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Matadors host Patriots in district opener, Friday’s game to air on KWED

Seguin, TX, USA / Seguin Today
Matadors host Patriots in district opener, Friday's game to air on KWED


Seguin hits the field in front of the home fans at Matador Stadium for the first time in four weeks in Friday’s district opener against Veterans Memorial. Photo by Andie Rangel.

(Seguin) – Seguin’s quest for a third consecutive berth in the UIL football playoffs begins Friday when San Antonio-Veterans Memorial visits Matador Stadium in the opening game of the District 12-5A-Division I schedule.

The 1-1 Matadors haven’t played since the October 2 loss to New Braunfels, because the bye week followed that game, and last week’s contest against Kerrville-Tivy was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Veterans Memorial is 2-1 in Richard Mendoza’s fifth season as head coach, the program’s third at the varsity level. The Patriots rebounded from a 35-0 loss to Boerne-Champion to beat Leander-Glenn 33-13 and Medina Valley 38-10 before the bye week. The school’s first two years of varsity competition produced an 8-4 record in 2018, a 9-3 mark last year, and trips to the second round of the 5A Division I playoffs in both seasons.

The Patriots will attack Seguin’s defense with an option based rushing attack out of the pistol and spread formations. Junior tailback J.C. Solitaire, an All-District selection in 2019, enters Friday with 419 yards (7.4 per carry) and five total touchdowns. Quarterback and classmate Alex Alva has carried the ball 24 times for 206 yards (8.6 avg.) and two scores, but he has only completed 47 percent of his passes for 119 yards and one touchdown.

“The quarterback is going to pull it, and they have designed quarterback runs, which gives them an extra hat in the backfield, so we’ve got to fit the gaps, and try to be good on first down,” Seguin head coach Travis Bush said. “They’re going to try to tempo us, and get us going with some quick plays, so we’ve got to keep them off balance, and try to get them behind the chains, and then put them in passing situations.”

The Matadors look to shore up their run defense against the tandem of Solitaire and Alva after giving up 286 rushing yards and 7.7 per carry in the 35-20 loss to New Braunfels. Seguin’s statistical leaders on that side of the ball include junior linebacker Allen Martinez (18 tackles) and sophomore defensive end Jayce Cardenas (4 TFL, 2 sacks, FF, FR).

Seguin’s offense has been more diverse than Veterans Memorial’s in the early part of the season. The Matadors also feature an All-District running-back who topped 1,200 yards a year ago in Marques Washington, and he enters Friday with 204 yards (6.0 avg.) and two touchdowns in 2020.

Senior quarterback Micah Rodriguez has completed a staggering 80 percent of his throws for 452 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. Alex Concepcion (12 rec., 123 yds., 2 TD), Tristan Moreno (11 rec., 146 yds., 1 TD), and Washington (12 rec., 94 yds.) have been Rodriguez’s top targets.

The Matadors face a Veterans Memorial defense anchored by All-District returnees Seth Powell-Tubig and Xavier Mitchell on the defensive line, and cornerback Simeon Woodard in the secondary. The Patriots held Medina Valley to 122 total yards and six first downs two weeks ago.

Friday’s kickoff at Matador Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. The game will air live on KWED 1580-AM and Seguintoday.com. Pre-game starts at 6:50 with the Navarro coach’s show, followed by live coverage from the stadium at 7:00.