San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Mules set tone early, snap Buttons
If there is such a thing as a statement pass, it occurred on the first play of scrimmage.
Senior James Sobey’s perfect strike to junior Rett Andersen went for 57 yards. It led to a Sobey’s 3-yard scoring run and set the course for Alamo Heights’ 3520 victory against Central Catholic on Friday night at Orem Stadium.
“If we can get that momentum going on the first play, everything goes super-smooth the rest of the way,” Sobey said.
Sobey followed his running score with four touchdown passes, including three to Andersen, the 2020 Express-News Newcomer of the Year.
“Our coaches always tell us to set the tone early,” said Andersen, who caught six passes for a career-best 205 yards.
Sobey and Andersen were in sync on the first play. Central Catholic had a safety drop in and the cornerback covering Andersen was leaning inside.
“James Sobey threw a great ball,” Andersen said. “The corner was inside leverage, so I knew I had to get outside of him. I knew he was going to throw it up for me to get it, and I just had to go up and grab it.”
Andersen caught scores of 59, 26 and 9 yards. His 26-yarder was
Quick take: The Unicorns got a tough test from crosstown rival Canyon in the annual Wurst Bowl, but New Braunfels’ defense and running game helped preserve a 35-21 victory Friday night.
Playing at Unicorn Stadium, New Braunfels (3-0) withstood a late charge from the Cougars (1-2) in which Canyon rallied to within a single touchdown with 5:40 left to play after junior Daniel Perez — a defensive lineman — notched a 3-yard touchdown run.
Canyon coach Travis Bush dialed up an onside kick moments later, but New Braunfels’ James Etter snagged the ball in midair to give his team possession.
The Unicorns then embarked on a clock-draining 10-play drive that reached the end zone with two minutes to play. New Braunfels senior running back Ryker Purdy bulldozed his way across the goal line from 1 yard out to seal the deal for the Unicorns. Highlights: Canyon quarterback Drew Berry capped a five-play, 86-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that helped tie the game at 14-14.
Back came New Braunfels, which seized a 21-14 halftime advantage after Purdy got to the edge on fourth-and-1 and outran Canyon’s pursuit for a 40-yard touchdown. Purdy picked up a key block downfield from receiver Lance Beeghley, who opened the game’s scoring by snaring a 31-yard touchdown strike from Aiden Baumann with 4:02 to go in the first quarter.
The Cougars answered Beeghley’s catch immediately, marching 52 yards in eight plays and cashing in with a 5-yard touchdown run by Cameron Bibins on a speed option.
The seesaw battle continued when Baumann stepped up in the pocket from the Cougars’ 26-yard line and found no defenders in the vicinity, sprinting untouched across the goal line.
Canyon had a chance to march for a game-tying score in the third quarter, but a fourthdown stop by linebacker Nicholas Hernandez gave the ball back to the Unicorns. New Braunfels drove 53 yards the other way and saw Beeghley snag a 10-yard touchdown from Baumann for a 28-14 edge. What it means: New Braunfels’ win increased its all-time series lead against Canyon to 32-7. It was the seventh Wurst Bowl victory in a row for the Unicorns, who haven’t lost to the Cougars under coach Glenn Mangold. Game balls: Purdy ran for a game-high 161 yards and two touchdownd on 18 carries, while Beeghley hauled in three passes for 78 yards and a pair of scores. Baumann accounted for 231 yards and three total touchdowns.
Bibins showcased his dynamic ability by leading Canyon with
118 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 attempts. Berry threw for 129 yards and ran for another 67 with a touchdown. Defensively, the Cougars’ Jaymin Gilbert recorded two sacks. Quotable: “Both teams — on both sides of the ball — had a bunch of guys getting after it and playing really good football,” Mangold said. “It was two good teams battling it out.”
Up next: New Braunfels is set to begin District 27-6A play at 7 p.m. Thursday against Judson at Rutledge Stadium. Canyon hosts Dripping Springs at 7:30 p.m. Friday in its District 12-5A Division I opener.