Brownsville Veterans Memorial shocks Miller with 4th quarter comeback
BROWNSVILLE — After a deflected pass ricocheted into the hands of Corey Holmes for a Miller touchdown late in the third quarter it looked like the Bucs night in front of a sold-out and overflow crowd at Sams Memorial Stadium.
But Brownsville Veterans Memorial, which had feasted on turnovers in its postseason run, capitalized on two fourth quarter turnovers by Miller and scored 28 fourth-quarter points, including a game-winning touchdown from Gilbert Trillo with 25 seconds to go to stun the Bucs 35-28 in a Class 5A Division I state quarterfinal.
The Chargers, which fell behind 21-0 after the opening kickoff of the second half, beat Miller with a last-second score, seven days after the Bucs did the same to Victoria West.
The Bucs were aiming for the program’s first state semifinal appearance since 1963 and became the first team in program history to begin a season 13-0, but instead it was the Chargers that made history.
Already the first Brownsville ISD team to make the fourth round, Veterans Memorial reached rare air as one of the few Rio Grande Valley teams to make it to the state semifinals and first since Port Isabel in 2003.
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Friday's highlights
Miller’s defense prevented the Veterans Memorial triple option from keeping drives alive and also forced multiple turnovers in the first half as the Bucs built a 14-0 lead on two Broderick Taylor touchdown runs.
Even with short fields the Chargers defense kept Miller from pulling away early in the game despite the turnover margin, which ended up making a difference late in the game.
Holmes returned the opening kickoff 70 yards to push Miller’s advantage to 21-0, but the Chargers scored on all five of its drives in the second half behind quarterback Storm Montoya.
Montoya had four touchdowns before Trillo’s game-winning score which came after the Chargers forced a fumble and recovered as Miller was driving in the fourth quarter.
Friday's stars
The Chargers triple-option attack finished with 313 yards led by Trillo’s 130 yards and Alvin Trevillion’s 84. Montoya had 82 yards rushing and 82 yards passing.
Taylor finished his record-breaking season at Miller with 113 yards rushing.
Junior Trevor Long was 20 of 32 for 227 yards and one TD for Miller.
They said it
Miller head coach Justen Evans on the loss: “We have to finish the fourth quarter. We’re up by 21 in the fourth quarter and we throw an interception. Fumble the ball. We gave them short fields and turned over the ball. That was the difference. We have to convert on those extra possessions. Shutting them out in the first half, we should have had more than 14 points. That is on me. I’ve got to be better.
“This one stings. Now we have to learn how to win in the fourth round.”
Bronwsville Veterans Memorial coach JC Ramirez on the comeback win: “Quarterback Storm Montoya was phenomenal. He has always been a great player but he grew up tonight. He’s not just a great player, he showed he is a great leader.”
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Brownsville Veterans Memorial shocks Miller football with late rally
