Williams scores 3 touchdowns as Bears clinch playoff berth
With one final Javon Williams sprint, the order changed in Alief ISD.
Hastings’ junior quarterback scored his third touchdown and put the finishing touch on a 31-28 triumph against Alief Taylor, Oct. 27 at Crump Stadium. One year after a two-win season, the Bears completed a sweep of AISD opponents including the previous week’s 27-10 victory against Elsik.
“It’s a big one for us,” Hastings senior linebacker Jonathan Gadison said. “We haven’t beaten Taylor in 10 years and we haven’t beaten both Alief schools in I don’t know how long, so this feels good. And we’re in the playoffs now.”
On a night the 1997 Hastings state finalist team was honored, the Bears improved to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in District 23-6A to take over sole possession of second place and seal a playoff berth.
District title game next
Their next game, Nov. 10 against Dawson at Crump Stadium, will decide the district title.
A year ago at this time, the Bears were recovering from a 62-32 loss to undefeated Taylor. But they believed they had the pieces in place.
“In offseason, we changed the culture,” Hastings coach David Martel said. “We went to a boot camp and every kid that went through the boot camp got war dog tags. The kids started believing. Once they started believing, I’ve got an excellent coaching staff, and the kids just took off.”
The Bears took the initial lead on their opening drive as Dylan Foto kicked a 28-yard field goal. Taylor (2-4, 1-3) answered early in the second quarter with a 12-yard touchdown from Charlie McFarland to Shea Whiting.
Hastings took full advantage of field position to score twice late in the second half and turn a deficit into a 17-7 halftime lead. A punt from Foto was downed at the one-yard line to start the Bears’ run.
Tackles by Tralin Odems, Terence Batiste and Jevon Leon, among others, forced Taylor to punt from its own end zone. The short kick was downed by the Lions at their own 31, and Hastings took the lead three plays later.
Down 7-3, Tremain Cox got the Bears started with a 13-yard run. Williams then escaped pressure and found Austin Ogunmakin open in the left corner of the end zone for a 10-7 advantage with 4:38 remaining.
A penalty erased a strong kick return by Taylor, putting the Lions in more rough starting position at their 10. A sack by Gadison almost resulted in a safety and forced Taylor to punt from its end zone again.
Hastings needed only one play this time, as Williams rushed behind a heavy formation for an 11yard touchdown with 3:15 left in the half.
Taylor set a quick pace in the second half, scoring in less than two minutes with an up-tempo attack. Lavone Brown’s 38-yard catch set up a oneyard touchdown by Larry Gordy.
But Hastings was able to hold on Taylor’s next three possessions, slowing a speedy offense, albeit one without injured top receiver Brennan Eagles.
“We know they’re a throwing team and we had to watch out for their speed,” Gadison said. “We had to come after the quarterback, so I tried to get in there a couple times and made sacks. My teammates made stops and we came out with the W.”
Williams caps key drive
The Bears used a timeconsuming touchdown drive to stay ahead, marching 80 yards in 12 plays, including a leaping 30-yard catch by Jeremy Caston. Williams powered in from five yards for a 24-14 lead with 31 seconds left in the quarter.
Taylorcut the lead back to three points with 3:27 remaining as Cavous Griffin’s 40-yard catch and run brought the Lions back.
But after an onside kick recovery, Williams kept a read option and rushed 37 yards for the game-clinching score with 1:55 remaining.
“The last play I was thinking ‘got to take it to the crib,’” Williams said. “The linemen made a big hole for me. I had to just take it.”