(Seguin) — After a back-and-forth first half, the Alamo Heights Mules put the clamps on the Seguin offense in the second half to take down the Matadors, 47-19 on Friday night in the 2024 season opener for both teams at Matador Stadium.
The teams combined for four touchdowns in the first quarter and three in the second quarter with big plays from both sides. Alamo Heights took the opening kickoff and drove into Seguin territory, but Matador defensive lineman Hunter Mica forced a fumble and the Mats recovered to turn away the Mules. On the ensuing drive, Seguin quarterback Corey Dailey found tight end Lane Seidenberger in the flat on the left side for a 17-yard TD score to put the Mats on top, 7-0.
Alamo Heights would respond on the next kickoff when Trip Johnson took a hand off on the return and outran Seguin defenders for an 80-yard return for a touchdown. Seguin was forced to go three-and-out on their next possession and a special teams miscue would lead to another score. Seidenberger dropped to a knee to field a low snap for a punt and was ruled down at the six yard line. Alamo Heights athlete Michael Terry III then ran the ball into the endzone from the six to give the Mules a 14-7 lead.
Seguin would score on a dazzling 31-yard catch and run by receiver Nik Henry on their next possession. The UTEP commit darted in and around Mule defenders to take a pass from Dailey to paydirt and pull the Matadors to within one at 14-13 just before the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Alamo Heights scored on their next possession when quarterback Watson Lasswell found Landon Balldin for a 21-yard score. The Mules would go for two and Terry would fumble at the goal line. Seguin linebacker Reggie Richardson scooped up the ball and nearly scored two for the Matadors, but was tripped up at the Alamo Heights eight-yard line to keep the Mules in front by seven.
Seguin receiver Ayden Avila caught Dailey’s third touchdown of the half on a 24-yard pass later in the quarter to cut the lead down to one at 20-19. Alamo Heights would get a 50-yard touchdown run by running back DK Garza to give the Mules a 27-19 lead at the half.
In the second half, the Mules would take advantage of short fields after a forcing a pair of Seguin turnovers on downs and an interception to score three touchdowns, pushing the final margin of victory to 28 points. Garza and Terry would each score their second TD’s of the night on the ground in the trio of scores.
Seguin will look to rebound when they head to the road in week two of the 2024 season. The Matadors will play at Corpus Christi Miller next week. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus next Friday night.
In other area week one games, the Navarro Panthers beat Florence, 35-14 in Geronimo and the Marion Bulldogs fell 34-28 at Stockdale.