SABINE WINS WITH DRAMA | Cards score late, escape Redwater with a 29-28 win
REDWATER – Through the uniqueness, the magic, that is the 2026 schedule, Sabine football had two shots to at dragons this year: the first, in the season opener against Shelbyville, didn’t turn out to well.
But Friday night?
Well, let’s just say the dragons have been slayed.
The Sabine Cardinals traveled here Friday night to take on the 3-0 Redwater Dragons. Redwater is no longer 3-0.
Sabine got out with a 29-28 win, their second of the season. Next week, the Cardinals (2-2) will host New Diana for the homecoming.
The fourth quarter here at Redwater Friday night was pretty exciting.
Sabine trailed 28-14, as it had at the half.
On the first play of the quarter, Sabine’s Aden Swanson sacked Redwater quarterback William Strudthoff for a 9-yard loss. After an incompletion, the Dragons faced fourth and goal at the Sabine 13-yard-line.
But Strudthoff’s pass was picked off by Sabine’s Jerry Templeton, who returned it to his own 20. The drive was stalled, but trailing by double digits, the Cardinals went for it on fourth down. They were unsuccessful, leaving a short field for the Dragons.
But the Cardinals’ defense showed their strength and forced the Dragons to go for it on fourth down. Strudthoff, under pressure, threw up an errant pass that Sabine’s Syler Pierce snagged for the interception. With time running out in the game, the Cardinals were forced to go to the air and Sabine QB Griffin DeHoyos found Jaxon Williams for 10 yards, followed by Terry Vanden for another 10.
An 18-yard run by Princeton Jones put them in scoring range where the drive stalled. Facing fourth down, DeHoyos lateraled the ball to Pierce, who passed the ball to the end zone where it was intercepted by Kamron Johnson and returned it 99 yards for the score.
But wait…
There was a flag on the play. Defensive holding was called on the Dragons and the Cardinals still had life.
Jones found the end zone three plays later, with with 3:30 left in the game. The extra point by Victor Avalos cut Redwater’s lead to 28-21.
Everyone knew the next play would almost certainly have to be an onside kick. Avalos kicked it well, but short of the 10 yards needed.
As football fate would have it, though, the Dragons tried to scoop it up, but fumbled, and the Cardinals got it, breathing life into the visitors’ bleachers.
After a 7-yard pass to Vanden, the Cardinals brought in their big back, Angel Gaona, who plowed through for 17 yards. Then a personal foul on the Dragons moved Sabine another 15 yards closer.
With 1:08 on the scoreboard, Gaona went the final yards for the score.
Now, Sabine trailed 28-27. Would coach Tim Russell and his staff go for the win or try and tie the game?
The answer: out came the offense and Gaona pushed his way into the end zone for the two-point conversion and the 29-28 lead.
Now, the game was not over.
Sabine elected to go for an onside kick, rather than chance a kick return, but it was not successful. The Dragons were 44 yards from winning, but little time on the clock and no time outs.
Kaiden Johnson caught a 10-yard pass, but couldn’t get out of bounds. Two incompletions and 20 seconds left saw Strudthoff loft the ball in the air – but it was Sabine’s Caysen Burdeshaw who got it, an interception it to end the game and seal the victory for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals were heavy on the run as Jones led the team with 112 yards and a score. Gaona added 33 and a score. DeHoyos had 70 yard passing a score. Vanden hauled in 52 yards and a score receiving.
The Dragons were led by Strudthoff on the ground with 75 yards and Bailey with 33 with both scoring. Strudthoff had 98 yards passing and a score and Kaiden Johnson had 62 yards receiving and a score. The Cardinals’ defense was busy and had four takeaways and many tackles for losses.