Rattlers drop overtime thriller

IOWA COLONY – On the final play, the Iowa Colony Pioneers put the game on the line then crossed the goal line to pick up a game-winning conversion, defeating Navasota 35-34.

The Rattlers trailed by eight, 27-19, late in the fourth quarter. Navasota stopped the Pioneers for three-consecutive losses to force a punt with 2:50 remaining. Andres Tobias made a stop on first down for a 1-yard loss. Noah Silcox dropped Jacody Miles for a 6-yard loss then on third-and-17, Iowa Colony quarterback Kamal Henry was forced out of bounds for another 6-yard loss.

Iowa Colony punted to the Rattler 29, but an illegal block set Navasota up at their own 44-yard line. Navasota quarterback Hudson Minor threw consecutive-strike, connecting with Deontray Scott for a 7-yard gain and Kaddon Hubbard for 14. Scott had a 1-yard run before the Rattlers moved early and were pushed back five yards setting up a second-and-14. Minor set his aim on Cameron Ross – the ball dropped but a 15-yard pass interference penalty was enforced. 

On the next play, Minor connected with Jaeveon Graves who made a spectacular grab in the front left corner of the endzone, managing to get a foot down for the 24-yard score. Scott caught another Minor pass for the conversion to tie the game with 1:43 remaining.

Scott caught a 19-yard pass in overtime and Juan Vargas booted in the point-after to give Navasota a 34-27 lead. Iowa Colony answered on a 12-yard pass from Henry to Landrew Ward. Henry faked a handoff and escaped around the left end for the conversion and the win.

“He’s just good player,” said Navasota Head Coach Casey Dacus describing Henry. “He’s a freshman, but he certainly doesn’t play like a freshman. He is very athletic and can run and throw. And he stays poised. We hit him a few times tonight and he still ends up making plays. Hat’s off to him he is a good football player.”

Dacus told his team they have to get past this loss and move forward. “We can’t let one loss turn into two,” he explained.

Navasota (5-3, 2-2) struck fast on the first play of the game. Scott scooted through a hole in the middle of the line and escaped 58 yards for the early lead. Vargas booted in the extra point.

Iowa Colony answered on a 69-yard drive capped by a 1-yard run by Henry. Navasota regained the lead on a Vargas 24-yard field goal, his first of two. The Pioneers grabbed their first lead midway through the second quarter on a 6-yard run from Miles. The first half scoring was finalized on the final play, a 24-yard field goal by Vargas.

Henry extended the Pioneer lead on a 60-yard run on the first possession of the second half. Minor answered on the ensuing possession scrambling for a 49-yard run. The conversion failed, and Iowa Colony remained on top 21-19. Henry scored on a 2-yard run to extend Iowa Colony’s lead back to 27-19. Nicholas Castañeda blocked the extra-point attempt. Minor finished the game with 206 yards passing on 18-of-30 attempts. He also rushed for 75 yards on four carries.

Navasota hosts Stafford at Rattler Stadium for senior night Friday, Oct. 21. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. Iowa Colony plays at El Campo.