Rattlers notch first district win
Navasota Sophomore receiver, Cameron Ross, catches his first touchdown in his first start of the season. The Rattlers defeated Bay City 17-9. Examiner photo by Matthew Ybarra
Nicholas Castañeda leads the Rattlers onto the field in Bay City. Navasota picked up their first district win outscoring the Blackcats 17-9.
BAY CITY – There wasn’t enough Blackcat magic for Bay City to scratch back late in the game. Navasota held on to notch a 17-9 win. The Rattlers (4-2, 1-1) picked up their first district win of the season in a low-scoring contest. Sophomore receiver Cameron Ross hauled in a pass from Hudson Minor, for a 33-yard score. This was the first varsity start and score for Ross. “It feels good,” said Ross of his first touchdown. “I have been working hard and my time came. I was ready.” “We’ve had a next man up mentality, and we’ve had some problems the last couple weeks keeping guys on the field,” said Navasota Head Coach Casey Dacus. “Cameron did a really good job of jumping in there and playing. Last week we moved him up with the intent to play him but didn’t get the opportunity because it turned into a run game with Rueben Owens. But tonight, we knew we were going to have to have plays out of the slot and I thought he [Ross] and Devin Nuñez both played really well.”
It was a battle of the punters the remainder of the first half. In the third quarter, Navasota kicker, Juan Vargas, placed the opening kickoff void on the right side of the field and the Rattlers recovered. “We didn’t want to give them [Bay City] a chance to get a big return there because we had all the momentum. So, we called a sky kick,” said Dacus. “He honestly mishit it and didn’t kick it as high as he wanted to which is why it fell in between two guys. They were indecisive, and we were able to recover the ball.”
Navasota used the momentum to score on a 4-yard run by Zy’Merick Taylor.
Bay City found the scoreboard with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter on a 32-yard field goal from Victor Morales. The ball struck the right goal post, fell onto the crossbar before dropping over for a field goal. Juan Vargas answered the Blackcat magic in the fourth quarter with a 33-yard field goal that split the uprights to give Navasota a 17-3 lead.
“I’ve been working on improving my kicking all summer trying to improve,” said Vargas. “I’m trying to get better and make my field goals every time I get the chance. I’m working to fix my mistakes and get better every day.” The Blackcat magic continued in the fourth quarter on a blocked punt, recovered for a Bay City touchdown to bring Bay City within eight, 17-9, with 1:48 remaining. The conversion- run failed. On the ensuing kickoff Bay City recovered an onside kick, but eventually turned the ball over on downs. Bay City (4-2, 1-1) plays at El Campo Friday, Sept. 7. Navasota (4-2, 1-1) hosts the Needville Bluejays (33, 0-2) Friday, Oct. 7, for Homecoming 2022.