In a game where four players scored multiple touchdowns, Rockdale obliterated Manor New Tech 80-6 in a District 10-3A opener at the Manor ISD Athletic Complex on Friday. It was their third biggest victory margin in school history, only behind the 1927 team that shutout Rosebud-Lott 103-0 and the 2017 state champion team that beat Jarrell 77-0 in 2017.
The blue-and-gold were led by Cam’Ron Valdez, whose five touchdowns tied the single-game record for touchdowns held by Davion Ford, Elijah Brooks and Larry White.
“We knew that we were going to be the better team,” said Jeff Miller, RHS football coach and athletic director. “We wanted to make sure we played with energy and urgency and I think we did that.
“That’s important to do when you’re playing somebody that you feel like you’re going to be able to beat.”
The Tigers got off to a hot start with a 39-yard touchdown by Valdez early in the first.
After getting the ball back four plays later, Valdez took the ball for a 17-yard run to the New Tech 38. Quarterback Jace Robinson found Ross Loth open on the next play for a 38-yard touchdown pass. Valdez scored once more on a 35-yard TD run. A blocked kick following the touchdown gave the Tigers a 20-0 lead at the close of the first quarter.
Valdez was far from done with two quick touchdowns early in the second. Kesean Raven later scored his first touchdown of the game on a 13-yard pass from Robinson and Loth scored his second TD of the game in the closing seconds of the half on a 38-yard pass to give RHS a 47-0 lead.
In the third, Raven caught his second TD pass from Robinson and Valdez tied the single-game touchdown record with a two-yard run.
New Tech also scored their only touchdown of the game when QB Alexavior Gonzales threw a five-yard pass to Isiah Lewis. Rock-dale led 60-6 at the close of the third.
In the final quarter, many backups saw playing time. Malikai McKenzie scored twice, once on an interception return on the first play of the quarter and later on a 10-yard pass from Kobe Mitchell. Jose Young also scored on a 14-yard run as well. Reserve Alden Bangert also saw playing time with 25 total yards on his first three carries of the season.
Valdez scored on five of his six carries and rushed for 175 yards. Robinson was 12 of 17 with 285 yards and four touchdowns. Raven had four catches for 141 yards and Loth had three for 82.
RHS also had a total of 581 yards, the third most in a game for a Tiger team only behind the 2012 team that had 594 offensive yards against Salado and the 1975 team that had 587 yards against Lockhart. This was also the 19th time in school history that the Tigers had at least 500 total offensive yards in a game.
“Our biggest concern the past couple of weeks has been whether we were able to get any better,” Miller said. “With these last three weeks we’ve had to challenge ourselves but I think that after these games we are better.
“We’re flying around the football on defense and our offensive line gets better every day. Our special teams have improved but besides that we’re not quite sure what we need to fix. We haven’t had that much resistance in the last couple of weeks. But we still need to get in better shape, that’s for sure.”
LAGO VISTA–On Friday evening, Rockdale faces Lago Vista for their homecoming game.
The Vikings are a 5-1 squad that only lost six seniors from their 2018 team and are coming off a 41-20 win over Academy, a team Texas Football Magazine picked to make the playoffs out of District 10-3A.
Lago Vista is led by quarterback Buck Pounds, who rushed for 459 yards last year as a junior running back and senior Sam Hurley, who averaged 9.3 yards per carry and 17.5 yards per catch as a junior. The LV defense is also anchored by linebackers Jack Hood and Josh Hernandez who held Academy to 20 rushing yards last week.
“Lago’s very physical on both sides of the ball,” Miller said. “On offense they’re a lot of fun with a Slot-T or option and it’s very entertaining to watch.
“Their defense is also probably the best we’ve seen so far this year. They’re coming over here with a purpose. They’re 1-0 and coming off a big win and this is something that could put them in great shape if they’re able to come over here and get the win.”
After winning their last three games by a total of 190-26, the Tigers approach their toughest stretch of the 2019 regular season with the Vikings this week, followed by the Troy Trojans who are 2-0 in district play with an upset 59-41 victory over Cameron on Friday, Sept. 27 and a 49-13 win over Jarrell Friday.
To top it all off, the Tigers play a 5-1 Cameron team that was ranked among the top five teams in Class 3A-I until the Yoemen’s loss to Troy.
“It’s real now, this is the stretch we’ve been waiting on,” Miller said. “We’ve had this circled on our schedule since day one.
“These three teams coming up are all 5-1 and all really good football teams. The games coming up won’t necessarily define our season, but it will have a lot to do with what position we’re in going into the playoffs.”
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
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