Maciel’s 5 TDs lead Lanier over Highlands

Lanier coach Don Gatian said having a chance to win a district title is something the seniors on the team have talked about since they were eighth graders.

“A bunch of them started as freshman, even more started as sophomores,” Gatian said. “So, they’ve paid the price to get here.”

Maciel totaled 217 yards of offense against Highlands, rushing for 135 yards on 23 carries and throwing for 82 yards, including two touchdown passes to Rudy Guerra.

Gatian said the Voks offense has improved its performance over the past two games, which included a 21-14 loss to Brackenridge on Nov. 20.

“Our offense did a great job last week against Brackenridge and we got better this week,” Gatian said. “So, that’s the main thing. Right now, the offensive line is still getting better.”

For Highlands (3-1), Jacob Gutierrez passed for 284 yards and three touchdowns, two of which were caught by Daaveion Holmes on scores of 67 and 91 yards. Holmes finished with five receptions for 183 yards.

Wide receiver Jamarrion Clark totaled 114 yards for the Owls and had two scores, one rushing and one receiving.

Lanier rolled out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter even before Highlands had a chance to get the ball. On the second play of the game, Maciel hooked up with Guerra in stride on a 49-yard scoring pass. Highlands then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, with Lanier’s Ezequail Garcia Ramirez recovering the loose ball at the Highlands 30-yard line. The Voks converted the turnover into points on a four-yard Maciel scoring run.

A shanked Highlands punt set up Lanier’s next score, when Maciel went up the gut for a one-yard touchdown run with 46 seconds left in the first quarter, extending the Voks lead to 21-0.

Maciel then connected with Guerra again on a 28-yard scoring pass in the second quarter, as Guerra was able to tight rope the left end zone line as he caught the ball while maintaining his feet in bounds. Guerra’s second touchdown catch gave Lanier its largest lead of the game, 28-0, with 1:53 before halftime.

Highlands would get on the scoreboard just before halftime as Clark went around the left side for a 50-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first half.

The Owls scored on their second possession of the third quarter as Gutierrez connected with Holmes on a 67-yard touchdown pass to pull Highlands within 28-12 with 7:04 left in the third.

Lanier responded to the Highlands’ score by going on a seven-play, 62-yard scoring drive that was capped by Maciel’s game-clinching 21-yard touchdown run at 4:03 in the third quarter, putting the Voks up 35-12.

Highlands kept fighting back, as Gutierrez connected with Holmes again on a 91-yard touchdown pass with 36 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The game tightened up when Gutierrez found Clark in the end zone for a 20-yard scoring pass at 10:11 in the fourth quarter, whittling Lanier’s lead to 35-24.

Gatian said he began to worry a bit when Highlands came back late in the game to tighten it up, but that the Voks offense did a good job of taking control of the game when they needed to.

After Highlands’ last score, Lanier then utilized the clock to its advantage, running 11 straight times in using up seven plus minutes before giving the ball back to the Owls on downs. However, Highlands failed to mount a drive and was forced to give the ball back to Lanier after failing to convert on fourth down with 2:02 left in the game.

Highlands will play Sam Houston in a District 13-5A Division 1 seeding game, with playoff implications, Saturday at 2 p.m. at Alamo Stadium.