AUSTIN (KXAN) — La Vernia's power running attack prevailed in the Bears' 13-10 win over Austin LBJ in a Class 4A Division I football second-round playoff game Thursday at Matador Stadium in Seguin.
Operating almost solely from a shotgun-wing formation, the Bears held possession with bruising backs Sean Garza and Ty Carter. Carter scored on a 1-yard run for the Bears' only touchdown and Luke Green kicked two field goals.
Austin LBJ's potent offense couldn't find its footing when it got on the fiel, but spent a good portion of the game on the sideline in large part due to La Vernia's ball control. Caden Crenshaw scored on a 3-yard run to give the Jaguars a 7-3 lead late in the first half. It was the third time the Jags had the ball in a goal-to-go situation but La Vernia kept them out the first two possessions.
Green kicked the field goal that made the difference from 41 yards after he missed from 46. A defensive delay of game penalty on the Jags for imitating the snap count gave Green another shot from five yards closer, and he took advantage. He hammered one through the uprights early in the fourth to give the Bears a 13-7 lead.
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The Bears iced the game with a third-and-4 run by Carter that initially was stacked up short of the line to gain, but Carter kept his legs churning and the pile moved an additional five yards to give the Bears a new set of downs and leave the Jags helpless without any timeouts.
It was the first loss of the season for the Jags, ending the year 11-1. La Vernia (9-3) advances to the third round to take on either San Antonio Davenport or Port Lavaca Calhoun.
