S H E LTO N STA D I U M • F R I DAY, O CT. 1 3 , 2 0 1 7
RED VS. BLUE H AYS R E B E L S
L E H M A N LO B O S
The Road to The Game Crosstown rivalry brings communities together
O
BY MOSES LEOS III
ver the course of a successful four year high school football career, Kyle resident Tre Abeita isn’t short on recalling various memories he made on the gridiron. Few, however, could compare to the electricity and excitement he felt when he participated in his first Hays versus Lehman football game. “It didn’t feel like a high school game anymore,” Abeita said. “There was no empty seat in the stands. The bands were going back and forth, as were the student sections and the players.” While the years have gone by and the players have changed, the intensity surrounding the crosstown showdown between Hays and Lehman continues to this day. But its meaning goes beyond what happens after the scoreboard hits zero and the lights go dim. It’s also a game that brings together two communities whose bonds go further than football. “It’s one of the biggest moments in the Kyle, Buda area,” Abeita said. “It’s a moment for everyone to come together.” Abeita, who graduated from Lehman High several years ago, remembers how the early years of the game harbored a little animosity. That stemmed from many of the players on both sides of the aisle growing up and playing little league football together. When Hays CISD split the district in half, Abeita said it was an “instant rivalry” that’s comparable to Texas and Texas A&M.
Jeremy Schilhab, former Lehman High quarterback, said experiencing the game firsthand meant occasionally talking “mess during the game.” Often, however, the talk was friendly and wasn’t anything particularly serious. After the game, many players hung out and dined together, often cracking jokes about performances in the game. “It was just like a brotherly thing. Just joking around,” Schilhab said. “But it was serious, in that you also wanted to come out on top.” But Schilhab also realizes the “It’s one of the biggest game itself is one moments in the Kyle, of the biggest of the year for both Buda area. It’s a sides, no matter what the record moment for everyone is going in. He remembers growto come together.” ing up watching the two teams –Tre Abeita, duke it out, and former Lehman football player dreaming of one day playing on the field. “It was a fun game, but it’s also humbling,” Schilhab said. “You’re playing in front of the whole town. You can’t explain it. You have to be there.” Coaches, much like the players, also feel the excitement the game brings to the community. Neal LaHue, Hays High head football coach and athletic coordinator,
CROSSTOWN RIVALRY, PG. 4
THE REBEL RUNDOWN OFFENSE
When talking about the Rebel offense, one has to start with its bruising offensive line. Spearheaded by a group comprising of four seniors and a junior, the Rebel line has helped Hays become a power running threat in the district. Following the line is a bevy of running options that include Thailand Mayberry, Cade Powell, Martin Shoemaker and Xavier Martinez. In the air, Hays has improved its pass attack, relying on the hands of Gentry Brawith and Nate Tate. Getting off to a fast start, however, is a factor Hays will have to focus on as they continue in district play.
DEFENSE Seniority leads the way for a Rebel unit that has eight seniors on the starting roster. Linebackers Dominic Johnson and Sam Guzman, who lead the team in tackles, bolster a bruising front seven. In the backfield, Hays features a senior laden defensive backfield, anchored by Blaze Thomas and Hector Fuentes. But can the Rebels find consistency on defense? While there have been bright spots, the Rebels have so far allowed 37 points per game.
THE LOBO LIST OFFENSE Speed, speed, speed is the approach Lehman brings on offense as new head coach Josh Kirkland has instituted a high-tempo, air-raid style attack. It’s all accentuated with the play of freshman Bryant Lewis, who’s become a viable duel threat in the pocket. Running backs Diego Romero and Kaleb Preistly provide a strong onetwo punch running the ball, while Chastin Evans and Justin Evans provide support in the air. However, can the Lobo offense stay healthy? Injuries and inconsistency have plagued the group so far this year.
DEFENSE While short on experience, Lehman’s defense brings several key playmakers that have made an impact so far this year. Linebackers Noe Santos, Josh Weusi-Barrera and Terry Maher-McGee anchor the front seven, while C.J. Scott leads the defensive backfield. But in order to make a difference in district, Lehman must find a way to stop opponents. So far this year, Lehman has allowed an average of 47 points per game.
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REBS VS LOBOS
Bayler Jordan
FALL 2017
Daniel O’Neal
Xavier Martinez
Chastin Evans
Cade Powell
Diego Romero
Martin Shoemaker
Nate Tate
Bryant Lewis
HAYS OFFENSE
LEHMAN OFFENSE
Passing Completions Attempts Yards TDs INT Xavier Martinez 81 116 902 6 4 Tyler Conley 8 16 74 1 0 Rushing Carries yards TDs Thailand Mayberry 86 434 5 Xavier Martinez 50 241 3 Cade Powell 29 151 2 Martin Shoemaker 26 132 1 Dallin Roberts 13 109 1 Receiving Receptions Yards TDs Nate Tate 20 239 0 Gentry Brawith 16 221 3 Bayler Jordan 11 198 2 Thailand Mayberry 17 139 0 Sam Scott 8 102 2
Passing Completions Attempts Yards TDs Daniel O’Neal 65 106 671 5 Bryant Lewis 18 43 153 0 Rushing Carries Yards TDs Bryant Lewis 47 297 1 Diego Romero 67 280 1 Kaleb Priestly 39 272 3 Receiving Receptions Yards TDs Chastin Evans 22 223 1 Zack Harris 16 181 0 Bryant Lewis 15 163 2 Diego Romero 11 107 1
HAYS DEFENSE Tackles Sam Guzman Dom Johnson Nathan Tovar Michael Mireles Ryan Leal Sacks Dom Johnson Ryan Leal Justin Rodriguez Zane Kuykendall Statistics as of Sept. 30
Solo 22 21 21 21 11 Total 2 1 1 1
Assisted Total 24 46 21 42 13 34 12 33 19 30 QB Hurries 1 3 2 2
OFFENSE POS # STARTING POS # 2ND STRING WR 8 Nathan Tate WR 81 Patrick Guerrero LT 57 Phil Mc Sorely LT 61 Landon Gonzales LG 59 Ben Hoskins LG 72 Thomas Kazmierski C 54 Brandon Garcia C 55 Connor Harkin RG 64 Lyndon Wilson RG 63 Marcos Barrera RT 79 Jaydan Smith RT 62 Josh Lopez WR 14 Gentry Brawith WR 15 Reilly Shelton HB 20 Thailand Mayberry HB 22 Dallin Roberts HB 23 Cade Powell HB 7 Martin Shoemaker TE 85 Baylor Jordan TE 84 Alijah Martinez QB 18 Xavier Martinez QB 19 Tyler Conley P 8 Nathan Tate P 31 Michael Ballinger PR 21 Sam Scott PR 8 Nathan Tate DEFENSE # 30 91 90 99 24 45 42 40 2 40 27 31 21 8
STARTING Dominic Johnson - Sr Zane Kuykendall - Sr Justin Rodriguez - Sr Ryan Leal - Sr Jaidon Bialasweski - Jr Michael Mireles - Jr Sam Guzman - Jr Blaze Thomas - Sr Isaiah Jacobs - Sr Blaze Thomas - Sr Hector Fuentes - Sr Michael Ballinger - Jr Sam Scott - Jr Nathan Tate - Jr
POS WLB DT NG DT OLB MLB SLB LC FS R RC K KR KR
# 6 96 95 92 44 47 47 8 25 15 5 1 14 81
2ND STRING Darian Moore - Sr Aiden Fitzgerald - Jr Adam Palomares - Jr Brendon Vigo - Sr Garrett Moore - Jr Nash Danford - Jr Nash Danford - Jr Nathan Tate - Jr Nathan Tovar - Jr Reilly Shelton Chris Rodriguez - Jr Joe Banuelos - Jr Gentry Brawith - Sr Patrick Guerrero - Sr
Lineups subject to change
Hays Rebels Full Roster 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 12 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 29 30 31 32 40 41 42 44 45 47
LEHMAN DEFENSE
Tackles Solo Assisted Total Noe Santos 21 28 49 Josh Weusi-Barrera 19 17 36 Jake Cude 14 20 34 Noah Marquez 18 5 23 Adrian Yanez 18 5 23 Sacks Total QB Hurries Josh Weusi-Barrera 2 3 Jake Cude 1 5 Kekoa Engleman 0 5 Statistics as of Sept. 30
2017 Lehman Lobos 2 Deep Roster OFFENSE
2017 Hays Rebels 2 Deep Roster
POS OLB DT NG DT OLB MLB SLB LC FS R RC K KR KR
INT 5 3
Joe Banuelos K Junior Isaiah Jacobs DB Senior Logan Goebler DB Senior Austin Johnson WR Senior Chris Rodriguez WR Junior Darian Moore LB Senior Martin Shoemaker RB Junior Nathan Tate WR Junior Marco Montoya K Senior Desmond Young QB Sophomore Gentry Brawith WR/WB Senior Reilly Shelton WR Junior Xavier Martinez QB Junior Tyler Conley QB Senior Thailand Mayberry RB Junior Sam Scott WR Junior Dallin Roberts RB Junior Cade Powell RB Senior Jaidon Bialaszweski DB Junior Nathan Tovar DB Senior Hector Fuentes DB Senior Darius McNeil DB Senior Dominic Johnson LB Senior Michael Ballinger DB Junior Jamison Eddleman DL Junior Blaze Thomas DB Senior Coleman Johnson DB Sophomore Sam Guzman LB Senior Garrett Moore LB Junior Michael Mireles LB Junior Nash Danford LB Junior
48 49 53 54 55 57 59 60 61 62 63 64 66 72 73 75 77 79 80 81 84 85 88 89 90 91 92 94 95 96 99
Briar Moritz DB Senior Kodie Kennedy LB Senior David Delgado OL Junior Brandon Garcia OL Junior Connor Harkin OL Junior Philip McSorely OL Senior Ben Hoskins OL Senior Jacob Martinez OL Senior Landon Gonzalez OL Senior Josh Lopez OL Senior Marcos Barrera OL Senior Lyndon Wilson OL Senior Michael Wise OL Senior Thomas Kazmierski OL Junior Feliciano Coronado OL Senior Adam Montoya OL Senior Justin Ruiz OL Senior Jayden Smith OL Senior Pat Guerrero WR Senior Shahil Patel WR Junior Alijah Martinez TE Junior Bayler Jordan TE Junior Tyler McCulley WR Senior Jaden Patel WR Senior Justin Rodriguez DL Senior Zane Kuykendall LB Senior Brendon Vigo DL Senior Hamid Julbe DL Junior Adam Palomarez DL Junior Aiden Fitzgerald DL Junior Ryan Leal DL Senior
POS # STARTING POS # 2ND STRING WR 3 Zack Harris WR 9 Derrick Gomez WR 8 Chastin Evans WR 17 Robbie Garza LT 66 Cesar Sustaita LT 56 Seth Sanchez LG 65 A.J. Gonzalez LG Nick Bandera C 60 Ethan Garcia C 63 Gabriel Rodriguez RG 74 Gilbert Partida RG 74 Gilbert Partida RT 54 Christian Jean RT 66 Cesar Sustaita RB 7 Diego Romero RB 6 Kaleb Priestly TE 89 Justin Evans TE 12 Brayden Stieninger WR 11 Daniel O’neal WR 10 Tyrin Jefferson QB 1 Bryant Lewis QB 11 Daniel O’neal P/K 4 Mark Piedra P/K 13 Noah Marquez DEFENSE POS # STARTING CB 25 C. J. Scott OLB 19 Terry McGee N 99 Tyvione Roaches DE 94 Joshua Ewald DE 42 Kekoa Engleman CB 32 Brandon Alegria SS 26 Adrian Yanez ILB 23 Joshua Weusi-Barrera ILB 45 Noe Santos OLB 2 Jacob Cude FS 14 Dadrien Brazil Lineups subject to change
POS CB OLB N DT DE CB SS ILB ILB OLB FS
# 31 18 92 53 51 6 20 15 34 5 13
2ND STRING Adanijah Collier Ethan Roach Donavan McGinnis Alexis Lujan Nathan Bryson Kaleb Priestly D’Miracle Armstrong Zyion Handburgh Rafael Burgos Mark Bundage Noah Marquez
Lehman Rebels Full Roster 1 Bryant Lewis WR Freshman 2 Jake Cude LB Junior 3 Zack Harris WR Sophmore 4 Mark Piedra K Senior 5 Mark Bundage FS Senior 6 Kaleb Priestly RB/CB Senior 7 Diego Romero RB Sophomore 8 Chastin Evans WR Senior 9 Derrick Gomez RB/QB Senior 10 Robert Garza WR Junior 11 Daniel O’Neal QB Junior 12 Brayden Steininger DB Junior 13 Noah Marquez DB Senior 14 Dadrien Brazil WR Junior 15 Zyion Handburgh DB Senior 17 Omar Wesam DB Senior 18 Ethan Roach QB Senior 19 Terry Maher-McGee DE Junior 20 D’miracle Armstrong DB Senior 21 Joey Villegas RB Senior 22 Ricky Garza RB Senior 23 Joshua Weusi-Barrera DL Senior 24 Ryan Marquez LB Senior 25 C.J. Scott DB Junior 26 Adrian Yanez DB Junior 27 Braxton Leonard DE Sophomore 28 Brandon Waldrop RB Junior
30 31 32 33 34 35 40 41 42 45 50 51 53 56 60 64 65 66 67 74 76 80 88 89 90 94 99
Mark Ruiz RB Senior Adonija Collier DB Freshman Brando Alegria DB Senior J.D. Brown LB Sophomore Rafael Burgos LB Senior Francisco Zuniga DB Senior Brennan Heckel LB Senior Benjamin Verse LB Senor Kekoa Engleman DE Senior Noe Santos LB Sophomore Eduardo Ventura LB Senior Nathan Bryson DL Senior Gabe Rodriguez OL Senior Seth Sanchez OL Sophomore Ethan Garcia OL Senior Anthony Zuniga OL Senior A.J. Gonzales OL Senior Cesar Sustaita OL Junior Austin Dupont OL Senior Gilbert Partida OL Sophomore Donovan McGinnis OL Senior Austin Walsh TE Sophomore Darrion Hatch WR Senior Justin Edwards TE Senior Isaiah Trevino DL Sophomore Joshua Ewald DL Senior Ty Roaches DL Junior
Hays Rebels and Lehman Lobos will go head to head Friday night, Oct. 13 at Bob Shelton Stadium
Published by the Hays Free Press
REBS VS LOBOS
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REBS VS LOBOS
FALL 2017
How the district landscape stacks up halfway through the season
The Battle of the Lakes may serve as the defacto district championship game for 25-6A once again as Westlake and Lake Travis continue to rule the roost. Through the first five games of the year, the two teams have combined for just under 500 combined points. But anything can happen in a district some call the toughest in Class 6A.
Vandegrift’s vaunted defense could shake things up, while a talented Vista Ridge program could cause problems in the race for the last playoff spot in the district. Even with an early loss in district, Hays and Lehman still have a shot. The winner of this year’s battle could set themselves up for an opportunity to find a playoff berth.
Westlake Chaparrals: 5-0, 1-0 Lake Travis Cavaliers: 4-1, 1-0 Vista Ridge Rangers: 3-2, 1-0 Vandegrift Vipers: 2-3, 0-1 Hays Rebels: 1-4, 0-1 Lehman Lobos: 1-4, 0-1 Leander Lions: 0-4, 0-0 * Standings as of Sept. 29
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CROSSTOWN RIVALRY, FROM PG. 1 said he enjoys the atmosphere rivalry games can bring. The experience showcases the pride both communities have in their local athletes. “Any time you have a crosstown rivalry, you throw the records out and consider the other team is going to give you its best effort,” LaHue said. “You also have to come with the same energy.” Even as the years have gone by, Abetia said the game often brings about “what ifs.” As the owner of a local barbershop, Abeita cuts the hair of former Hays opponents, which often brings discussion of the games they once played. “Anytime I see a Hays player, we always have fun talking bout the games and the years we were there,” Abeita said. Change, however, may be coming to the showdown as Hays CISD readies to build its third high school campus. While the campus won’t be open until 2019, Abeita said it could potentially have an impact on Hays and Lehman high schools. Schilhab said it may level the playing field for both Hays and Lehman. Both don’t believe the new school will take away from the importance the game brings to the community. “The way the world is today, it’s good to have positive experiences to bring everyone in the community together,” Schilhab said.
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Hays Rebel wide receiver Pat Guerrero (left) and Lehman Lobo Kaleb Priestly jump for the ball during the 2016 Hays and Lehman football game. (Photo by Nathan Latsha)
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