Joshua Garcia threw for two second-half scores and Cruz Castillo scored with 37 seconds remaining as Brackenridge rallied for a 21-14 win over Burbank on Thursday at SAISD Sports Complex.
Castillo's game-winning 28-yard touchdown run capped off a Brackenridge comeback in which the Eagles scored 21 unanswered points after falling behind 14-0 in the third quarter.
Brackenridge (5-2, 3-2) won its third game in a row, at least temporarily moving into sole possesion of fourth place in District 14-5A-II and putting itself in a position to earn its first playoff berth in five years. Brackenridge next meets Jefferson, which entered Week 8 tied with Eagles for the fourth playoff spot, next Friday at 7 p.m. at SAISD Sports Complex.
"We're a second-half team, and the kids know that," Brackenridge coach Steve Garcia said. "Our goal is to play good four quarters, and we haven't yet. At the most we've done is three great quarters, but we are a second-half team. The kids, they love the second half, and we always preach 0-0. It's literally 0-0 (at halftime), let's go out there and make some stops and we're going to win this ball game."
It didn't happen right away. After the slow, scoreless first half, Burbank (1-6, 1-4) took a 14-0 lead late in the third quarter thanks to a 34-yard touchdown run from Bryan Jalomo and a Christian Gutierrez 43-yard scoop-and-score.
But Castillo got it going for Brackenridge in the second half, as the senior running back finished with 141 yards on 28 carries. On his game-clinching touchdown, Castillo refused to go down, bouncing off a tackler before breaking to the outside to the end zone.
"I was just looking for the open lane, the linemen did a good job," Castillo said. "And I was like, ‘You know what, let me just play physical' and that's what I did. I just bounced off one guy and I saw the open lane and I just went for it."
Joshua Garcia, the backup sophomore quarterback who has stepped in for the injured Ahmir Thompson, was in awe of Castillo's running style.
"Cruz is something else," Joshua Garcia said. "I've never seen anything like him, just a hard runner, dedicated, determined. He's just one of a kind."
Brackenridge started its comeback with over two minutes left in the third quarter, when Joshua Garcia connected with Daniel Rincon on a 50-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 14-7.
Brackenridge defensive lineman Pedro Canizales Sanchez recovered a fumbled Burbank snap to set up the Eagles' next score, a 7-yard touchdown pass from Joshua Garcia to Damien Castro Diaz, who twisted to make a diving catch, tying the score at 14 with 6:45 left in the fourth quarter.
It was the second win a row for Brackenridge with Joshua Garcia at quarterback. After a rough start, Garcia finished with 108 yards on 10-of-18 passing, with an interception and two touchdowns.
"Definitely, getting more comfortable," Joshua Garcia said of having to step in the starting role. "Definitely doing what I'm told to do. Doing my job, getting comfortable back there and doing my thing."
Brackenridge won the turnover battle with two interceptions and a fumble recovery, while Burbank forced two turnovers, an interception and the Gutierrez fumble recovery that led to a score.
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There’s more to San Antonio with the Express-News. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Cruz Castillo's last-minute touchdown caps Brackenridge rally to beat Burbank.