It was another heartbreaking loss for the Dillos as they fell to the Bangs Dragons 42-35 last Friday evening. The homecoming crowd was treated to a game that had more ups and downs than one should have to endure during an entire season.
San Saba (5-3, 1-3) never had the lead against a quick Bangs (5-2, 3-0) team and trailed most of the game by 14 points, but several 4th quarter stops and big offensive plays kept the fans on their feet and the Dillos in the game until the last seconds.
I remember a coach once saying, “there are three things you can’t control in the game: the weather, other team's talent and officials.” The weather was a little muggy, the officials were…. well, officials were in attendance, and the pure talent and speed of the Bangs running back Guy Powell proved to be too much for the Dillos to overcome. Powell carried the Dragons to the win with 22 carries for 293 yard (13.31 avg) and four rushing touchdowns.
From a statistical standpoint, the Dillos outpaced the Dragons in total plays, rushing, passing, first downs and time of possessions. Numbers like that are a winning combination 90% of the time, and a win would have been likely for the Dillos. But catching #20 when he broke into the open was just something the Dillo defense couldn’t do. Mathematically the Dillos still have a chance to make the playoffs; it would take four or five combinations of some very bad teams beating some state ranked teams, a couple of blowouts and the Dillos winning the next two games to make that happen. For now, the Dillos will focus in on the Battle of the River and the Goldthwaite Eagles and picking up win number 6 on the season.
Offensive stats
The offense produced 510 total yards on 58 plays (8.7 avg) 347 of those yards coming on the ground. Leading the way rushing was Ethan Gonzales. Gonzales rushed for 180 yards on 21 carries (8.5 avg) and two scores while QB Lance Taylor rushed for 106 yards on 16 carries (6.6 avg). Playmaker Tyler Johnson had six rushes for 61 yards and six receptions for 72 yards with three receiving touchdowns. Taylor passed for 163 yards completing 15 of 25 passes (60%) with catches by Johnson (6) Gonzales (2) Lane Miller (3) and Levi Glover with four receptions.
Defensive stats
The defense struggled to keep up with the speed of the Dragons as San Saba surrendered 346 yards on the ground but only allowed 75 yards in the air. The Dillo defense did make several crucial stops in the fourth quarter that allowed them to stay in the game, but the big plays ended up being the Achilles tendon for the defense on the night. Leading the defense was linebacker Zuri Herrera with 18 tackles (two for a loss) followed by defensive lineman Jesus Betancourt with five tackles (one for a loss). Safety Taylor contributed eight tackles while Adrian Martinez, Dylan Ware, Tyler Johnson, and Winton Lackey all tallied five tackles a piece.
Game Summary 1st Quarter 6:19 – The Dragons opening drive and score come way of a 28-yard pass. PAT is good; 7-0 Bangs.
At the end of the first quarter San Saba 0, Bangs 7
2nd Quarter
11:41 – Lance Taylor connects with Tyler Johnson for a 41-yard passing score. PAT is good; 7-7.
10:12 – Bangs RB Guy Powell scores his first rushing score on the night from the 14-yard line. PAT is good; 14-7 San Saba.
4:47 – The Dillos move the ball to the 5-yard line, from there Taylor once again finds Johnson in the end zone. PAT is good; 14-14.
4:00 – Powell scampers 63 yards on the rushing score. PAT is blocked by Aiden Martinez; 20-14 Bangs.
1:51 – Powell’s third rushing touchdown on the night comes from five yards out. Two-point conversion is good; 28-14 Bangs.
:18 – The Dillos are able to move the ball down the field to the 1-yard line; once again Taylor finds Johnson on the quick pass. PAT is no good; 28-20 Bangs.
Halftime score
San Saba 20, Bangs 28
3rd Quarter
8:00 – Powell once again powers his way into the end zone from the 3-yard line. PAT is good; 35-20 Bangs.
4:38 – RB Ethan Gonzales crosses the goal line on an 18yard rushing score. Two-point conversion is good; 28-35 Bangs.
1:46 – Bangs QB connects with his WR on a 37 \\-yard passing score. PAT is good, 4228 Bangs.
End of the third quarter – San Saba 28, Bangs 42 4th Quarter
6:28 – The Dillos close the gap on the scoreboard when Gonzales takes off on a 47-yard score. PAT is good; 35-42 Bangs.
Final score – Bangs 42, San Saba 35