Senior tailback Johnny Alegria (12) ran for 122 yards on 12 carries and scored both Navarro touchdowns in Friday’s playoff loss to Wimberley at the Alamodome. Photo by Jacqueline Springs.
(San Antonio) – Wimberley avenged its 42-14 October loss to Navarro with a 42-12 win in the Friday afternoon rematch to end the Panthers’ season in the 4A Division II Region IV finals at the Alamodome.
The Texans used touchdown passes of 21 and 31 yards from Cooper McCollum to Christian Marshall and a six-yard scoring strike from McCollum to Josh Limely after a Navarro fumble to build a 21-0 cushion by the end of the first quarter.
Navarro found its legs offensively in the second period and capped a 13-play, 88-yard drive with Johnny Alegria’s 11-yard scamper to the end zone at the 7:33 mark. Sebastian Sneed missed the PAT kick, and the 21-6 margin held through halftime.
The Panthers engineered an impressive drive in third quarter and had a chance to make it a one-score game, but Wimberley’s defense made a goal line stand and stuffed Nick Billings on a quarterback sneak from inside the one on fourth down.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penatly moved the ball out to the 16 and negated Navarro’s chances of turning the game’s momentum with a safety or turnover in the Wimberley end zone. The Texans capitalized on the extra breathing room with an 11-play drive that ended with McCollum’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Watts and extended the lead to 28-6 going into the fourth quarter.
Alegria won a foot race with the Wimberley secondary to the right pylon on a sweep from three yards out with 10:20 left in the game to finish a six-play, 66-yard drive and draw the Panthers back within two scores, 28-12.
Navarro attempted an onside kick after the touchdown, but Wimberley recovered at the Panthers’ 49-yard line. Nine plays later, McCollum scored on a one-yard keeper to put the Texans in front 35-12 with 6:17 to play.
McCollum threw deep to Limely on third-and-long for a 55-yard touchdown to cap the game’s scoring with 2:51 remaining.
Navarro head coach Rod Blount credited Wimberley for making the critical plays when the Panthers had chances to grab momentum, and commended his team for its unyielding effort in the face of adversity.
“They love each other and the play for each other,” Blount said. “You see that when somebody at the same position does something great, and the backup or the starter gets excited for them. They play for each other. That’s what makes them great.”
After allowing an average of 27 points through 13 games and at least 34 in four straight, the Wimberley defense turned in its best performance of the year by holding Navarro to 273 total yards and a season-low 12 points
The Texans limited Navarro’s single-season rushing record holder Euler Deleon to just 37 yards on 15 carries. The senior fullback finished the 2019 campaign with 2,040 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Alegria ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. He finished the year with 1,138 rushing yards and 11 scores despite missing significant time with an injury. Billings completed two passes on the night, a 12-yarder to Jean “MoMo” Sims and a 30-yarder to Brody Whitson.
McCollum, who left the October district meeting in the first half with an injury, went 18-22 through the air for 224 yards and five touchdowns while running for 40 yards and a score in the playoff rematch. Sophomore running-back Moses Wray led Wimberley on the ground with 106 yards on 17 carries.
Sims, who ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season win over Wimberley, exited Friday’s rematch with a first half injury and did not return.
The game didn’t go the way Navarro planned, but Blount hopes his players can reflect on the 2019 season with their heads held high.
“They play with everything they have, they work with everything they have,” Blount said. “Great group of young men. They’re going to be successful in life because of how they work and how they compete, and that’s our goal. Just super proud of the job they did all season long.”
Friday marked the final Navarro football game for seniors Deleon, Alegria, Kyle Dietert, Kaid Qassom, Myles McCord, Zach Aguilar, Josh Linton, Gabriel Means, Ethan Thomas, Troy Howard, Matthew Gilliam, Malichai DeLaTorre, Brett Butler, David Reyna, and Cade Gray.
“Twenty-three and four their record over the last two years, and they played their tails off,” Blount said. “They set the tone for us, and set the foundation for what’s to come, and we’ve got to keep working, and get better, and keep the tradition rolling.”
After winning the District 13-4A-Division II championship and advancing four rounds in the UIL playoffs for the fourth time in school history, Navarro’s final 2019 season record is 13-1.
Wimberley (11-3) advances to a state semifinal matchup with Silsbee, who knocked off West Orange-Stark 35-28 in the Region III finals Friday evening.