HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Jamar Brown and Justin Bolick combined for nearly 290 yards of total offense and Teavius Henry had almost 120 in pass receptions to lead St. Stephens High’s football victory on Friday night.
The Indians nipped visiting McDowell 19-17 in a Northwestern 3A-4A game, netting St. Stephens’ Wayne Hicks his 16th win as their head coach.
ST. STEPHENS 19
McDOWELL 17
Brown had 21 carries for more than 130 yards and Bullock completed 10 passes for 155 yards in a win that improved the Indians to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
McDowell, held to fewer than 175 yards by the Indians, dropped to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
St. Stephens, scoring on a 1-yard run by Xavian King, wiped out an early 7-0 deficit that the Titans gained on a blocked punt return.
A field goal by Chase Baird gave the Titans their final lead of the game at 10-7.
The Indians were within 10-9 after McDowell snapped the ball out of the end zone while trying to punt.
On the ensuing kickoff, St. Stephens scored again to lead 16-10 at the half. Bullock threw 20 yards to Henry, who had six catches, for a TD.
When Bryce DeSantis kicked a field goal of 32 yards – his third of the season and third in two games – the Indians led 19-10.
A TD run by J.C. Olivo, who came into the game with 421 rushing yards, pulled McDowell to within two points with about 8 ½ minutes to play.
St. Stephens, which played McDowell for the first time, is on the road next Friday at 7:30 p.m. for a conference game against West Caldwell.
McDowell will also be at home next Friday (7:30 p.m.) for a league game, facing winless South Caldwell for the first time since 2010.