San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Steele 35, Judson 30
Quick take: Steele kept its perfect season intact and put an end to Judson’s playoff streak with a 35-30 win Friday night at Rutledge Stadium.
The Knights fell behind early but kept battling and were able to pull away in the third quarter for the victory. Steele also snapped a four-game losing streak to the Rockets, who had their run of 44 consecutive winning seasons snapped earlier this season.
The Knights (9-0 overall, 6-0 in District 27-6A) clinched at least a share of the district title and can take the title outright with a win next week against Smithson Valley. The Rockets (3-6, 2-4) gave the Rangers their only loss so far this season.
Highlights: After trailing at halftime, the Knights took their first lead of the game on the first play of the second half when Jaydon Bailey sprinted through the middle of the Judson defense for a long 73-yard touchdown run.
That was the beginning of a back-and forth third quarter.
The Rockets came back and responded with a quick drive of their own, going 75 yards on seven plays highlighted by a 60-yard run by Michael Burroughs that set up a Nathaniel Stanley 3-yard run to put Judson back on top 24-21.
Steele took the lead for good with 1:24 left in the quarter when Bailey scored his second touchdown of the second half on a 14-yard run making a few cuts to find daylight into the end zone.
The Rockets tried to answer back, marching down the field on their next drive but coming up short when a fourth down pass fell incomplete from the 7-yard line.
Judson got the ball back after the Rockets’ defense was able to hold the Knights to a three-andout, but on the second play of the next drive, Steele’s defense was able to rip the ball out of Marvin Beasley’s arms.
Josh Fahmer scooped the bouncing ball off the turf and chugged his way into the end zone to put Steele ahead 35-24.
Judson got one more score in the fourth on a halfback pass from Dave Hook to Ethan Gates.
The Rockets went for two to get them within a field goal, but Burroughs’ pass was dropped.
Steele’s offense did enough to close out the game picking up key first downs from their junior quarterback, Connor Vincent, on runs of 13 and 19 yards to seal the win.
In the first half, Judson had an all around great first quarter, getting two scores and keeping the Knights off the scoreboard. Game balls: Bailey was the workhorse for the Knights, carrying the ball for 175 yards on 22 carries and three touchdowns.
Singleton added 87 yards on six carries, including Steele’s first touchdown. As a team, the Knights rushed for 326 yards on the ground.
Judson’s Burroughs came into the game having thrown for 634 yards in his previous two games with six TDs but did his damage through the air and on the ground. He completed 17 of 25 passes for 198 yards and added 121 yards rushing with a score.
Up next: Steele ends the regular season against Smithson Valley at 7 p.m. next Friday at Lenhoff Stadium. Judson is matched up with Wagner at 7 p.m. at Rutledge Stadium.