Rattlers roll past Mexia

MEXIA – Last year Mexia had their way at Rattler Stadium, so it was only right that Navasota return the favor on Blackcat turf with a convincing 63-21 win.

Mexia (1-2) used an explosive 48-yard run for the first score, but Navasota (1-2) answered with a pair of first-quarter touchdowns. Ja’marion Frear crossed the goal line from a yard out and Xavier Steptoe caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Ja’mar Jessie.

Leading 13-6, with 4:35 remaining in the opening quarter, Navasota had an errand snap on a punt attempt resulting in a safety. Mexia regained the lead, 14-13, on a 2-yard run in the second quarter but couldn’t punch in the conversion.

Mexia continued to put pressure on Navasota sacking Jessie on third down to force another Rattler punt attempt. The punt was mishandled by the Blackcats and recovered by Navasota.

The Rattlers capitalized regaining the lead on a 31-yard run by Jessie, and Frear ran in the conversion for a 21-14 lead.

Navasota made a gutsy decision to go for a fourthand-1 on their own 35-yard line with less than two minutes remaining in the half and converted. Five-seconds before halftime and the Rattlers struck with a leaping grab in the corner of the endzone by Kadden Hubbard for a 14-yard touchdown.

“I just ran my route right and made a break on the ball at its highest point,” said Hubbard. This is the second time in two weeks that Jessie has connected with Hubbard in the corner of the endzone before halftime.

“First off, he is one of the biggest players on our team and more athletic than anybody I know,” Jessie said of the sophomore receiver Hubbard. “I have been playing with him for a while in basketball and football, so the trust is very strong. We connected last week too and that built the trust even more.” Hubbard caught two passes for 30 yards.

Navasota carried the momentum to the second half scoring four unanswered touchdowns. Sophomore Jamal Thomas had a 6-yard rushing touchdown followed by 31 and 4-yard rushing touchdowns by Ja’mar Jessie. Thomas had

16 carries for 101 yards. Jessie finished with 104 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns. He also passed for 171 yards and two touchdowns completing 9-of his 17 passes.

Frankedrick “KP” Powell, another Rattler sophomore, picked off a Mexia pass and used his athleticism to return the ball 40 yards for his first varsity touchdown. “I’m blessed with the teammates I have right now and with the coaches,” explained Powell. “It feels good to have a team like this.”

Mexia had a late score in the fourth, Navasota’s Giovanni Jennings rushed for his first high school touchdown, good for 7 yards.

“I thought we did a lot of good things tonight, but I also thought we were sloppy in a lot of areas to be honest and there are things we can clean up,” explained Navasota Head Coach Casey Dacus. “Effort wise I can’t complain. The kids played hard tonight and they got after and wanted to get the bad taste out of their mouth from last week.”

Navasota plays at Hargrave Friday, Sept. 17, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Mexia plays at Salado.