Rebels ride their passing game to a playoff win over Hurricanes
Published 10:32 pm Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Southland’s Aidan Chisholm tries to corner Houston’s Zach Olson during teh first round of the Section 1 Nine Man playoffs Tuesday night in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Southland’s Beau Sathre looks in a pass in the third quarter against Houston in the first round of the Section 1 Nine Man playoffs Tuesday night in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Southland’s Kaleb Yunker pulls in the game’s first touchdown toward the end of the first half against Houston in a Section 1 Nine Man playoff game Tuesday night in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Southland’s Landon Chilman closes on Houston running back Maddox Rodriguez during a Section 1 Nine Man playoff game Tuesday night in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Southland quarterback Henry Wiste looks downfield to pass toward the end of the first half aagainst Houston Tuesday night in the first round of the Section 1 Nine Man playoffs in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Southland’s Kaleb Yunker turns to run after a catch against Houston in the first round of the Section 1 Nine Man playoffs Tuesday night in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Southland’s Cael Smith looks in a pass against Houston in the first half Tuesday night during the first round of the Section 1 Nine Man playoffs in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Southland’s Cael Smith cuts on a run against Houston Tuesday during the first round of the Section 1 Nine Man plaoyffs in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
A regiment of Rebels haul down Houston’s Maddox Rodriguez during the first half of a Section 1 Nine Man playoff game Tuesday night in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Southland’s Beau Sathre fights through a stiff-arm by Houston’s Maddox Rodriguez during the first round of the Section 1 Nine Man playoffs Tuesday night in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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ADAMS – Southland sophomore quarterback Henry Wiste didn’t let an early mistake shake his confidence as he and the Rebels bounced back to beat Houston 27-14 in a Section 1 nine player football quarterfinal in Adams Tuesday.
With the game scoreless in the second quarter, Wiste threw an interception in the end zone on first and goal from the 10, but that was the last mistake he would make. From that point on Wiste went 10-for-12 with 196 yards and three scores.
Wiste closed the first half with a 19-yard TD strike to Kaleb Yunker on fourth down and he opened the scoring in the second half with a 20-yard TD pass to Yunker. After the Hurricanes (4-5 overall) scored on a two-yard run by Morgan Rohweder in the third quarter, the Rebels had a huge response as Wiste found junior Royce Jax for a 58-yard TD that put Southland up 20-8 in the third quarter.
“This one meant the world to us, especially because we lost to Houston in the playoffs last year,” said Wiste, who threw for 260 yards while running for 31 yards. “I was a little frustrated at first (after the interception), but my teammates came up to me and said ‘you’re good,’ and the coaches just told me to throw out of bounds in that situation. After the first touchdown, I started having real fun. I trust my receivers in wide open spaces and appreciate my line giving me a lot of time to throw.”
Wiste made most of his throws on the run as he gave his receivers extra time to get open. Southland head coach JJ Galle said he trusts his young quarterback to make the right throw.
“I told him it would be nice to kind of drop back in the pocket and hit the receiver, but he says it’s more fun to do it that way,” Galle said. “He has a skill set where he can make things happen and he makes plays with his feet. He takes chances and that’s pretty awesome because we were able to capitalize when he kept the play alive.”
The Rebel defense controlled the line of scrimmage throughout most of the game as it stopped Houston on fourth down five separate times. Three of those stops came on fourth and short situations in the first half.
“We just kept fighting tonight. We were prepared and we put in a lot of work watching film this week,” Southland senior defensive back Landon Chillman said. “We motivate each other a lot and we encourage each other after a big play. I love this team and I can’t wait for Saturday.”
Southland (5-4 overall) will travel to No. 1 LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacell (9-0 overall) for a 1 p.m. semifinal game in LeRoy Saturday. The Cardinals beat the Rebels 55-13 on Oct. 4.
While Saturday’s game looms big, Galle wants his team to appreciate what it has already done this season.
“Our first goal this year was to get a home playoff game and the second one was to win a playoff game,” Galle said. “This was definitely on the priority list. I couldn’t be prouder or happier. They played a complete game.”
SCORING SUMMARY
Houston 0 0 8 6 – 14
Southland 0 7 13 7 – 27
First quarter
No scoring
Second quarter
(S) Kaleb Yunker 19 pass from Henry Wiste (Yunker kick) (8 plays, 62 yards) :30
Third quarter
(S) Yunker 20 pass from Wiste (Yunker kick) (10 plays, 40 yards) 8:47
(H) Morgan Rohweder 2 run (Maddox Rodriguez 1 run) (12 plays, 65 yards) 3:46
(S) Royce Jax 58 pass from Wiste (pass failed) (2 plays, 63 yards) 3:20
Fourth quarter
(S) Preston Sayles 1 run (Yunker kick) (9 plays, 45 yards) 9:08
(H) Rohweder 1 run (run failed) (9 plays, 86 yards) 2:52
SOUTHLAND STATS
Rushing: Preston Sayles, 15-for-36, TD; Henry Wiste, 12-for-31; Cael Smith, 5-for-21; Riley Jax, 2-for-4; Beau Sathre, 1-for-(-3)
Passing: Wiste, 14-for-21, 260, 3 TD, INT
Receiving: Kaleb Yunker, 6-for-77, 2 TDs; Sathre, 3-for-71; Jax, 1-for-58, TD; Smith, 2-for-37; Landon Chillman, 2-for-17
