Apaches run past Austin Crockett

AUSTIN — Gonzales used a rushing attack led by offensive weapons such as quarterbacks Garrett Rickman and Marvin Cardoza and running backs Kalub Carrizales and James Martinez as well as a late-game interception return for a touchdown by Trevion McNeil to put away the Austin Crockett Cougars 25-20 at Berger Stadium Thursday night.

“I think we got better, definitely,” Gonzales head coach Kodi Crane said of the rushing attack. “But there’s so many things we still got to improve on and that’s what we told the kids after the game is this football team hasn’t even begun to peak yet, we’re still making mistakes and we got to get those mistakes eliminated. We got to finish drives.”

The Apaches offense had a few stalled drives, whether they were pre-snap penalties or a pair of turnovers, one of which was a turnover on downs, points were left on the field for Gonzales. When the offense was clicking, it was through their rushing attack.

“Kalub Carrizales started the game and did a great job for us,” Crane noted. “James [Martinez] came in and did a great job for us. I like to brag on Eduardo Izaguirre, we switched him, he was a running back, we moved him to ‘sniffer’ and he did some outstanding things at ‘sniffer.’ Ja’Corveon Walton got some carries at running back, so we have some kids that can ‘tote the mail’ and it’s just making sure we roll through them and making sure we get those kids touches and go with the hot hand.”

Up 18-14, with less than a minute left, the Apaches were faced with what they hoped was Austin Crockett’s final offensive possession. On first down, Crockett’s quarterback Ryan Waugh threw a deep ball short of the end zone, and McNeil leaped up for the interception, then took off for the nearly 90-yard interception return for a touchdown.

“He turned it to offense and went to the house,” Crane said. “I’m so proud of him and so proud of the effort all and all, it was outstanding.”

The Cougars took advantage the next possession of two personal fouls, both netting 15 yards each, to get to the goal line with a few seconds left. The team would score on a four-yard rush, but were unable to convert the two-point conversion, cutting the lead down to 25-20.

An onside kick was recovered by Rickman, which ended the game with an Apaches win.

Gonzales (2-0) takes on Geronimo Navarro (1-0), a team who plays Marion Friday night.

Last season, Gonzales lost the game 55-11.

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GHS Apaches  8          3          7          7_25

ACHS Cougars 8          6          0          6_20