Dae’sean Avery (19) has guided Goliad to a pair of victories after replacing injured quarterback Cord Zamzow. (Photo by Steven Bone)
The Goliad Tigers are ready for the third season.
After surviving a rugged pre-district schedule and then overcoming injuries to gain a share of the District 15-3A Division I title, the Tigers (8-2) are now stepping into the postseason with an urgency that comes with November football.
“It’s sudden death now,” Salazar said Wednesday as the Tigers prepared for their Class 3A Division I bi-district contest Thursday at 7 p.m. against the Bishop Badgers (5-5) at Ingleside’s Mustang Stadium. “The winner goes on and the loser goes home. Our kids know what’s at stake and we want to have the opportunity to continue to play next week.”
Salazar said the Tigers will face a Bishop team that has steadily improved every week of the season.
“They’ve got a new coaching staff, new scheme, offensively and defensively,” Salazar said. “You can see their progression as they got into district and late in district play. They won some big ball games that they needed to win down the road.”
Badgers bring weapons, speed
Bishop lost its first three games of the season, but has won four of its last five contests entering Thursday night’s kickoff.
The Badgers average 200.1 yards passing and 88.8 yards rushing per game.
Junior quarterback Braxton Eli Montalvo, a two-year starter, has passed for 1,978 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has completed 137 of 227 passes (60.4%) and has also rushed for a pair of TDs.
Montalvo’s favorite receiver is junior Matthew Reyna, who has caught 38 passes for 651 yards and nine touchdowns. The Badgers’ leading rusher is senior running back Aidan Andalon, who has carried the ball for 347 yards and three touchdowns.
“They’ve got some skill kids that are good weapons, and their quarterback can sling it,” Salazar said. “I know they’ll be a challenge defensively.”
The Bishop defense is allowing 28.6 points per game. Junior linebacker Asaiah Aguilera leads the Badgers in tackles with 91, including 46 solo stops and four quarterback sacks.
“They look pretty quick,” Salazar said of the badgers’ defense. “They don’t look real big, but they fly around, and they get to the football and that presents a challenge anytime you’ve got guys that are rallying to the football.”
Tigers getting healthier
Goliad enters Thursday contest healthier than it has been in weeks.
“We got everybody back,” Salazar said. “We were able to rest a few guys here at the end of the season the last couple weeks. Now everybody’s back ready to roll for the playoffs, so we’re excited about that.”
Senior quarterback Cord Zamzow has been sidelined since sustaining an injury in the Tigers’ 37-28 loss to Edna on Oct. 24. Sophomore Dae’sean Avery stepped in and led Goliad to wins over Aransas Pass and Corpus Christi West Oso.
Avery rushed for two touchdowns against West Oso and has passed for 138 yards and one TD.
Goliad seniors Lamont Franklin and Donovan Perry have been Goliad’s playmakers. Franklin has accounted for 18 touchdowns with 902 yards rushing and 608 receiving. Perry has rushed for 816 yards and nine scores and also a touchdown reception.
“Avery’s playing really good right now and is gaining more confidence,” Salazar said. “And we’ve been able to get Corbin Rosenquest a few reps in games. We feel confident moving forward with those guys, especially with a lot of the weapons they have around them with Lamont and Donovan. As long as our o-line continues to play well, we will always have an opportunity to win games.”
Senior Landon Psencik tops the Tigers in tackles with 96. Junior Connor Castillo has a team-high 11 tackles for loss.
Locked in for postseason
Thursday night’s winner faces the Crystal City-Universal City winner in next week’s area playoffs.
Salazar said the Tigers aren’t looking past Bishop and have maintained a one-week-at-a-time mentality throughout the year.
“We just focus on the week,” he said. “We focus on the opponent we have and what we’re doing that week and who we’re playing.
“Bishop’s a good quality opponent. Everybody in the playoffs is good and we want to make sure that we take care of business.”