SABINE SLOWED | Rabbits beat Cardinals, 30-7, as Atlanta continues stride to district title
ATLANTA – With the regular season winding down, and Sabine unfortunately out of contention for the playoffs in District 8-3A, Division I, the Cardinals are attempting to play the spoiler role.
It didn’t work out that way here on Friday night.
The Cardinals traveled to Atlanta to take on the Rabbits, who were looking for a win to secure a playoff spot, while the Cardinals were just looking for a first district win. The Rabbits were able to hop away with a 30-7 victory and stay undefeated in district play.
Sabine (2-7) will finish the 2026 season with a home game next week against White Oak (0-9), another ETB-area program.
The Rabbits won the coin toss and elected to receive the kickoff. Starting at their own 25, the Rabbits went to their bread and butter, the pass play. Quarterback Brayden Thompson went deep to CJ Whaley for a 58-yard pass play, the touchdown saved only by a shoestring tackle by the Cardinals.
Sabine’s defense would hold and force a turnover on downs. But the Cardinals’ offense struggled all night and were forced into a three-and-out on their first drive. A short punt set up the Rabbits on the Cardinal side of the field.
Three plays later, Thompson found Drae Simmons open for the touchdown, followed by Whaley’s extra point giving the Rabbits an early 7-0 lead.
The running game wasn’t producing so on the next drive, Sabine went to the air. Unfortunately, QB Griffin DeHoyos threw a pass into the to the hands of a defender. Whaley picked off the errant pass and sprinted 45 yards for the pick-six. His own extra point put the Rabbits up 14-0.
The Cardinals were soon forced to punt again. After a short punt, the Rabbits went for it all on the drive. Thompson threw the ball to the end zone and Keiffer Serrano picked off the ball for a Sabine interception.
After a failed drive, though, the Cardinals punted yet again. This time, the Rabbits used five plays to score. Whaley rattled off a 22-yard run and this was followed by a 9-yard reception and a 21 -0 lead to end the first quarter.
A punt by the Cards ended the second quarter. The Rabbits would score on a 45-yard touchdown pass to Whaley, followed by his own extra point.
With a comfortable lead of 28-0, the Rabbits would come up with a turnover. The Cardinals would keep to the ground using the legs of Damin Richardson. Having crossed the 50-yard line, the Cardinal offense would continue to stall again as Simmons would intercept a DeHoyos pass. The Cardinal defense was playing hard all game and it paid off, as they forced the Rabbits to punt. The punt was downed inside the 1-yard-line. Richardson was tackled in the end zone, giving the Rabbits a safety and a 30-0 halftime score.
The third quarter saw only two possessions and the Cardinals would bookend the quarter. Atlanta’s drive resulted in a turnover on downs. Richardson had his biggest run with an 18-yard run.
The fourth quarter saw the Cardinals turn the ball over on downs. The Rabbits would then proceed to use up the clock with their comfortable lead.
As they moved into Cardinal territory, Sabine’s defense stopped them forcing a pass play. Thompson threw right, but behind the receiver. The ball bounced off the foot of the receiver into the hands of Angel Gaona, who returned it 20 yards.
With time running out, the Cardinals had one last drive to eliminate the goose egg on the scoreboard.
Using the legs of Manny Jiminez, the Cards were able to move to within scoring range. Jiminez had a 9-yard run, putting the Cardinals inside the 10-yard line.
With 18 seconds left, Jiminez plowed his way into the end zone to wipe off the goose egg. Victor Avalos added the point after and the Cardinals would leave Atlanta with a 30-7 loss.
Sabine was led by Richardson on the ground with 86 yards. Jiminez added 48 and the lone score.
For the Rabbits, they were led by Whaley, with 148 receiving yards and four touchdowns as well as four extra points. Thompson had 214 passing yards. Sabine’s defense held the Rabbits to 99 yards rushing.