Vega starts fast, holds on to beat Sunray for second district title in three years
VEGA — The Vega Longhorns were hanging on by a thread.
After seemingly putting the game away entering the fourth quarter Friday night, Vega found itself on defense clinging to an eight-point lead in a District 1-2A Division II. Sunray had just rattled off 20 unanswered points in the period. The Bobcats had less than two minutes to go 71 yards and tie the game while the Longhorns needed a stop.
Enter Vega defensive back Jared Calhoun.
Sunray quarterback Armando Lujan's pass was deflected into the air and ended up in Calhoun's arms for an interception, providing Vega possession with 1:12 remaining and the Bobcats had no timeouts to stop the clock. The Longhorns kneeled it out and won the game 47-39 at Longhorn Field.
With the win, Vega (6-4, 4-0) finished the season with its second district championship in three years — even if it got a little too close for comfort near the end.
"It did get a little bit closer than we would've liked," Vega coach Jason Porton said. "We knew playing Sunray, they're never out of it because they can score quick. That showed tonight in the fourth quarter and we had a little bit of a letdown. ... Momentum got rolling their way and we were fortunate to get out of it."
It looked like it would be a shootout early on. Joaquin Segovia scored on Vega's first offensive play of the game on a 25-yard run which Lujan answered with an eight-yard scoring run of his own to put Sunray up 7-6.
In the second quarter, Jose Silerio got loose for a 23-yard touchdown which Sunray responded to with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Lujan to Arnold Mendoza. Momentum shifted to Vega after that as Silerio (12-yards), Reese Robins (five-yards) and Segovia (36-yards with four seconds until halftime) each scored on runs to make it 33-13 at the midway point.
Vega got the ball to start the second half and Segovia needed only 93 seconds to put it in the end zone from 35-yards out to make it 39-13. Segovia was absolutely outstanding as he rushed for 250 yards and four touchdowns on the night.
Sunray cut the deficit with a five-yard scoring strike from Lujan to Uriel Ortiz, but Vega answered back with a one-yard TD run from Segovia. It was 47-19 heading into the fourth and the Longhorn faithful were feeling comfortable.
That comfort didn't last long.
Lujan hit Mendoza for another touchdown pass, this one from six yards out, to get it closer early in the fourth. Midway through the final period, Lujan hit Ortiz for a 19-yard touchdown pass to pull the Bobcats within two possessions.
With 2:29 left in the game, Lujan made what looked like it would be the play of the game on fourth and 10.
Under heavy pressure, the sophomore rolled out to his left, avoided a sack and found Dawson Bennett for a 31-yard touchdown. He also punched the ball in for a two-point conversion right after to get within eight.
Vega got the ball back, but the Longhorns were unable to pick up a first down so Sunray took back over with under two minutes on its own 29-yard line. Two plays later, Calhoun made what ended up being the actual play of the game.
"It feels great," Calhoun said. "It feels good to win us the game."
In addition to Segovia's effort, Silerio finished with 108 yards and score.
It was a challenging night for Sunray as cold temperatures and thick fog made executing its Air Raid offense more difficult. Lujan still put up quite an effort in going 26-of-53 for 362 yards, five touchdowns and the pick. He also rushed for 100 yards and a score while Bennett hauled in seven catches for 118 yards.
Sunray (8-2, 3-1) is still going to the playoffs and will host a game. Vega, after beginning the year 2-4, is the district champion and will host a home game in the postseason as well.
The Longhorns had their enjoyable moment Friday night, but they plan to keep going for more gold balls moving forward.
The mindset for next week is simple, according to Segovia.
"Win," he said. "Just win. Fight, claw, win."
VEGA 47, SUNRAY 39
SHS 7 6 6 20 -- 39
VHS 6 27 14 0 -- 47
First Quarter
Vega- Joaquin Segovia 25 run (XP no good) 10:38
Sunray- Armando Lujan 8 run (Azriel Vargas kick) 3:32
Second Quarter
Vega- Jose Silerio 23 run (Kylan Richardson kick) 11:06
Sunray- Arnold Mendoza 5 from Lujan (kick no good) 6:37
Vega- Silerio 12 run (Richardson kick) 5:41
Vega- Reese Robbins 5 run (Richardson kick) 1:23
Vega- Segovia 36 run (kick no good) 0:04
Third Quarter
Vega- Segovia 35 run (kick no good) 10:27
Sunray- Uriel Ortiz 5 from Lujan (2-pt no good) 2:07
Vega- Segovia 1 run (2-pt is good) 0:10
Fourth Quarter
Sunray- Mendoza 6 from Lujan (2-pt no good) 10:55
Sunray- Ortiz 19 from Lujan (2-pt no good) 6:14
Sunray- Dawson Bennett 31 from Lujan (2-pt good) 2:29
TEAM STATISTICS
SHS VHS
First downs 22 11
Rushes-yards 27-94 45-395
Passing yards 370 7
Comp.-att.-int 27-54-1 1-2-0
Punts-avg. 2-24.5 2-28.5
Fumbles-lost 3-1 2-1
Penalties-yards 5-65 4-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
Sunray- Armando Lujan 20-100, Dominic Casares 6-4, Dawson Bennett 1-(-10)
Vega- Joquin Segovia 23-250, Reese Robins 4-15, Braden Brorman 2-9, Jose Silerio 14-108, Slade Fowler 2-13
PASSING
Sunray- Armando Lujan 26-53-1 362, Luke Grajeda 1-1-0 8
Vega- Joaquin Segovia 1-2-0 7
RECEIVING
Sunray- Damian Barragan 4-55, Dawson Bennett 7-118, Kagan Davis 5-86, Tanner Van Dyk 5-63, Arnold Mendoza 2-11, Uriel Ortiz 3-31
Vega- Diego Martinez 1-7
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Vega starts fast, holds on to beat Sunray for second district title in three years
