Shorthorns Fall to Rogers in Overtime

The Schulenburg Shorthorns lost an overtime thriller 36-29 against the Rogers Eagles Friday night.

Schulenburg led 22-7 at halftime in the Horns’ first big test of the season following their 42-0 blowout against Sacred Heart Hallettsville the week before. The Eagles, under new head coach Casey Carr, won their first game of the season last week against Groesbeck 38-21.

The Shorthorns won the coin toss and elected to defer until the second half. They tried an onside kick to start the game and successfully recovered it, but officials ruled that Rogers had called for a fair catch and gave them the ball at their own 40.

Eagles quarterback Tyson Sisneroz threw a 39 yard pass to Mykah Valerio on the first play of the game. Two plays later Sisneroz scored on a keeper. The extra point was good and the Eagles led 0-7 with 10:32 left in the first quarter.

Schulenburg struggled on their next drive. Eagle defender Cash Smith snagged an interception from Shorthorn quarterback Owen Brenek, giving Rogers the ball on their own 38 yard line.

But after that, Schulenburg’s defense began to find their rhythm.The Horns forced Rogers to punt on that drive and twice more before the half was over. Horn running back Da’Terrion Houston scored on a run from the 20 yard line at the start of the second quarter. Houston ended the night with 142 yards rushing.

“He’s bought into what we’re trying to accomplish offensively and defensively,” Schulenburg Head Coach Clay Ferguson said after the game. “He made some good plays defensively tonight. He ran the ball really hard. I’m really proud of him. He’s come a long way since we showed up.”

On the kickoff the followed, Eagle returner Valerio bobbled the catch. The Horns corralled him in the endzone, resulting in a safety. The Horns now led 16-7.

Brenek scored on a keeper in the next drive, raising Schulenburg’s lead to 22-7 after a failed extra point.

The Eagles clawed back after halftime. The Horns got down to the 12 yard line on the opening drive of the half before the Eagles stopped them on downs.

Rogers scored on their next drive with a touchdown run by Jason Marek from the 8 yard line. They went for two and got it with a rush from Marek. The Eagles trailed 2215 with under six minutes left in the third quarter.

Rogers forced Schulenburg to punt on their next drive after just four downs. But the Eagle receiver fumbled the ball. Denver Carr recovered the ball for the Horns, and Schulenburg got the ball at the Rogers 32. The Schulenburg stands erupted on the next play when Brenek tossed a touchdown pass to Jayse Janda. The extra point was good and the Horns led 29-15 with 2:28 left in the third quarter.

The two-score lead didn’t last long, though. After the kickoff, Rogers took just three snaps to get to the endzone. On third and four from their own 35, Kole Stephens found a hole and ran 65 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was good and Rogers trailed 29-22 with 44 seconds left in the third quarter.

The two teams traded possessions without a score. Rogers tried to run on a fake punt on fourth down, but the Horns stopped them. And then Schulenburg went four downs and out on the next series.

Rogers got the ball back with five minutes left in the game.They scored three plays later on a huge pass from Sisneroz to tight end Dylan Stowe. On the extra point, Shorthorn lineman Max Hernandez batted down the ball, which would have made the score 29-28 in favor of the Horns. But officials called an offsides penalty against Schulenburg. Rogers successfully re-kicked and tied the game 29-29 with 4:22 left in the game.

After the kickoff, Schulenburg would have gotten the ball on their own 24. But a personal foul on the Rogers sideline put them back to the 12. And then a false start on the next play made it 1st and 15 from their own 7 yard line. But the Horns put their heads down and gained ground, mostly off some strong running by the quarterback Brenek.

On third and 7 from the Rogers 44, with 37 seconds left in the game, Brenek dropped back to pass. The line judge threw a flag for defensive pass interference. But the head referee overruled and waived off the flag, saying the pass had been tipped.

“You’ve got to play tough,” Ferguson said. “We’ve got to be able to overcome that kind of stuff and go play.

The Horns went for it on fourth and seven, but turned it over on downs.

“Here’s the thing, if you didn’t learn this about me tonight, we’re gonna play to win,” Ferguson said. “We were fourth and seven right there. I got confidence in my defense that we’re gonna get a stop. We’re gonna try to win football games. That’s the way we’re always going to play.”

Rogers got the ball back with 25 seconds left. Three plays later the clock wound down to the end of regulation.

Rogers won the overtime toss and got the ball on the 25. They got down to the two yard line on a run from Cash Smith. Shorthorn defensive end Jayvan Luhrs came up with a big tackle in the backfield on the next play. Schulenburg’s goalline defense held strong on the next two plays. On fourth and goal from the four yard line, Sisneroz tossed a touchdown pass to Valerio and the Eagles went up 29-36.

Schulenburg tried running the ball to open up their series, but they didn’t get far. After a false start, and on third and seven from the 27, Eagle defensive back Kasen Chaney intercepted a pass and ended the game.

A few crucial penalties hurt Schulenburg the most, especially late in the game, costing them 33 yards.

“We’ve got to not jump offsides and stuff like that,” Ferguson said. “That’s on us. We’ve got to be more disciplined.”

Schulenburg will travel to Burton this Friday to play the Panthers. Game time is 7 p.m.