Calhoun loses heartbreaker
December 4, 2009
SAN ANTONIO – Everything looked like it was going Calhoun’s way in the first half.
The Sandcrabs overcame two turnovers, scored on three runs, threw a touchdown and kicked a field goal. Up 31-17 at halftime, every indication pointed to Calhoun beating Kerrville Tivy and advancing to the Class 4A, Division II semifinals.
But that’s not what happened.
Instead, the Antlers scored 21-unanswered points in the second half and ended the Sandcrabs’ season with a 38-31 quarterfinals win at Heroes Stadium. “Nothing changed in the second half, except that we didn’t execute,” said Calhoun head coach Richard Whitaker. “That’s what was crazy. They didn’t change their defense, or personnel. It’s hard to explain and it’s going to hurt for a long time. That doesn’t change how proud I am of these guys.”
Calhoun ends the season with a 10-4 record, while the Antlers (9-4) advance to the semifinals to play the winner of Saturday’s Dayton-Brenham quarterfinal game being played in Katy. “We battled all season and kept believing in ourselves in every game we played in,” said Calhoun senior quarterback Brandon Sanders, who led the Sandcrabs with 113 yards rushing and also threw for a touchdown and 74. “We have a great team but we just fell short. I don’t know.”
Calhoun finished the game with 302 yards rushing, but couldn’t stop Kerrville Tivy’s Johnny Manziel from making big play, after big play from the quarterback position. Manziel threw for 305 yards on 25 completions, including the game-winning 21-yard pass to Braedon White with 56-seconds left in the game. The junior threw two touchdowns and ran for two more – including a 66-yard run.
Jeremy Loya led the Calhoun offense in the first half, scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 105 yards. The sophomore caught a 23-yard touchdown from Brandon Sanders to go along with touchdown runs of 17 and 25 yards in the first half. “They were coming downhill hard from the safety position and the middle linebacker was clearing out, so we knew that pass was there,” said Whitaker of Loya’s success. “We also ran a counter with him and he was doing good. The lead option was there and he made the best of his opportunities.”
Calhoun, which returned only one starter on the offensive side of the ball this year, wasn’t picked or expected to make it anywhere close to the quarterfinals this season. The team won a share of the District 30-4A championship and walked off the field for the last time feeling proud of their accomplishments. “If you polled everyone in South Texas, I don’t think anyone would have given us a chance to be where we were in this game,” Whitaker said. “Words can’t describe how proud I am of these kids and what they did this season. They stepped up to every challenge they ever had.”
Notes Getting defensive: Calhoun sophomore Alex Trevino continued to play strong defense in the playoffs. The linebacker had two sacks and also recovered a fumble for the Sandcrabs… Austin Talbott sacked Manziel in the third quarter to force Tivy to go for it on 4th down. The Antlers converted and would convert another 4th down en route to tying the game at 31 with a 1-yard touchdown run from Manziel.
Recovery: Calhoun’s MacGyver Chapa recovered a Tivy fumble on a kickoff to set up Loya’s 17-yard touchdown run to give Calhoun a 17-14 lead in the second quarter.
Kicking it: Calhoun junior Noble Mu hit a 20-yard field goal and also made all four of his extra points.
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