STORY BY TIM SCHNETTLER
NAVASOTA — The top-ranked Navasota Rattlers tuned up for the playoff with a 77-0 thumping of the Houston Washington War Eagles on Senior Night at Rattler Stadium, closing out a perfect regular season in the process.
Navasota (10-0 overall and 5-0 in 11-4A) clinched its fifth-consecutive district championship and earned the district’s top seed heading into next week’s playoffs. The Rattlers will face the fourth-place team from District 12 (either Needville or Brazosport) next Friday at 7 p.m. at Conroe’s Buddy Moorehead Stadium.
Navasota scored on all but possession on the night and added a defensive touchdown as the Rattlers dominated from start to finish against the overmatched War Eagles (3-7, 0-5).
“I thought we came out on fire and this was a great night for the seniors,” Rattler head coach Lee Fedora said. “I thought they [the seniors] played a great game and I am proud of how they played.”
The Navasota offense rolled to 523 total yards of offense, 402 of those coming in the first half, as the starters saw their night end early.
Quarterback Shelton Eppler had another solid night completing 13-of-15 for 270 yards and five touchdowns, while Baylor commit Tren’Davion Dickson had five receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior reserve offensive lineman CW Arhelger got in on the scoring as well, scoring on runs of one and five yards.
As good as the Rattler offense was, the defense was even better. Navasota held Washington to 38 total yards on the night. The War Eagles only had one first down, and that didn’t come until the 5 minute 45 second mark of the third quarter.
Senior linebacker Coy Imhoff scored the defensive touchdown for the Rattlers, scooping up a fumble and racing 16 yards for a touchdown.
NAVASOTA 77, HOUSTON WASHINGTON 0
WASHINGTON NAVASOTA
First Downs 1 19
Rushes/Yards 32/42 19/248
Passing Yards (-4) 275
Total Yards 38 523
PC-PA-PI 2-2-0 14-16-0
Punts/Avg 8/28.9 0
Fumbles/Lost 1/1 1/1
Penalties/Yards 12/65 2/20
WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 — 0
NAVASOTA 35 21 14 7 — 77
1st Q
N — LaMarquis Jefferson 3 run (Michel Martinez kick) 5 plays 51 yards (10:30)
N — Davon Jernigan 48 pass from Shelton Eppler (Martinez kick) 1 play 48 yards (8:03)
N — Ro’Davion Brown 42 pass from Eppler (Martinez kick) 4 plays 58 yards (4:04)
N — Jefferson 19 run (Martinez kick) 4 plays 65 yards (:05)
N — Jerbrell Lipscomb 19 pass from Eppler (Martinez kick) 1 play 21 yards (:00)
2nd Q
N — Tren’Davion Dickson 51 pass from Eppler (Martinez kick) 2 plays 60 yards (9:03)
N — CW Arhelger 1 run (Martinez kick) 5 plays 58 yards (5:15)
N — Dickson 19 pass from Eppler (Martinez kick) 4 plays 56 yards (1:30)
3rd Q
N — Coy Imhoff 16 fumble recovery (Martinez kick) 9:22
N — Arhelger 5 run (Martinez kick) 6 plays 65 yards (:00)
4th Q
N — Kaeron Baker 26 run (Martinez kick) 2 plays 58 yards (:40)
Top passers: N: Eppler 13-15-270 5 TDs
Top receivers: N: Dickson 5-99 2 TDs
Top rushers: N — Jarvis Norman 6-108