Editor’s Note: The full game between DeSoto and Cibolo Steele can be found here.
Play #1: Capping off the opening drive
DeSoto started its offensive onslaught with a 92 yard, 14 play, Touchdown drive. Kelan Walker, DeSoto’s 6’0” tall, 195 lb. Running back, was the one who punched it in to give the Eagles their 1st score of the night. It was this play that I felt set the precedent for the rest of the first half, DeSoto came ready for blood while Steele Looked lethargic and rather unimpressive. After this drive, It looked like a rough day was in store for the Knights of Cibolo Steele.
Play #2: Back to Papa
In truly one of the most insane high school football plays I have ever seen in my life, the possession of the ball changed hands twice. On 3rd and 9, Senior QB #3 Shawn Robinson (TCU Commit) set up in the shotgun and attempted to complete a pass to teammate #1 K.D. Nixon.
That’s when Cibolo Steel DB Javon Cardwell intercepted the ball on the 2-yard line and got it back out to about the 30, where DeSoto’s Emmitt Perry knocked the ball out and RG #51 AJ Smith snatched it out of the air, giving the Eagles the ball back and a fresh set of downs deep in Steele territory.
Play #3: Walker, again
To many in attendance, this is when the game seemed to be all but over for Cibolo Steele. This 3rd touchdown of the night was punched in by DeSoto RB Kelan Walker, with this score Walker seemed to have pushed the Eagles right out reach for the Knights. It didn’t look like he Knights defense could do anything to stop the steamrolling DeSoto’s offense was giving them.
Play #4: Cibolo Steele Shows First Signs of Hope
After an incredible 4th and 5 conversion by Cibolo Steel’s RB #25 Brendan Brady, QB #1 Xavier Martin (Texas Tech Commit) saw all of Desoto’s defense flowing right, pulled the ball, and took it around the left side to give the Knights their first TD of the night. Up until this point in the 1st half, the Cibolo Steele offense had shown little to no signs of life. This TD gave Steele the spark they needed to stay competitive in the game. If Brenden Brady hadn’t converted that 4th down and the Knights didn’t score, the game would’ve ended here.
Play #5: Deep Ball to CJ Williams
After another miraculous 4th down conversion, Cibolo was now once again in enemy territory. That’s when Martin launched one 45 yards down the middle of the field to WR #6 CJ Williams. At first it looked as if Martin would be down at the one, but after a moment of deliberation the referees then ruled the catch a touchdown. The Knights were back within two scores and seemed to be picking up momentum. DeSoto was starting to show its first signs of fatigue, blown coverages and missed assignments. Things were looking like Steele may actually be able to pull this one off.
Play #6: Knights Pull Within Six
After trading blows back in forth with Desoto through the 3 rd and early 4 th quarter, Cibolo Steele was finally able to pull within 1 TD of the once unstoppable DeSoto Eagles. Texas Tech commit, Xavier Martin, showed some off some of his Football IQ and raw athletic ability by once again reading the flow of the DeSoto Defense and pulling the ball at just the right time to take 20 yards in for a diving touchdown. The only thing tainting this play was the controversial call to go for two by Steele Head Coach Scott Lehnhoff. If they would’ve converted the 2-point try, they would’ve pulled within four, meaning they would still need a touch down to pull in front of the Eagles. Maybe Coach Lehnhoff was seeing something I wasn’t.
Play #7: Christian Gonzalez FG Puts Game Out of Reach
With 2:10 left to go in the game on 4 th down and four on the Steel 8-yard line, Desoto Head Coach Todd Peterman decided to send #85 Christian Gonzalez and the FG unit out to kick the 24 yarder that would effectively put the Eagles out of the reach from the Knight’s Offense. Gonzalez had no problem sinking the FG, he was 4/5 on the year and had kicked a 34 yarder earlier in the season, so this FG was nothing out of the ordinary for him. With his kick, Gonzalez had put the eagles up by 9, which made the two missed 2-point tries by Cibolo Steele all the more costly.
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