Rattlers scorch Colts
Examiner photo by Matthew Ybarra Darius Randle totes the ball 47-yards for one of his four touchdowns in the Rattlers 49-15 win over Worthing. Navasota remains undefeated in District 12-4A
Examiner photos by Matthew Ybarra Navasota receiver Aaron Nichols makes a move to juke a Colt defender and pick up extra yardage after the reception.
Examiner photos by Matthew Ybarra Rattler defensive-back Keith Steptoe runs stride-for-stride with a Worthing receiver eventually breaking up the pass. Navasota hosts Stafford Friday, Oct. 18.
HOUSTON- Texas’s first cold front couldn’t stop the red-hot Navasota Rattlers as they blazed through the Worthing Colts 49-15 to remain undefeated in District 12-4A.
It took Navasota (3-4,3-0) a moment to warm up, but once the scoring began the Rattler offense set the turf at Butler Stadium ablaze.
Darick Henderson ignited the Rattler offense with a 5-yard run capped by a point-after-kick by Miguel Alvarado. “I think we played pretty good and I had a good game individually, but the defense as a whole was on point,” said Henderson. “I appreciate that everyone does their job on both sides of the ball which allows me to be able to make plays.”
Worthing (2-4,0-3) was caught off-guard by the speed of La’Darrin Thomas following a punt that pinned Navasota at their own 6-yard line. Thomas took a quick pass from Zack Dyer, made a quick move to his right and scorched the sideline on his way to a 94-yard touchdown leaving the Colt defenders in a cloud of smoke.
La’Darrin Thomas scored on another big 41-yard pass reception, sandwiched by a pair of Darius Randle 4-yard touchdown runs. Thomas’s score came from another quick pass by Dyer which he took down the sideline again. “We have been taking it one game and a time,” said Thomas on the way the Rattlers have been able to turn the season around. “We’ve learned to stay focused and not think ahead to the next game. We’ve all been hitting the weight room hard and listening and learning from our coaches. Our bond as teammates is strengthening throughout the season.”
The big night continued for Randle scoring twice more in the third quarter, on a 47-yard run, where he took the handoff around the 50-yard line, found a hole through the interior of the Colt defense and made a move to his left at the Colt 35 to avoid tacklers and scamper down the sideline the remainder of the way. Alvarado remained perfect on the point-after.
Randle capped the Rattler scoring with a 7-yard reception for his fourth score of the night.
Navasota gave up a couple late scores in the final quarter with the backup getting reps. The Colts returned a fumble 96-yards for their first score. Worthings final score followed a blocked punt which set up a 3-yard run by Alonja Fletcher.
I’m always proud of our team,” explained Navasota head coach Casey Dacus. “We’ve had three good weeks in a row. Practice has been good, and the focus has been good. I thought at times in this game our focus was up and down, and we began to feel good about how we were doing and got a little too lax at the end. We will get that corrected.”
Navasota hosts Stafford who is also unbeaten in district play Friday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. Worthing plays at Furr Friday at 7 p.m.