Texans’ offense coasts in rout of Bulldogs
Lightning forced Heights and Lamar to put their District 18-6A showdown on hold Saturday at Delmar Stadium.
It only delayed the inevitable.
Both teams went without key players, but the Bulldogs missed Jalen Green more, and the Texans rolled to a 58-0 win, their 52nd consecutive in district, all but securing an eighth straight district title.
“We were ready to play, and they lost their best player, and maybe that affected them a little bit,” Lamar coach Tom Nolen said.
“I know it did, not having him, but maybe their confidence level, too.”
Lamar improved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in district. Heights is now 5-1, 3-1.
Green, who’s committed to Texas, was electric two weeks ago in a key win over Bellaire, supplying four touchdowns. He was out Saturday, relegated to the sideline in the biggest game of the season.
Heights coach Stephen Dixon said Green broke his shoulder last week and is out for the rest of the regular season.
“Our prayer is that he’ll be back for the playoffs,” Dixon said.
The Bulldogs missed him dearly, too, managing only 2 yards in the first quarter. Picking up the slack
Lamar, despite playing without its leading rusher, running back Ta’Zhawn Henry, didn’t miss a beat, rolling to a 21-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter — a 28-yard scoring pass from quarterback Ty Holden to running back Roderic Burns.
Nolen said Henry is week-to-week with a sprained ankle.
“Any other year, (Burns) would be the No. 1 running back, so he’s a quality player,” Nolen said. “I don’t like (Henry) being hurt, but that’s one place we’ve got a little depth.”
After punting on their opening possession, the Texans scored on their next three, all starting in Heights territory.
The first score was set up by punter David Lastra’s 15-yard run on a fake punt.
Linebacker Isaiah Ibeto punched it home with a 2-yard run on a direct snap before adding a 4-yard touchdown run on another direct snap in the third.
Lamar went up 14-0 with 2:06 left in the first quarter.
Alex Hogan returned a punt 37 yards to the Bulldogs’ 18, then Evan Elder hauled in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Holden. Lacking on offense
Lamar led 28-0 at halftime. The Bulldogs had 20 yards on 20 rushes and no passing yards at the break.
They finished with minus-9 yards after going backward in the second half.
“The defense does a great job,” Nolen said. “Coach (Eddie) Saldivar always has them ready to play.”
The Texans finished with only 299 yards but started eight possessions in Heights territory.
Burns added a 7-yard touchdown run in the third to his first-half receiving score, finishing with 74 total yards.
Keener rushed for 48 yards on 11 carries.
“We were missing a lot of key pieces (Saturday), especially offensively,” Dixon said. “We’ve been one of the best offenses in the district, and probably the state, but when we’re missing Jalen Green on offense, and missing another slot receiver we normally have, it adds a different dynamic to our team.”