Rutherford, Navasota emerge from scoreless struggle to beat Waco High, 34-12

NAVASOTA — It was a sweet night at Rattler Stadium as Tiara Nicole McCoy was named Homecoming queen and Navasota quarterback Jace Jablonski and running back Artavian Rutherford played like kings on the field in helping the Rattlers beat the Waco Lions 34-12.

Joblanski threw for 273 yards and two scores, while Rutherford rushed for 120 yards and two scores.

Navasota (2-2) broke a 6-6 tie with three straight touchdowns to give first-year Rattler coach Trey Allen a modest two-game winning streak after opening with a 70-13 loss to Sealy and a hard-luck double overtime loss to 4A DII state-ranked Madisonville.

Friday's game with Class 5A Division II Waco High (2-2) was a defensive scoreless struggle filled with penalties for much of the first half. The Rattlers struck first on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Joblonski to Makerian Wesley-Stamps with 3 minutes, 4 seconds left in the first half to cap a 17-play, 82-yard drive that took a whopping 7:19. But Navasota missed the extra point.

The Lions, who were 1-9 last season and 0-8 in district, answered with a three-play, 63-yard drive. The 63-second possession ended with Bryant Whitaker Jr. catching a 43-yard pass from RJ Young, but the extra-point kick was blocked. Things got worse for the Lions as they were called for taunting on the touchdown and then were slapped with an unnecessary roughness on the return of the blocked PAT. That left Waco kicking off from its 12.

Rutherford returned the kickoff to the Lion 37. It took Class 4A DI Navasota only four plays to cover the distance with Rutherford doing the honors from the 7 for a 13-6 halftime score.

Neither team did anything on their first second-half possession, but special teams haunted Waco again as it tried to pin Navasota deep in its territory on a quick punt from the Rattler 29.

Da'Quan Pratt fielded the punt at the 11 and raced 89 yards untouched for a 20-6 lead. Waco turned the ball over on downs at its own 49. The Rattlers ran the ball six straight times to reach the end zone, the last an 11-yard keeper by quarterback Ayden Dorman on the option 6:24 left in the game. Whitaker answered on a 60-yard touchdown reception on a nifty double move.

Navasota scored the final points on a 13-yard touchdown run by Rutherford to cap a six-play, 55-yard drive.

The Rattlers will conclude nondistrict next week at La Grange.