SAN ANTONIO — Wimberley has had Sinton’s number the last several years as the Texans have owned the Region IV football scene.
And even though it was Sinton that came in as a favorite in the teams’ regional semifinal tilt on Nov. 28, it was the Texans who played with the poise of a team expected to win.
Wimberley marched down the field at will in the first half, building a two-touchdown lead, but just as the sky opened up and rain began to fall, Sinton found its legs, rallying for a 35-26 win, finally overcoming a Texans team that had ended its season the last two years.
Marcos Zapata Jr. scored before the half to give Sinton some life down 13-7, but Wimberley scored with two huge third-down conversions to put the Pirates’ season on life support, up 20-7.
Backed up against the wall, Sinton rallied as Quincy Bess hit Roland Galvan in stride for a 55-yard TD strike to cut the deficit to 20-14.
Wimberley struggled in the wet conditions, misfiring in the passing game and punting to set the stage for a 66-yard Zapata touchdown jaunt for the lead and a 47-yard rush straight up the middle to build a 29-20 edge.
Zapata’s three-touchdown effort was his second straight big game for the Pirates, who had to manufacture offense as Wimberley keyed on star senior Mykha Green.
“Marcos is a hard worker and he has excelled in the role we have put him in,” head coach Micheal Troutman said. “You have two different weapons back there. It is that ‘I’ve got your back mentality.’ When Mykha is out, Marcos has his back, and likewise. That is the bond of being real teammates between those two.”
Zapata said the momentum started to shift when he crossed the goal line for Sinton’s first touchdown in the first half, to slice into Wimberley’s then-13-0 lead.
“This was a game we circled on our calendar,” Zapata said. “It was personal. We like being underdogs with our backs against the wall and we showed it out there. Right before half when we got that touchdown. We went into the locker room and said ‘no one is feeling sorry for you.’ We have one choice, and that was to win.”
Sinton improved to 12-1 and advanced to face Cuero, a 48-27 winner against Rockport-Fulton in the other Region IV semifinal.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Sinton football rallies past Wimberley in UIL state playoffs
