Bulldogs end Texans’ streak
Every year, Lamar is tabbed the team to beat in its district. And for the past 10 years, the Texans have delivered a league crown.
And each year of the past decade, there’s a district challenger ready to take its best shot at the Texans. This year, that team is Heights, which like Lamar, cameinto Friday night’s 18-6A game at Delmar Stadium unbeaten in league play.
In a stunner, Heights pulled off what other district teams have tried to do for years and defeated Lamar 22-21 in overtime on Kendric Rhymes’ two-point conversion run to snap Lamar’s district winning streak at 72 games.
“This is huge,” Heights coach Stephen Dixon said. “Streaks aremeant to come to an end. Lamar has been a staple of HISD for so long. We just broke their streak.
“It’s a new day and age at Heights High School. I couldn’t be happier withmy coaches and players. They just executed and came through.”
Rhymes scored on the two-point conversion from the wildcat formation to end the game after the Bulldogs got within 21-20 on his 11-yard run. Rhymes accounted for a receiving touchdown and two rushing touchdowns, rushing for 54 yards on nine carries.
“He’s phenomenal,” Dixon said. “I don’t know why Power Five schools are not offering him. This kid is one of the best players, not only in Houston, but in the state.”
Quarterback Jalen Morrison engineered the big win for Heights.
Lamar took possession of the ball first in overtime and
Kenneth Kennedy scored on a 1-yard run. ForLamar, the loss stung. “It’s (streak) something that is fun, but it’s not something you talk about a lot and worry about,” Texans coach Michael Lindsey said. “Every year the goal is to win district.
“It’s great to be part of a tradition that’s long-standing, and it hurts to lose this one, butwe had a great fight in us tonight.”
Lamar made it 14-12 with 7:56 remaining on a fourthdown 6-yard touchdown pass fromWinston Smith to Terrence Rone, and the two teamed up again on the two-point conversion to tie the game 14-14. The Texans converted three fourth downs on the drive.
Rhymes’ 11-yard run followed by Adrian Blanco’s extra point put the Bulldogs ahead 14-6 with 5:12 remaining in the third quarter. A third-quarter interception by Jaden Wilson in the end zone was just one of many big plays the Bulldogs’ defense came up with.
With the hard-earned win, Heights (4-1, 4-0) has positioned itself in the driver’s seat for capturing district. Lamar is 5-2, 5-0 in district.
Heights running back Patrick McDowell rushed for 108 yards on 18 carries, including a 43-yard run in the third quarter.
Heights rushed for 197 yards and passed for 61 yards. Lamar rushed for 139 yards and passed for 77.
Smith got the start at quarterback for Lamar. Kenneth Rosenthal came in for the first time on the Texans’ first series of the second quarter. From there, both took turns running the offense.
There wasn’t a lot of sustained offense. Both teams had effective pass rushers, making it difficult for quarterbacks to have time to throw. Scoring opportunities were rare.
The Bulldogs’ defense was so dominant in the first half that the Texans did not manage a first down until picking up two in the final minute of the second quarter. Even with their troubles moving the ball against the Bulldogs, the Texans trailed only by a point (7-6) at halftime.
Lamar’s scoring in the first half came on field goals from Blake Bernhard of 38 and 30 yards.
Heights took a 7-6 lead at the 11:08 mark of the second quarter on a 12-yard pass from Morrison to Rhymes on a fourth-and-3. Rhymes sat out the Bulldogs’ previous game twoweeks ago — a 40-7 victory over Westside. Lastweek, the Bulldogs had an open date.
Kicking off to begin the game, it didn’t take Lamar long to get possession of the ball. On the first play from scrimmage, the Texans’ Jaivion Green intercepted a halfback pass, setting up a 38-yard field goal from Bernhard, the first of his two field goals made.
While leading 7-6 with just over four minutes to play before the half, Heights had a 60-yard touchdown pass from Morrison to Rhymes called back for holding.
Both teams’ defense excelled. For Lamar, in addition to Green’s interception, Oliver Jack blocked a punt. Lineman Darius Cleveland, linebacker Jonovan Foreman and Sy Johnson in the secondary stood out for Heights. Johnson intercepted a Smith pass in the end zone as the first half expired, preserving a 7-6 halftime lead.