Opening Setback: Belton Can’t Get Offense on Track in 14-0 Loss to Pflugerville Hendrickson

BELTON — Belton outlasted Pflugerville Hendrickson in close, back-and-forth affairs to open each of the last two football seasons. The Tigers couldn’t make it three in a row Thursday night. Breaking in a roster filled with sophomores, Belton began moving the ball in the second half, but it was too little, too late for the young squad as it fell to Hendrickson 14-0 at Tiger Field. After totaling just 31 yards in the first half, the Tigers fared better over the final two frames, relying mostly on the legs of sophomore running back Benjamin Thompson to reach the red zone on their first three possessions after halftime, two of which advanced inside the 5-yard line. None led to points, however, and two fumbles later in the half made for five overall giveaways by the Tigers to help the Hawks hold on for the win. Leading 7-0 at the break, Hendrickson took over at the Belton 5 on the opening kick of the second half, which it jumped on to recover after it landed without any Tigers player touching it. Two plays later, Pete Vallejo connected with Romelo Boykin for a 5-yard touchdown pass to push the Hawks’ lead to two scores. Vallejo finished 19-of-29 for 207 yards passing and added a TD on the ground in the first half, while Boykin had eight grabs for 47 yards. Running back Michael Anderson compiled 89 yards from scrimmage, all but 10 of which came through the air. After stalling much of the first half, Belton responded with its longest drive yet on the possession following Boykins’ score, covering 52 yards in 11 plays to reach the Hawks 18 before being turned over on downs. The Tigers then reached the Hendrickson 4 when Thompson ran for 32 yards around the left side before stepping out of bounds, but the Hawks’ defense stiffened to force an incomplete pass on fourth-and-goal from the 5. Later, Belton got carries of 14 and 11 yards from Thompson on a long drive that reached the Hendrickson 2 after a 7-yard tote from Marlon Bluntson, but a fumbled handoff on the next play cut that march short. Thompson had just 7 yards rushing at the break but busted out in the second half to finish with a game-high 134 yards on 18 carries. Belton quarterbacks Will Shepard and Graham Chambley, both sophomores, combined to complete six of 13 passes for 31 yards. Belton struggled to move the ball in the first half but stayed within striking distance thanks to a solid defensive effort and a key play on special teams. Senior defensive end Damien Tiumalu recorded a sack to cut short Hendrickson’s game-opening drive and did the same on the Hawks’ second procession after each march reached Tigers territory. Hendrickson finally capitalized on prime field position on its third attempt, however, when it took over at the Tigers 16 following Belton’s 12-yard punt out of its end zone. Vallejo connected with Boykin two plays later for a 14-yard gain to set up first-and-goal, and the sophomore quarterback took it in himself from 2 yards out on the next snap to provide the first half’s lone score with 3:27 left in the opening quarter. Edward Tydings’ PAT put Hendrickson up 7-0, where it stayed until halftime. The Tigers, meanwhile, didn’t gain a first down until the second quarter and wound up with three in the half as they broke in a pair of sophomore quarterbacks making their debut on the varsity stage, as well as a handful on the offensive line. Belton totaled just 31 yards on 25 plays through eight possessions over the first 24 minutes. Three of those drives went three-and-out while another two ended in fumbles, though neither turnover led to points for the Hawks. A fumble cut short the Tigers’ third drive, but Belton senior defensive back Kegan Sherwood immediately gave the ball back to his team when he jumped up to intercept an underthrown Vallejo pass. Belton moved the chains for the first time when Shepard scrambled for an 11-yard gain along the right side, though a Hawks sack two plays later foiled the Tigers’ progress. A fumble on Belton’s next drive helped Hendrickson stage its best chance to score in the second quarter as the Hawks took over in Tigers territory and Vallejo quickly found Gabriel Guzman for a 27-yard gain down the left side. Hendrickson reached the Belton 10 but a holding call set back the Hawks and forced them to settle for a 37-yard field goal attempt, which Sherwood broke through the line to block and keep the gap at seven points. Belton’s Devin Horton picked up a pair of first downs on runs of 8 and 12 yards on the Tigers’ final possession, but time ran out before they could get within scoring distance.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Belton High School Athletics

OPENING SETBACK: BELTON CAN’T GET OFFENSE ON TRACK IN 14-0 LOSS TO PFLUGERVILLE HENDRICKSON

BY JON BROOKS | TELEGRAM STAFF, AUG. 29, 2024

Temple Daily Telegram | 9/3/2024

PHOTO CREDIT: Jon Farrow/Special to the Telegram