Whether it was through the air or on the ground, it didn't matter.
LEE had no answers for Churchill quarterback Jayden Garcia.
The senior racked up 337 total yards and four touchdowns as the Chargers cruised past the Volunteers 44-16 Thursday at Comalander Stadium.
"His ability to extend plays is something that's a nice fallback plan when things aren't going well," Churchill coach Nate Shaw said. "And then to have the ability to create and extend plays, it gets us out of tough situations."
A 49-yard punt return from senior Henry Kalisky set up a Churchill score on its opening drive. On the Chargers' first play from scrimmage, senior Kalobe Rond cut through the center of the Volunteers' defense, breaking a tackle en route to a 10-yard rushing touchdown. But a missed extra point left the score at 6-0.
On the ensuing drive, LEE quarterback Troy Sosa hit senior Fabian Martinez for a 57-yard gain. The Volunteers then rushed five consecutive times before senior Tahrie Chandler punched in the 2-yard touchdown, giving LEE a 7-6 lead with 6:20 remaining in the first quarter.
The Chargers offense punched back, quickly driving inside the LEE 10-yard line. It took four attempts, but junior Justin Mason got through the Vols' line on a 2-yard touchdown off a direct snap to put the Chargers back ahead 13-7.
Garcia got in on the ground game early in the second quarter. The senior scampered for 41 yards into the red zone, and two plays later, he called his own number for the score. Dropping back to pass, Garcia scanned the field. With nothing open, he darted through the center of his offensive line before cutting left and turning the corner for a 12-yard touchdown. Mason converted the 2-point rush for Churchill, putting the Chargers up 21-7.
"It's just preparing," Garcia said. "We watched the film. Our coaches put a great game plan together, so we knew what we had to do."
LEE kicker Angel Pena connected on a 26-yard field goal on the Volunteers' next drive, cutting the deficit to 11 points with 6:00 left in the half.
Churchill appeared primed to extend its lead on its next possession, but the Chargers fumbled on the LEE 1-yard line. The Volunteers returned the favor, though, and shanked a 34-yard field goal attempt on their ensuing drive, leaving the score at 21-10 heading into halftime.
Garcia found his rhythm through the air in the second half. He connected with senior Timothy Mizell for two touchdowns to help Churchill break open the game.
On first-and-10, Garcia rolled out to his right and heaved a pass, letting Mizell run underneath it. Mizell created just enough separation, and the pass landed in his arms for a 41-yard score.
A botched snap for a safety put the Chargers up 20 with 6:02 in the third. Shortly after, Garcia tossed his second touchdown to Mizell, a 44-yarder that gave Churchill a 37-10 lead.
Mizell attributed the synergy between him and Garcia to "repetition and practice."
"We run these plays all week," Mizell explained. "When we come out here, it's second (nature). Those touchdowns I caught, I've caught before in practice."
Garcia later scored his second rushing touchdown of the night, securing a key victory that keeps the Chargers alive in the playoff race.
"I just saw a team that wants to win," Garcia said. "We know what we have to do to make playoffs, and we just wanted it."
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There’s more to San Antonio with the Express-News. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Quarterback Jayden Garcia leads Churchill over LEE to keep playoff hopes alive.