Veterans Memorial 40, Harlandale 6
Quick take: Veterans Memorial used big plays to rout Harlandale 40-6 Friday night at Rutledge Stadium in a District 12-5A Division I matchup. The Patriots scored from 30, 62, 67, 46 and 40 yards, and the defense limited the Indians to 72 secondhalf yards.
Highlights: Veterans Memorial kicked off the scoring on its first possession. The Patriots took control of the ball at their own 35 and marched down the field behind the combination of JC Solitaire and Alex Alva. Solitaire took a handoff on the first play and ran past the Harlandale defenders for a 32-yard gain. The two junior stalwarts punctuated the drive with Alva finding Solitaire for a 30-yard pass to put the Patriots ahead 7-0. Harlandale’s ensuing drive proved costly for the Indians, who lost their starting running back, Joe Anthony Vallejo, after the senior’s 5-yard run on the first play of the drive. Harlandale’s defense looked to hold the Patriots’ offense on their next drive, forcing what appeared to be a punt attempt. But a direct snap to Christian Garibay and the ensuing rush for a first down gave the Patriots new life. Veterans Memorial cashed in on the trick play as Alva found Luke Westhoek for a 62-yard pass behind the Harlandale defense for the score. The Indians answered back early in the second quarter with a long pass play of their own. Junior quarterback Joseph Rodriguez found Ariel Casso for a 37-yard touchdown strike. A low extra-point attempt kept the score 14-6.
The fireworks continued in the second half. Alva took the second play from scrimmage 67 yards to the end zone for the Patriots.
Harlandale attempted to mount some offense, but their opening drive of the second half was quickly thwarted by Lucas Roelofs, who sacked Harladale’s
quarterback for a 12-yard loss to force one of the Indians’ eight punts.
Veterans Memorial’s ensuing drive was pushed back by a snap over Alva’s head on its second play of the possession. The miscue forced a third-and-long, but they converted with a long pass play to H-back Mauricio
Rivera for a 20-yard gain. Another quick strike to Rivera set up Solitaire’s second score of the night, a 46-yard run down the right sideline.
Tarik Adkins came in on the next drive to handle the majority of the running duties for the Patriots. The senior continued the scoring, scoring from 5 yards
out. The score was set up by a 28-yard run by Adkins on a thirdand-short from the 33-yard line. Veteran Memorial’s backup quarterback got in on the scoring, too. Sophomore CJ Irving easily got around the Harlandale defense and sprinted in for a 40-yard touchdown to provide the final score of the game.
What it means: The win evens Veterans Memorial’s district record to 1-1 and 3-2 overall after the Patriots dropped their District 12-5A Division I opener last week in Seguin. Harlandale, which was playing only its second game of the season, evens its district mark at 1-1 as well. Game balls: Solitaire finished the game with 138 yards on the ground on only 10 carries and a rushing score. The junior also had two catches for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Alva helped out with 164 yards passing on an efficient 11-of-14 passing and two scoring passes. He also had 86 yards on the ground, with most coming on his 67-yard run at the start of the second half.
The Patriots’ defense came up huge in the second half, limiting Harlandale to 72 yards and 210 total for the game. Rodriguez had most of the Indians’ offense, passing for 94 yards and rushing for a team-leading 51. Up next: Seguin visits Harlandale at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Veterans Memorial travels to Shelton Stadium in Buda to face Buda Johnson at 7:30 p.m. Friday.