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Quinn Donoghue
quinn.donoghue@elgincourier.com December 7 , 2022
A six-man football dynasty continues.
The Bastrop Tribe Warriors steamrolled the Bulverde Gloria Deo Lions with a score of 46-0, securing their fifth TAIAO state championship in six years.
Head coach Brent Golemon commended his players for living up to the program’s high expectations and continuing a winning tradition.
“I think it’s really a testament to the young men,” Golemon said. “You carry a big burden when everyone expects you to be here, and there’s a lot of pressure. But you either feed off it or you’re going to flounder, and they just always stepped up and fed off it.”
The Lions made the Tribe Warriors work for every yard on their opening possession. They slowly worked their way down the field with the help of some gritty running by Josh Mcalister. Eventually, Mcalister punched in a 4-yard rushing score to give them an 8-0 lead.
The Lions had some success moving the ball on their first drive. However, a sack by Mikey Bowlin on third down and a pass breakup by Mcalister on fourth down gave the ball back to the Tribe Warriors at around midfield.
Several plays later, on third-and-long, quarterback Chandler Golemon tried to make a play while being brought down for a would-be sack as he flipped a pass out into the flat. A Lionsdefender jumped in front of Golemon’s intended target and snagged an interception.
Bulverde was unable to turn the takeaway into points. Bastrop quickly forced a turnover-on-downs, and the offense was back on the field. Mcalister capped off the drive with a 29-yard touchdown run, breaking a few tackles along the way.
Another stop by the Tribe Warriors’ defense resulted in more points. This time, it was Chuy Gonzales who powered through the Lions’ defense for an 11-yard rushing score. It was 24-0 with about six minutes left in the second quarter.
Bulverde looked primed to finally put some points on the board. They methodically marched down the field but came away empty-handed after Golemon made an impressive, leaping interception. A few plays later, Golemon hit Christian Conner perfectly in stride on a deep pass over the middle. Conner had a nice run after the catch to cash in a 68-yard touchdown.
Just before halftime, the Lions were in striking distance once again. Bastrop’s defense stiffened, stuffing a Bulverde ball carrier at the 1-yard line on the final play of the half. The Tribe Warriors possessed a 32-0 lead.
The Lions got the ball first to start the second half. On fourth down, Isaiah Gonzales came up with a crucial tackle, allowing Bastrop to take over with solid field position. They capitalized on the short field by executing yet another scoring drive. A 3-yard rushing touchdown by Elijah Rendon extended their lead to 40.
The excitement began to brew on Bastrop’s sideline, knowing they were one score away from meeting the 45-point mercy rule, which would effectively end the game.
A quick stop gave the Tribe Warriors a chance to close the deal with several minutes left in the third quarter. After a few first downs, Golemon lofted a beautiful pass to Tony Eastty for a 4-yard touchdown grab. Pure jubilation ensued.
Mcalister led the way with 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns, but it truly was an all-around team effort. Golemon had an efficient game through the air, completing seven of nine passes for 134 yards and two scores. Gonzales and Rendon contributed in the ground game as well.
Coach Golemon had high praise for his defense, which allowed just one touchdown over the course of their three-game playoff stretch.
“We play a really good team defense,” Golemon said. “Like I told them, if they put a zero up on this board, they’ll be the second best scoring defense that Tribe’s ever had. In a program that’s had great defenses, it’s one of the top ones.”
Chandler Golemon was named Defensive Player of the Game. He finished with 10 total tackles and an interception. Chuy Gonzales was awarded Offensive Player of the Game for his effective performance as both a runner and a pass catcher.
The Tribe Warriors finished the season with a perfect 13-0 record. Aside from their 52-48 victory over St. Stephen’s in week seven, they absolutely dominated their competition. If it wasn’t already set in stone, the Bastrop Tribe Warrior’s have solidified their place as one of the sport’s elite programs.