AUSTIN, TX – The Anderson Trojans topped the McCallum Knights in the 14th annual Taco Shack Bowl, 28-14, Thursday, August 27th at House Park Stadium. The game received its moniker from a nearby hot spot for foodies, the Taco Shack.
Restaurant Founder and Owner, Orlando Arriaga, is a McCallum High School alumnus, and in 2002 he decided to sponsor the first meeting between the two bitter rivals, which is traditionally held as the first game of the season.
Both teams started their first few drives going three-and-out. Midway through the first quarter, senior quarterback Genuwyne Garza went untouched for a 31-yard touchdown to give Anderson its first score of the game.
“We wanted to show everybody that we were ready,” Garza said.
Last year, he played in the Trojan’s secondary but, “I’ve been playing quarterback since pee-wee, so it was easy for me.”
On McCallum’s insinuating drive, sophomore quarterback Max Perez connected with Ben Wangrin on a 15-yard roll out, only to have it stripped by Trojan defensive back Khalil Easley. The momentum continued to pour in for the Trojans as they punched it in on another methodical drive. This time it was senior running back Kenneth Robertson who scooted past the goal line, giving Anderson a 13-0 lead with a minute left in the first half.
The Trojans picked up where they left off to start the second half. Perez threw a second interception to a familiar face, Khalil Easley.
The second quarter was full of quarterback changes until McCallum decided to stick with its second string junior quarterback, Tyler Page. Garza slouched late in the quarter as junior defensive back Nathan Saul picked him off for the first time of the night.
That interception gave the Knights something to work with going into halftime. McCallum opened the second half with a quick three-and-out, but they quickly received another chance by recovering Garza’s fumble.
Midway through the third quarter, Tyler Page found his rhythm; he scrambled for an impressive 16-yard touchdown that finally put the Knights on the board: Anderson 13, McCallum 7.
With 19 seconds left in the quarter, Garza found his magic once more, finding Hayden Buckman for a 26-yard touchdown pass. The Trojans weren’t done. They elected to go for the two-point conversion.
Garza rolled to his right and lobbed a timely pass to wideout Dean Dixon. The Trojans ended the third quarter strong with a controlling 21-7 lead.
Trojan Head Coach Jeff Rhoads decided to start the fourth quarter with a triple reverse that was taken 62 yards to the house by senior Trey
Espinoza gave the Trojans a commanding 28-7 lead.
With 4:32 left to play, the Knights fought back to punch it in on the goal line with a quarterback sneak by Page. Denzel Banks’ point after kick cut the Trojans lead to 14.
And then, the desperation play: the onside kick. A tightly-wound kick snuck past the first Trojan fielder, the ball ricocheting into Austin’s night sky—McCallum’s hopes riding on its return. Anderson recovered.
With two minutes left before the final whistle, Tyler Page made one last effort to salvage the game, but junior defensive lineman Richard Ross intercepted his pass to seal the Trojans victory at the Taco Bowl. Final Score: Anderson 28, McCallum 14.
“This is the first game for us, and that’s it. We’re trying to change the culture around here,” Rhoads said.
Photos by Aubrey Oswalt
