SEGUIN, Texas — Sophomore quarterback Avery Franklin rushed for three touchdowns, and Seguin’s defense shut out Lockhart for the final 31 minutes and 20 seconds as the Matadors earned a 21-14 victory Friday night at Jack Taylor Field inside Matador Stadium.
Seguin (2-5, 2-3 District 13-5A Division I) snapped a two-game losing streak and secured its first home victory of the season behind a dominant offensive line that paved the way for 256 rushing yards on 42 carries.
Franklin scored on runs of 31, 12 and 13 yards, while senior Daniel Piñon rushed for nearly 200 yards. The Matadors finished with 351 yards of total offense on 56 plays.
Lockhart, playing without injured starting quarterback Noah Jaimes, running back Kaidyn Roland-Brite and receiver George McGee, struck first behind backup quarterback Malakhi Reese.
Reese connected with 2025 first team all-district pass catcher Demonte Anthony for a 47-yard touchdown to give the Lions a 7-0 lead with 6:29 remaining in the first quarter.
Franklin answered with a 31-yard touchdown run less than two minutes later, tying the game at seven with 4:41 left in the opening period.
The sophomore added a 12-yard scoring run with 8:44 remaining in the second quarter, giving Seguin its first lead in a home game this season, 14-7.
Lockhart responded just 84 seconds later when Reese found big play generator Bob Estrada on a screen pass that turned into a 63-yard touchdown down the far-left sideline, tying the game at 14.
The Lions threatened to take the lead before halftime, but Evan Estrada missed a 38-yard field goal wide right with 10 seconds remaining.
Seguin took control after intermission, rushing 25 times for 150 yards in the second half behind an offensive front that consistently opened running lanes and sustained drives.
Franklin broke the tie with his third touchdown, a 13-yard run with 3:12 remaining in the third quarter, putting the Matadors ahead 21-14.
The Seguin defense made the lead stand, holding Lockhart to just 18 plays and 86 yards after halftime.
Middle linebacker John Hernandez recorded two of the Matadors’ five tackles for loss and forced a fumble recovered by Kayden Bruns, his second recovery of the season.
Defensive back Kyler Forehand intercepted Reese twice inside Seguin’s five-yard line, bringing his season total to six interceptions and denying the Lions scoring opportunities.
Lockhart managed only three second-half possessions, ending with a punt, a lost fumble and Forehand’s second interception.
That final takeaway gave Seguin possession at its own four-yard line with 6:27 remaining and a seven-point advantage.
The Matadors never gave the ball back.
Facing third-and-five from the Seguin nine, Franklin made a leaping throw over a Lockhart blitz to senior Houston Herrera, who secured the ball millimeters above the turf for a critical 15-yard completion and a first down at the 24.
From there, Seguin’s offensive line took over.
The Matadors ran eight more plays, advancing another 58 yards while keeping the clock moving and the Lockhart offense on the sideline.
Seguin finished the 11-play, 78-yard possession at the Lions’ 18-yard line as time expired, completing a six-minute, 27-second drive that sealed the victory.
The Matadors gained 175 yards in the first half and 176 in the second, but their ability to control the line of scrimmage proved decisive. The combination of Franklin’s rushing touchdowns, Piñon’s production and timely defensive takeaways gave head coach Gary Gutierrez his second victory at Seguin.
The Matadors will look to build on the win next Friday when they travel to Boerne ISD Stadium to face undefeated Boerne Champion.
Area scores:
Geronimo Navarro (4-1-1, 1-0) 68, Pearsall (2-4, 0-1) 14