By Larnce Barker
Special Contributer
Geronimo — Salado Eagles came into Geronimo to take on the Navarro Panthers with a mission and a surprise signal caller. Versatile Athlete Max Gist who has been doing kicking duties and Defensive Back for the Eagles but would take on another role for the football team for this contest. Gist would have the opportunity to play Quarterback in Salado’s second district contest.

Salado won the coin toss and elected to receive and would give QB Max Gist his debut at the helm. The Salado special teams took the kick-off return, when Brayden Dildine took the kick-off and threw the lateral to Gabrielle Merriman toward the Eagles sideline for a good return. The Eagles first offense drive would drive the field to the Panthers 5-yard line. Then with 2 minutes into the football game, Gist (10/16, 148 yds, 2 TD -10 rush, 117 yds, 1 TD) would hookup with Caine Cruddas for the 5-yard TD pass and Gist would add the PAT to take the early lead 7-0 at the 10:00 minute mark in the first quarter. Gist would kick off to the Panthers, but the football would go out of the end zone for no return. Salado’s defense would play tough and stifled Navarro’s first offensive drive and forced the Panthers to turn the football over on downs to give the Eagles good field position.
The Eagles second offensive series, Gist took the football in the shotgun position and weaved his way 63-yards down the field to the end-zone for the Eagles touchdown and then added the PAT to go up 14-0 at 7:39 left in the first quarter. Gist was playing Iron-Man for the Salado Eagles on the night.
Navarro got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter with a 12-play, 80-yard drive. Panther’s Tailback Dylan Trotti (146 yards on 31 carries) finished it off with a nine-yard touchdown run and the PAT cut the Salado lead 14-7 with 8:48 left in the second quarter. The Eagles answer the Panthers score when Salado running back Luke Bingham found pay-dirt for a 7-yard TD run with 2:15 left to go up 21-7 in the second quarter.
The Eagles Defense played tight-fisted as Panthers Quarterback Austin Davidson would get pressure trying to pass to go incomplete. As the clock was running out on the Panthers, Davidson would attempt another pass but Salado defensive back Hayes Ramsey would get a Pick-6 and go 40 yards for the score, and with the Gist PAT the Salado lead would increase to 28-7 with 0:16 left till halftime.
Gist would kick off to the Panthers to start the second half and Navarro would set up 1st &10 from their own 25-yard line. Navarro’s running back Dylan Trotti would find the end zone after 75-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown run to cut the Salado lead 28-14 with 6:08 left in the 3rd quarter.
The Salado offense would respond when Gist would connect with Merriman on a 22-yard TD pass and the PAT failed. The Eagles would add to their lead 34-14.
Navarro’s Trotti receives the Gist kick off and return the football to mid-field for the Panthers offense. Trotti would cap a 50-yard drive with a 3-yd TD run 1:00 to go in the third quarter to trim the Salado lead 34-21.
The Panthers offense would turn the football away with a turnover on downs by the Salado sefensive unit. Salado fumbled the football, and the Panthers would pounce on the football to set up the Navarro offense. The Panthers would capitalize on the turnover when Davidson hit receiver Emerson Elder in stride for an 18-yard TD pass and add the PAT to pull the Panthers within six points at the 6:22 left in the 4th quarter. On Salado’s next offensive series, the Eagles would be forced to punt the football back to Navarro. The Salado Defensive team played aggressively to force the Panthers again, to turn the football over on downs. The Salado offense would get into VICTORY formation and Max Gist would do the honors and kneel the football twice and run out the clock to end the game.
The Eagles offense unit being recognized: lineman LT- Brandon Lopez, LG Daniel Hernandez, C-Austin Ackerman, RG-Conner Cooper, RT-Christian Norcross, OL-Sam Nail, QB Max Gist, RB-Luke Bingham, WR Gabrielle Merriman, WR Brayden Dildine, Caine Cruddas and TE Laden Noske.
In District 13-4A, Salado improves to 2-0 and will face the Wimberly at home at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10.

SALADO 34, Navarro 28
1 2 3 4 F
Salado 14 14 6 0 34
Navarro 0 7 14 7 28
Sal Team Stats NAV
184 Rushes-yards 200
11-19-148 Comp.-Att.-Int. 7-92-2