AUSTIN — Like a beginner off the bunny slope, Seguin couldn’t withstand the Anderson avalanche on the way to a 71-19 stumble at House Park Stadium.
Anderson: 527 yards
Seguin: 214 yards
Seguin started the game with the football after the start time was moved one hour ahead to six p.m.
What followed was an attack led Anderson’s experienced core of championship-proven players to end the Trojans.
The Matadors went three-and-out to start the game, Anderson took over at their 44-yard line and came out firing with backup sophomore quarterback Eli Elhert starting in place of injured captain Covert Darbyshire.
Running back Nick Briggs gobbled 29 yards on the Trojans’ first play, the home squad faced 3rd-and-10 after their false start. Against the Matador blitz, Elhert scrambled 25 yards and set up first-and-goal as the 2. Briggs ran for his first touchdown the next snap.
Down 7-0, Mateo Kidd kicked off to Seguin’s showstopper Daniel Pinon. Call it deja vu because Pinon scored on a kick return for the second straight week. Alas, Seguin’s two-point attempt failed.
Behind 7-6, Anderson seized momentum back on the next drive Elhert’s short pass in the flat to tight end Gage Willis. After the catch, Willis broke off an explosive 70-yard score to push Anderson up 15-6 after the successful two-point conversion.
By halftime, Anderson had possessed the ball seven times. They scored touchdowns on the first six with four TD passes from Elhert and three scores by Willis.
Willis’ physicality set the tone for a night where the younger Matadors faced misfortunate matchups due to the veteran pass catchers experience and ability to extend the play off contact.
This was never more evident than on the Trojans’ final touchdown in the first half. Facing third and long, Elhert found star wideout Jay Fullmer under the linebackers on a short crossing route. Fullmer turned up the far sideline and got the first down before bumping off Matador hit after Matador hit.
Inside the five, Seguin’s star bandit Nathan Walter tried to shoulder check Fullmer out of bounds. After he hit Fullmer, the receiver steadied himself and scored a 56-yard touchdown off a simple crossing route.
That summed up the night. Seguin’s defense could not withhold Anderson from playing bully ball.
By the end of the night the Trojans took home eight offensive touchdowns, a pick-six, and a 108-yard kick-six.
Despite the loss, Seguin found some moments to measure.
Quarterback Avery Franklin had his first multi-touchdown passing game. Each touchdown throw to Daniel Pinon came when Seguin was inside their 25-yard line.
Franklin finished 7-of-17 with two touchdown throws and a pick-six early in the third quarter.
Speaking of Pinon, the tailback flashed a familiar dominance that fans saw last year when he played receiver.
Both touchdown catches by Pinon accounted for 157 total yards. Mix in the kick return score and Pinon had his third straight week with over 100 total yards (all-purpose).
Pinon has found paydirt three straight games in a variety of ways. He has five rushing touchdowns, two touchdown catches, and two kick returns turned into house calls.
Clearly, he has found a groove.
Hopefully the rest of Seguin’s team will as well.
Tonight’s loss drops the Matadors to 1-5 (1-3 district).
Seguin returns home next week to battle the Lockhart Lions.