Navallo’s carries The Meadows past Agassi Prep
The Meadows football coach Frank DeSantis cautioned junior running back Bryson Navallo that he would be in for a lot of work Friday.
Navallo responded with flying colors, rushing for 242 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries and three touchdowns as the Mustangs topped visiting Agassi Prep, 34-12 in a Division III state quarterfinal.
“I tell him all the time, big-time players play big in big games,” DeSantis said. “He did that, and he could’ve had more yards. He’s really never played four quarters.”
The Meadows (8-2) either will visit Yerington or host Battle Mountain in the semifinals at 1 p.m. on Nov. 16.
“I’m happy with five (carries), I’m happy with 30,” Navallo said. “I just want to win the game, and I really don’t care about touchdowns. Last week, I didn’t get any and I was fine. I was just as happy this week.
“I have to thank the line, and everyone else. I’m so excited for our next game. We played this for our seniors. I told every senior this could not be their last game. I ran my heart out, and they (all) played their heart out too.”
Quarterback Jacob Gleason got The Meadows started in the first quarter with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Matthew Biafore at 5:21 to make it 7-0.
Navallo then scored his first TD, a 40-yard run to extend the lead to 14-0.
“We came out with the intent to be aggressive,” DeSantis said. “And we did that.”
When it looked like the Mustangs were going to put away the Stars, Kobe Williams bolted up the field for a 68-yard touchdown run to make it 14-6.
Agassi Prep (6-4) then scored on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Stephan Laushaul to Dominic Terry just before halftime to make it 14-12.
“I think we kind of got a little lackadaisical like we do and let people back in the game,” DeSantis said. “The second half, they put it all together. I was really proud of the way that we came back. It was a good night.”
The Meadows put up a shutout after halftime, limiting the Stars to just 42 total yards. They pulled away thanks to Navallo and Gleason.
Gleason completed 8 of 15 passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns, including a 4-yard strike to Connor Cheek in the fourth quarter. Navallo added touchdown runs of 4 and 23 yards to seal the victory.
Kobe Williams led Agassi Prep with 182 yards and a touchdown on 19 rushes. He accounted for the majority of the Stars’ 249 yards of offense.