Steele gamers had simply taken the sphere earlier than they raced proper again to the locker room when lightning delayed their extremely anticipated season opener.
When play lastly started about 90 minutes later, it took some time for the Knights to get going. And after they did, it resulted in a 52-21 victory in opposition to Reagan on Thursday night time at Comalander Stadium.
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“It was the primary sport of the season, in fact, we had been all excited and overrated working out of the tunnel,” Steele’s Ohio State certain senior free security Eli Johnson mentioned. “We hear the band going loopy, after which it will get delayed. So, we needed to face slightly adversity, and we simply needed to discover ways to construct off that.”
The third-ranked Knights battled from behind twice earlier than rolling to their sixth straight victory in a season opener. Steele outgained No. 7 Reagan 434-112 in complete yardage. Many of the Rattlers’ offense was generated within the first half.
Senior quarterback DJ Inexperienced handed for 205 yards with scores of 91 and 30 yards. He additionally rushed 4 instances for 52 yards and a landing. Junior working again Liam Jones had 154 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.
Steele’s Liam Jones runs the ball to attain a landing on the play in opposition to Reagan on opening night time of highschool soccer at Comalander Stadium in San Antonio on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Katina Zentz/San Antonio Categorical-Information)
“I like making performs with my teammates,” Inexperienced mentioned. “It positively begins with the o-line, after which everyone else comes between it. Making performs is my factor.”
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It actually did not begin that manner after the Knights opened with a three-and-out. Reagan responded with a six-play, 48-yard drive capped by Jeriko Espinoza’s 26-yard scoring catch from Jace Huesser for a 7-0 lead.
After one other three-and-out, the Knights lastly bought it going when Jones raced in from 57 yards on the primary play of their third drive to tie it at 7 with 4:00 left within the first quarter.
Reagan summoned two of its prime defenders to take a 14-7 lead early within the second quarter. Linebacker Ayden Fernandez recovered a Steele muff on the Knights’ 27. Two performs later, he lined up at wildcat and rushed 3 times for 21 yards. Defensive again Ricky Armstong then lined up at wildcat and scored from 4 yards.
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Properly, that was about it for the Rattlers.
Steele scored on its subsequent 4 possessions to shut the half for a 31-14 lead. Inexperienced bought the run began with a 16-yard scoring run. Fortune then fell the Knights manner when left sort out Alexander Fisher recovered a fumble ultimately zone for a 21-14 lead on the 5:51 mark.
Johnson arrange the subsequent two scores with large punt returns. His 30-yard return led to Ralph Lara’s 34-yard area objective. The Knights turned Johnson’s 19-yard return to a 7-yard scoring run by Jones.
“We now have an abundance of leaders,” Johnson mentioned. “Everybody had their heads up, stayed constructive and simply knew if we stayed constructive, momentum would come again our manner.”
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The Knights carried that momentum over to the second half with three touchdowns and a 52-14 lead. Inexperienced linked with Jamin Harwell for a 91-yard catch-and-run and with Jayden Casiano for a 30-yard rating on fourth-and-11. They sandwiched these scores round Kemarrion Smith’s 1-yard TD run arrange by Inexperienced’s 45-yard cross to Tanner Mudge.
“We bought collectively as a workforce,” Inexperienced mentioned. “We do not actually beat one another up. We simply stayed collectively the entire time.”
The Knights, ranked No. 20 within the state, subsequent face two heavy-hitters earlier than starting District 27-6A play as they journey for a highway sport at No. 11 Humble Atascocita subsequent week earlier than internet hosting No. 19 Lake Travis in two weeks.
“It is a nice feeling,” Inexperienced mentioned. “There’s positively some errors that should be mounted, however it’s good to know that the arduous work we’re placing in is working.”
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This text initially revealed at After sluggish begin, Steele rolls previous Reagan 52-21 in soccer season opener.
