Steele 14, Smithson Valley 10
Quick take: Steele prevailed 14-10 in an old-fashioned slugfest Friday afternoon against Smithson Valley at Ranger Stadium.
The two defenses flexed their muscles for much of the contest, but a pair of explosive plays were all the Knights (6-3, 6-1) needed. Steele also picked off Rangers quarterback Jalen Nutt four times, including once on each of Smithson Valley’s final three possessions.
Highlights: It was tough sledding for both offenses, but Steele quarterback Wyatt Begeal manufactured just enough to keep the Knights afloat.
Begeal whipped a short pass to Kameron Regis in the first quarter and watched as the wide receiver quickly turned upfield and accelerated past everyone for a 77-yard touchdown.
The Rangers trailed 7-3 at halftime after Austin Hosier drilled a 20-yard field goal, and the Knights extended their lead in the third quarter moments after after Begeal broke loose for a 56-yard gain near Smithson Valley’s goal line. Steele then bulldozed its way into the end zone to take a 14-3 edge.
The Rangers looked for a dramatic rally down the stretch, but the Knights’ secondary sealed the hard-fought win with a flurry of takeaways after surrendering a touchdown.
Linebacker Christian Garza snagged an interception with 1:27 left to play, and after a punt pinned Smithson Valley (6-2, 4-2) at its own 6-yard line, and Daveon Hook delivered the knockout punch by picking off a pass that was thrown up for grabs with just two seconds left on the clock.
What it means: Steele likely will host a playoff game in two weeks after sewing up District 27-6A’s No. 2 seed. Begeal’s patience and a stifling defensive effort helped the Knights pull out their second win in a row in Smithson Valley’s backyard.
The Rangers were uncharacteristically careless with the football and turned it over four times in the loss. Smithson Valley came into the contest having committed just one giveaway in its first seven ballgames.
Game balls: Steele’s Cruz Untz, Hooks and Garza kept tight coverage downfield all game. Up front, the Knights’ Caleb Lewis applied pressure and also hemmed in the Rangers’ run game. Smithson
Valley linebacker Darlington Frasch was all over the field, and teammate Trey Moore was his usual disruptive self from his defensive end spot.
Quotable: “Playing in our district, every week is going to be a dogfight,” Begeal said. “That’s a huge testament to the teams and coaches in our district, and also for us. We line up and play hardnosed football every week and that’s what we’re about.”
Up next: The Knights will prepare for the upcoming Class 6A postseason after a scheduled bye next week. Smithson Valley has one more regular season contest remaining against Judson on Friday at Rutledge Stadium. That game was rescheduled from Nov. 13.