Rattlers win in overtime over rival Mustangs

MADISONVILLE – It was a wild west showdown in Madisonville as the rival Navasota Rattlers battled the Mustangs in a thrilling 27-21 overtime win. Knotted at 21 in overtime, Navasota’s defense made another defensive stand. Threatening to score on thirdand- goal from the 2-yard line, Navasota’s defense corralled the Mustangs for no gain. Madisonville attempted a field goal, but the kick was wide right. The Rattlers took their turn on offensive, eventually facing a fourth-and-one. Navasota bypassed the kick and chose to run the ball instead. Deontray Scott pounded his way forward for a 3-yard gain and a first down. On the next play, Scott took the ball to the left side of the field and into the endzone for an 11-yard score and a Rattler victory. Scott scored three touchdowns on the night, two on the ground, both 11 yards, and one through the air for 80 yards.

Navasota began the game with their feisty defense forcing a three-and-out for the second time in as many games. The Rattlers capitalized driving 56 yards on eight plays, capped by Scott’s 11-yard run.

“We talked all week about this rivalry game,” explained Navasota Head Coach Casey Dacus. “You can throw predictions out - what team is supposed to win – it doesn’t matter. You have to gear up for a 15-round fight and that is what it was tonight, it was a fight.” Dacus said his team didn’t execute well on offense in the first half, but he is proud of the way his young team persevered.

In the third quarter, Navasota lost a fumble on their own 25-yard line. Madisonville drove the ball to the Rattler 2-yard line, but the Mustangs were turned away by the stingy Rattler defense. The score remained 7-0 with a minute remaining before halftime.

The Rattler defense has been stellar this season, and Frankedric Powell has continued to be a playmaker. Powell said the defense has been able to hold steady by “grinding.” “During practice we don’t play around, we take everything serious and we take pride in what we do.”

Navasota was forced to punt from the back of their endzone, a low line-drive kick fielded at the Rattler 10-yard line and returned for a touchdown. The extra-point tied the game 7-7 with 4:42 remaining in the third quarter.

The Rattlers answered on the ensuing drive driving the ball deep into Mustang territory. Scott took a handoff to the 7-yard line but fumbled it into the endzone. Christopher Tejeda jumped on the loose ball to regain a 13-7 lead for Navasota. Juan Vargas, perfect on the night, booted in the point-after. “I was blocking the opposite way for my running back and I turned around and saw the ball is out, so I just jumped on it and took it into to endzone,” Tejeda recapped. This was the first touchdown of his career.

Jarrad Isaiah picked off a Mustang pass with 9:56 remaining to give the Rattlers possession at their own 25. Navasota extended its lead with 8:53 left in the game on a swing pass to Scott from Javyn Jessie who raced 80-yards for the score. Vargas’ extra-point gave the Rattlers a 21-7 lead. “We just had to stay positive, do our job and get our assignment done,” said Isaiah of the interception.

Madisonville scores the next 14 points. The first was a 2-yard run from Phillip Green, then an 11-yard run by Blessing Ngene.

The Mustangs force a Rattler punt with 2:06 remaining, then drove to the Rattler 33. Navasota knocked down a pass attempt with 3-seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.

Navasota improves to (2-0) and the Mustangs fall to (1-1).