RUNGE – Coming into Friday night with a 2-0 record to start the season, the Runge Yellow Jackets were eager to get on the field against a team with many similarities to them. That team was the Nueces Canyon Panthers, who came into Runge with a victory over Charlotte in their previous game and a loss in their season opener to San Antonio TMI. Despite the similarities, the major difference showed on the scoreboard as the Yellow Jackets used a powerful running game and played tough defensively to beat the Panthers by the score of 54-13. “It was fantastic,” said Runge head coach Ken Wallace. “With our three running back attack, each week it’s going to be a different guy who will get loose it looks like. We have multiple things to go to. Our line is playing incredible ball.”

Despite the Panthers drawing first blood in the ball game, the Yellow Jackets responded with 14 points, with seven in the first quarter and seven in the second quarter. The Panthers’ second and last score of the game came in the second quarter but the extra point attempt was blocked, giving the Yellow Jackets a 14-13 lead that they would not relinquish. From there, the Yellow Jackets put together 40 unanswered points to put the final tally at 54-13. Scoring for the Yellow Jackets throughout the game were Rob Molina, with three rushing touchdowns, Dylan Torres, also with three rushing touchdowns, Jeric Esparza, with one rushing touchdown and Jason Medina, also with one rushing touchdown. Ryan Saucedo was 6 for 7 on Runge’s extra point attempts throughout the game.

Statistically, the Yellow Jackets had 489 yards of total offense, with 22 yards passing on one completion and 467 yards rushing over 54 carries. The most telling numbers, however, are from Runge’s current record of 3-0. “That’s what we set out to do,” said Wallace. “Our kids started using the term ‘new Runge.’ We just couldn’t be prouder of them.”

This week the Yellow Jackets will travel to the Hill Country to take on the Leakey Eagles in a non-district matchup that has potential district implications. “Leakey’s got two players that are brothers and they are ball players,” said Wallace. “They went back and forth with Woodsboro before Woodsboro pulled away. We’ll use this game as a measuring stick to see where we’re at.” Kickoff in Leakey is set for Friday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m.