FOOTBALL: La Vega Beats GHS 42-21 in 17-4A Opener

La Vega broke open a tie game by scoring three unanswered touchdowns in the second half, giving the Pirates a 42-21 win over Gatesville Friday night in the District 17-4A opener. In a game that went back and forth for almost three quarters, La Vega's 21-point run in the final half led to the victory. With the loss, GHS falls to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in league play. In other district games the same night, Burnet held off China Spring 38-28 and Robinson routed Lampasas 40-14. Gatesville returns home Friday to host Lampasas, with kickoff for this week's homecoming game set for 7:30 p.m. at McKamie Stadium. La Vega scored first in Friday's league opener, but it didn't take GHS long to respond. The Hornets' ensuing possession lasted just two minutes and ended when Jeff Speer (10-of-25 passing, 153 yards) connected with Andraque Jones on a 35-yard scoring strike. Abate Hennessy's PAT tied the game at 7-7. La Vega scored before the opening quarter ended, but GHS again responded with a game-tying march that ended on Speer's 32-yard TD pass to Brady Elliott. By halftime, La Vega was up 21-14 but Gatesville wasted little time answering with another scoring drive. This one was mostly on the ground and was punctuated on Dakota Vernon's 7-yard scamper that tied the contest at 21-21 barely three minutes into the third period. Vernon finished with 151 yards rushing on 19 totes, while Speer added 78 on 14 carries. Unfortunately for GHS, Vernon's trip to the end zone would be the team's last of the night, as La Vega scored before the third stanza ended and added a pair of fourth-quarter teedees to seal the win. GHS rolled up 22 first downs and 384 yards offense. Andrew Wallace snared three passes for 49 yards, Cooper Edmiston had three for 21 yards and Payden Smalley two for 16 yards. Defensively, Edmiston recorded 16 tackles, Sam Jackson and Nick Gibson 12 each, Addison Santulan 11 tackles and one for loss.