GIDDINGS—The Blue & Gold came home with another win after taking a road trip to Giddings. The Rockdale Tigers beat the Buffaloes 26-21.
“Our defense played well,” said Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Hunter Hamrick, We forced them to throw the ball and that’s not really part of their overall game plan. It was a close game.”
“We still have a long way to go on offense,” he added. “Injuries will be a factor this week. But we are evenly matched with Groesbeck.”
Junior defensive back De’Andre Stephens scored first on a 78-yard fumble return. Sophomore kicker Fernando Pacheco—who has only missed twice this year—made the extra point and the Tigers were ahead 7-0.
Senior wide receiver Erik Sheppard then caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Greyson Williams. Pacheco made the point after and the Tigers were up 14-0.
Gidding s s cor e d a touchdown but missed the extra point and after the first quarter the score was Tigers 14, Buffaloes 6.
Big Blue put up six more points in the second on a sophomore running back Jeramiah Butler run of six yards but typically accurate Pacheco missed the extra kick and the Tigers were up 20-6 at the half.
The Tigers did not look as good in the second half and there were some moments you wondered if this one was going to slip away.
Both Giddings and Rockdale scored in the third quarter.
Tiger WR Sheppard scored his second touchdown of the night on a 36-yard pass from Williams. Rockdale tried a two-point conversion but failed and the score after the third quar ter was 26-14.
Giddings held Rockdale scoreless in the fourth and the Tigers allowed them to score on a passing play. The final score was Rockdale 26, Giddings 21.
INJURED— Injuries from Friday night that will hurt the Tigers going forward are to starting junior offensive lineman Stephen Goodrich and starting defensive lineman Za-Kobe Anderson.
STANDOUTS— Key players from the game were:
• Erik Sheppard, two touchdowns, 6 catches, 135 yards, nine tackles and one interception.
• De’Andre Stephens, 78-yard fumble return.
• Brody Willard, eight tackles, one interception.
• Wilmer Sorto, 10 tackles.
• Jeramiah Butler, 12 carries for 52 yards.
• Greyson Williams, 15 completions on 22 attempts, 203 yards, two touchdowns.
COMING UP— The Tigers are 3-1 as they prepare to host the Goats from Groesbeck at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Groesbeck is also 3-1 after losing to our neighbor Lexington last week, 38-13.
Rockdale will then get a week off after the last game of the non-district match ups.
District play starts here at home on Friday, Oct. 11, against Little River-Academy. The Bumblebees at this time are 0-4.
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