Schulenburg Falls to Marlin in the Second Round

The Schulenburg Shorthorns fell to the Marlin Bulldogs 35-14 in the area round of the playoffs last Friday, Nov. 22, in Hutto.

The Horns finished their season 8-4.

“It’s really hard to feel content right now,” Schulenburg head coach Luke Hobbs said after the game. “But they were 0-10 two years ago. We won five games last year and eight games this year.”

In perspective, though, it was their best season in over a decade. The Horns haven’t won that many games in a season since 2011, when they went 10-2 under head coach Tommy Bludau.

Schulenburg had some shots to get ahead against Marlin, especially early in the game. But a few mistakes cost them dearly.

Shorthorn quarterback Aaron Janecek threw 19 of 30 for 203 yards, but he got sacked six times.

“I told them all week, ‘If we don’t give up any turnovers, we’ve got a chance,’” Hobbs said after the game.

He was right. The Horns turned the ball over four times: three interceptions and a lost fumble. The Bulldogs proved too good to let those slide.

Marlin got on the board first with a pitch option play to wide receiver Jordan Womack with about 5:45 left in the first quarter. On the ensuing possesion, Schulenburg turned the ball over on an interception. But the Shorthorn defense planted their feet. They forced Marlin to punt. Another interception ended the next Shorthorn advance. But Marlin couldn’t get anywhere again and had to punt.

Schulenburg got the ball back at their own 28 yard line just as the second quarter began. They found the rhythm that carried them this far. Janecek on his feet and a few quick passes to Jayse Janda brought them deep into Bulldog territory. Junior running back Da’Terrion Houston was back after missing a week, and he made a good run to keep the drive going. On third and 10 from the Bulldog 15, Janecek launched a dart to Byron Johnson in the back of the end zone. The extra point was good, and the game was tied with 5:11 left in the half.

Marlin’s special teams returners are known for being dangerous. Schulenburg learned that lesson on the kickoff that followed. The Bulldogs appeared to run it back for a touchdown. But a referee on the Schulenburg sideline inadvertently blew his whistle. The head official ordered a rekick. Marlin’s sideline erupted in fury. The teams lined back up, and on the return, Schulenburg Junior Landon Condepth. nor took a hard hit. Officials flagged Marlin for a personal foul. That backed the Bulldogs up to their own 13 yard line.

Still, the Bulldogs marched until Schulenburg caught another break. Shorthorn defensive back Demarrion Glass recovered a fumble near midfield. The Horns gained possession with 1:17 left in the half. Janecek connected with Jayse Janda to get the ball across midfield. Then he took a sack on third and four. He ended up with six sacks that night, perhaps the most punishing game of his career. Schulenburg opted to punt, but then a series of penalties against the Horns pushed the line of scrimmage so far back that Brycen Schramek had to punt from the end zone. Marlin got the ball back with good field position. Two plays later Bulldog quarterback Roderick Suiters ran in a touchdown. After the extra point, Marlin went up 14-7 and never looked back.

The Bulldogs came out strong after halftime. Caden Judie returned the kickoff to the Bulldog 22. De’angelo Wright ran in a 72-yard touchdown two plays later, making it 21-7 after the extra point, leas than a minute into the second half.

Schulenburg wasn’t ready to give up. The ball went back and forth through the rest of the quarter. Schulenburg even caught a break when Marlin, about to score, fumbled the ball through the end zone. The officials ruled it a touchback and the Horns got the ball back on their own 20. But they couldn’t make anything of it. Marlin held them to a punt.

The Bulldogs would score twice more in the fourth quarter: first on a pass from Suiters to Judie, and then on a Suiters keeper. The score was 35-7 with 4:54 left in the game when Schulenburg got the ball back. Janecek would score his final high school touchdown on a keeper from the 7 yard line. By that time it was too late. Only 1:13 remained on the clock. Marlin would recover the Horns’ last-ditch onside kick. The Bulldogs lined up in victory formation. The game ended with the score 35-14.

“We played bad against a good team, and they beat us,” Hobbs said. “That’s what happens It was a bitter loss for the seniors. Tears flowed as they realized they just played their last game in a Shorthorn uniform.

Aaron Janecek watched his older brother Brett lead the Horns, and their father won two state rings with Schulenburg back in the early 1990s. He reflected on his senior year after the game: “We got to restart the tradition here,” he said. “I feel like they’re going to keep on going up and up.”

“These seniors are an awesome group of kids,” Hobbs said. “For Aaron Janecek, I hope this isn’t his defining moment. He’s been so good for us this year. He had one bad game in the playoffs. Guys like Ricky (Walton) and Calvin (Thompson) battle every day. They were an essential part of our team. Guys like Adin Beyer who stepped up to play a new position this year, Byron (Johnson) and Tyson (Wagner) who never stepped off the field. (Austin) Toro filled in for us when guys were injured. Brycen Schramek was perfect on the year for PATs, great kickoff guy, great punter. I know I’m missing some people. They’re an awesome group of kids. It’s made work fun to go to every single day.”

But many key players remain. Junior running back Da’Terrion Houston should return next year, as should sophomore running back Mason Kunschick. He was out for all but two plays in the game against Marlin after taking some punishing hits in the bidistrict game the week before. But Kunschick proved himself a tough running back especially late in the season. A huge part of Schulenburg’s passing success this year was receiver Jayse Janda, who’ll be a senior next year. The big tight end and defensive lineman, Jayvan Luhrs, a junior, should also be back, along with sophomore Owen Brenek, who filled multiple roles this year.

Schulenburg’s junior varsity went 8-1 this year, and their only loss was by 2 to a much larger school, Rogers. A few of those players stepped up to fill some important spots late in the season, especially sophomore Raudel Corona, who filled in at center for the last four games of the season.