Navarro 29, Sinton 28 (OT)

Quick take: Antwoin Mebane scored on a 1-yard touchdown run and then added the deciding twopoint conversion as Navarro rallied to defeat Sinton 29-28 in overtime in the Class 4A Division II regional semifinals Friday at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos.

Navarro (10-2) came back from a 14-0 halftime deficit to tie the game in the third quarter before Sinton (11-2) took the lead again at 21-14 in the fourth quarter. Navarro tied the game again in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run by Cole Mouser with 1:24 remaining in regulation to force overtime.

After totaling only 48 yards of offense in the first half, the Panthers’ slot-T running attack found its rhythm in the second half and ended the game with 249 yards rushing to keep up with Sinton, which totaled 247 yards on the ground. Navarro won the game despite being outgained by Sinton 315-281.

Navarro’s defense came up with two key turnovers in the second half, one which led to a touchdown in the third quarter and another that prevented Sinton from winning the game in regulation.

“It’s something about these guys, they find ways to win,” Navarro coach Rod Blount said. “They find ways to get it done, and I hope it keeps rolling.” Highlights: Taking advantage of a short Navarro punt, Sinton took over at the Navarro 43-yard line late in the first quarter. It took the Pirates only four plays to score as quarterback Rene Galvan, following the surge of his offensive line and a key block on the outside, burst up the middle for a 25-yard touchdown run with 31 seconds remaining. Landon Longoria added the point-after kick for a 7-0 Sinton lead.

Sinton made it 14-0 in the second quarter as

Galvan avoided the pressure of the Navarro defense, rolled to his left and connected with JR Cruz inside the Navarro 10-yard line. Cruz then ran the untouched into the end zone, completing a 44-yard touchdown catch with

2:09 remaining before halftime.

Case Monroe gave Navarro the spark it needed when he returned the second-half kickoff for a big gain to the Sinton 42yard line. A 12-yard run by Mouser and a personal foul penalty against the Pirates put Navarro at the Sinton 14. Mouser kept the drive alive by converting a fourth-down run for 1 yard, and Colton Chambers capped the drive with a 4-yard scoring run to get Navarro within 14-7 with 8:47 in the third quarter.

Later in the third quarter, Sinton was driving deep into Navarro territory when Panthers linebacker Hayden Toliver recovered a fumble at the Navarro

27-yard line. Navarro took advantage, going on an eight-play, 73-yard drive capped off by a 24-yard touchdown run by Mebane, who powered his way into the end zone for the score. Jaxen Monkerud’s pointafter kick tied the score at 14-14 at 1:53 in the third quarter.

Sinton regained the lead on their ensuing possession on a 1-yard touchdown run by Galvan, which came with 8:46 in the fourth quarter.

But Navarro came back again, going 76 yards in 14 plays, as Mouser scored on a 10-yard run to tie the game at 21-21 with 1:24 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Nick Billings, the Panthers’ quarterback and a defensive back, came up with a big interception at the Navarro 25 late in the game, picking off a deep pass thrown by Galvan.

Sinton got the first possession in overtime and scored on a 9-yard run by

Galvan to go up 28-21. Navarro countered with Mebane’s 1-yard run. After calling a timeout, Navarro decided to go for two and put the ball in the hands of Mebane, who shook off one defender and powered his way into the end zone for the game-winning two points.

Game balls: Mouser led Navarro with 100 yards rushing on 18 carries and two touchdowns, with Mebane adding 80 yards on 15 carries and two scores.

Leading Sinton was Galvan, who rushed for 152 yards and totaled three touchdowns, three rushing and one passing. Rylan Galvan added 86 yards rushing for Sinton. Quotable: “(Sinton) knew which way it was going,” Mebane said of his gamewinning two-point conversion run. “They called a timeout to stop it. I just trusted the whole (offensive) line. I knew they were going to get it done.”

Up next: Navarro advances to the regional finals for the fourth straight year, where it will meet the Cuero, which defeated Wimberley 3626, Dec. 4 at the Alamodome.