The Shiner offensive line keeps Hitchcock defenders busy while Tyler Mikes (#2) makes an option read. Shiner ran for 246 yards in the 35-28 win Friday. [ NOTE: click photo to enlarge ]

photo by Mark Lube, Shiner Gazette

Last year, Shiner got a really physical game from the Hitchcock Bulldogs. And expected the same or more in 2017 game.

The Comanches (3-1) outmuscled Hitchcock 35-28 Friday night at Comanche Stadium to conclude a slightly-shortened non-district schedule.

“We knew it was going to be physical. During the first half, we dominated them,” Shiner head coach Steven Cerny said. “Hitchcock got that one long play and later snuck one in on us. They also had the blocked punt.”

“Our defense played really well.”

Down 21-14 at halftime, the visitors came out of the locker room with lots of energy, only to have to contend with an equally passionate Comanche team.

“Second half, Hitchcock was more fired up and brought it but we hung in there, answered them and made plays when we needed to,” Cerny said.

The teams had to punt on their respective opening drives. Hitchcock pinned Shiner deep after its first punt, forcing the Comanches to start at their own 4. Shiner managed to move the ball to its 36 but had to punt. The Bulldogs rushed the punt, got the block and Pacey Jones picked up the ball inside the Shiner 20 and scored. The two-point run was no good and Hitchcock led 6-0.

Shiner answered with a three-play, 66-yard drive in 55 seconds. Donyai Taylor took a toss play for 9 to his 43, took a handoff and raced 48 yards to the Bulldog 9, where he scored on the next play and Shiner was up 7-6.

Another Bulldog punt of 50 yards or more got the Comanches at their own 18, and Hitchcock helped out on the drive with a personal foul that set up Shiner at its 47. Lane Nevlud took an option pitch from quarterback Tyler Mikes and reached the 28 of Hitchcock. Several plays later, Collin Bujnoch capped the drive with a 5-yard run.

Later, Shiner fielded a punt at its 32 and got an extra 15 as Hitchcock interfered with the fair-catch signal. Bujnoch ripped off a 32-yard run on the option pitch and later was involved in a gadget play as he took a pitch from Mikes and lofted a 25-yard pass for Devin Lehnert for a 21-6 Shiner lead with under three to play in the first half.

The ‘Dogs answered with a 52-yard drive just before the half — Jones hit Scott for an 18-yard gain on a 1st-and-15 play. Jones grabbed a 32-yard pass from Randy Williams to convert a 3-and-17 play and Tyrone Turner scored on a 15-yard toss, with Jones throwing to John Paul Lowe for the two-point play.

Hitchcock took the second-half kickoff and drove into Comanche territory but the drive ended as a Jones’s pass was picked off by Hunter Kloesel to set up the Gold at their own 8 after a penalty on the return.

Mikes hit tight end Cole Jalufka on a third-down play at the Shiner 31 and the play was good for 49 yards to the Hitchcock 20; Mikes capped the drive with a 2-yard run.

A 24-yard sweep by Lowe gave the ‘Dogs another score as they got within 28-20.

Shiner appeared to have misfortune after a short 18-yard punt followed a three-and-out but Hitchcock muffed the punt, giving Shiner a first down at Hitchcock’s 20.

On the second play, Bujnoch accepted a veer option pitch from Mikes and scored his second rushing and third overall touchdown of the game.

The ‘Dogs were not done yet as Turner scored on a 13-yard run and Lowe had the twopoint conversion with 41 seconds left in the game.

Hitchcock attempted an on-side kick after their TD, but Shiner recovered and took a knee to end the game.

GAME STATISTICS

   Shiner 35, Hitchcock 28
     September 29, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
     Comanche Stadium, Shiner


  SCORING SUMMARY:

                  1    2    3    4      F
  Hitchcock       6    8    0   14  -- 28
  Shiner          7   14    7    7  -- 35


  SCORING DETAILS:

    First Quarter
      H — Pacey Jones 16 blocked punt return (run failed), 2:50 1Q.
      S — Donyai Taylor 9 run (Cole Jalufka kick), 1:55 1Q.

    Second Quarter
      S — Collin Bujnoch 5 run (Jalufka kick), 9:14 2Q.
      S — Devin Lehnert 25 pass from Bujnoch (Jalufka kick), 2:44 2Q.
      H —Tyrone Turner 15 run (John Paul Lowe pass from Pacey Jones), 0:02 2Q.

    Third Quarter
      S — Tyler Mikes 3 run (Jalufka kick), 2:04 3Q.

    Fourth Quarter
      H — Lowe 24 run (run failed), 10:46 4Q.
      S — Bujnoch 20 run (Jalufka kick), 7:21 4Q.
      H — Turner 13 run (Lowe run), 0:41 4Q.


  TEAM STATISTICS:

                   Hitchcock      Shiner
  First downs             15          15
  Rushing             37-206      37-246
  Passing                126          74
  Passes              8-13-1         2-3
  Fumbles                2-2         1-1
  Penalties           16-164        2-25
  Punts              3-45.67      3-16.3


  INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

  Rushing
    H: John Paul Lowe 9-67, Tyrone Turner 6-69, Deonza McCardell 9-33, Xavian Hampton 4-22, Pacey Jones 9-15
    S: Collin Bujnoch 11-102, Donyai Taylor 8-74, Jacob Cowan 11-34, Lane Nevlud 4-30, Tyler Mikes 3-5.

  Passing
    H: Jones 7-12-1-93, Randy Williams 1-1- 0-32.
    S: Mikes 1-2-0-49, Bujnoch 1-1-0-25.

  Receiving
    H: John Scott 5-54, Davin Preston 1-36, Jones 1-32, Lowe 1-4.
    S: Cole Jalufka 1-49, Devin Lehnert 1-25.