cuellar 5-3, Zarion Cuellar 2-4, TyJuan Garza 1-1, Ty Gordon 1-1.
Yoakum passing — Taylor 14-27-2-200.
Yoakum receiving — Williams 6-47, Trae Cuellar 4-45, Barnett 2-50, Jamar Hopins 1-37, Price 1-21.
Yoakum defense — Gordon 6 tackles; Barnett 6 tackles; Trae Cuellar 5 tackles; Garza 5 tackles, 1 fumbler recovery; Chase Polk 4 tackles; Zarion Cuellar 4 tackles; Kenneth Long 3 tackles; Williams 3 tackles; Price 1 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery; Drake Deel 3 tackles; Hopkins 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery; Kennan Dilworth 1 tackle; Colby Jendrzey 1 tackle, 1 fumble recovery.
Yoakum punting — Trae Cuellar 4-156/39.0 average
Yoakum penalties — 3-30