High School Football: Calallen's defense shines in bi-district win against Beeville
BEEVILLE — Calallen relied on its running game to set the tone early during Friday’s Class 4A Division I bi-district game against Beeville.
The Wildcats finished the job with their defense by keeping the Trojans away from the end zone until one minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
Calallen limited Beeville to less than 150 all-purpose yards and the Wildcats totaled 333 total yards in a 30-6 win at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Luke Medina supplied two rushing touchdowns and quarterback Bryce Burnett finished with a game-best 122 rushing yards and a 25-yard touchdown.
Skyler Rubio and Alex Quitugua each recorded interceptions on defense and Sonny Carpinello supplied Calallen's final points on a touchdown carry in the fourth quarter.
Beeville's Isaiah Gonzales erased the shutout by scoring on a 3-yard run with a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
The win kept the Wildcats (11-0) unbeaten as they advanced to the area round to play San Antonio Davenport, a 36-6 winner against Fredericksburg with a time, date and location to be determined.
Beeville, which displayed a solid defensive effort through three and a half quarters, ends its season at 5-6.
Key moments
Calallen quarterback Bryce Burnett went to work quickly by leading the Wildcats down field on its opening possesion. Luke Medina capped the 11-play, 70-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run for the game's first points. Calallen struck again in the second quarter when Burnett hit Michael Viera for a 37-yard gain to set up Medina, who scored again on a 4-yard carry. The Trojans' defense kept the game close against the No. 2 ranked Wildcats — a feat most teams have not been able to do this season. Calallen led 16-0 after a safety and it remained that way until the third quarter. The Wildcats went on to score 14 second half points on touchdowns by Burnett and Sonny Carpinello. Isaiah Gonzales scored Beeville's lone touchdown on a 3-yard carry with 1:04 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Key players
Medina supplied two rushing touchdowns on runs of 1 and 4 yards and finished with 98 rushing yards. Burnett finished with a game-best 122 rushing yards and scored on a 25-yard touchdown on fourth down. Blaine Lamb added 12 carries for 55 yards. Gonzales led Beeville with 70 rushing yards, including a touchdown run in the fourth quarter and Davyn Perez recorded an interception on defense for the Trojans. Skyler Rubio and Alex Quitugua each recorded interceptions to lead the Wildcats' defense.
What the coaches said
Calallen coach Steve Campbell on the Wildcats' defense: "Our kids have been playing hard all year long and playing great together. Tonight we didn't pay our best... (Chris) Soza and his offense were well prepared and they had some receivers wide open. But the effort was there from these young men. They try really hard and we're proud to be 11-0."
Beeville coach Chris Soza on the Trojans' 2022 season: "I'm proud of the boys. We knew we had a tough game ahead of us but we just didn't take the opportunities we had in the first half. The defense played well enough for us to win, but we just didn't make it happen. Give coach Campbell credit, his boys played well. I'm proud of our boys, we never gave up and I'm going to miss our seniors."
What the players said
Calallen DB Skyler Rubio on the Wildcats' preparation ahead of the area round: "We came out cracking in the first half and we just need to come out in practice this week to get ready for San Antonio Davenport. We need to work hard every game, we were a little sloppy out there but hopefully make a run and go to state this year."
Calallen RB Luke Medina on his two touchdown night: "We had a good night offensively. The first half was a little rusty but we came in the second half and got everything fixed to finish the ball game. We just have to keep moving the ball little by little and get in the end zone fast."
Up next
Calallen vs. San Antonio Davenport in a Class 4A Division I area round matchup, TBA
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Calallen's defense shines in bi-district win against Beeville
