For the senior varsity football players and the coaching staff, who remembers when those seniors were freshman, the Knights’ 17-14 win over Kerrville Tivy wasn’t just special. It was a return to their roots.
The last time the Knights won a playoff game was four years ago … when the current seniors were freshmen.
There have been some rough patches between playoff wins, but after Friday’s win–the team’s 10th of the season–under the lights at House Park, there can be no doubt that this is a special team enjoying a spectacular season.
The Knights defeated a tough opponent thanks to key plays in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams. Among the key plays were these:
Andre Blakemore’s 62-yard TD run straight down the Tivy sideline that opened the scoring in the first quarter.
Luke Whitefield’s 33-yard field goal in the second quarter that broke a 7-7 tie and ultimately provided the margin of victory.
Prince Tyler’s 70-yard fumble return down in the third quarter that gave the Knights some insurance they would dearly need after Tivy scored their only second-half points to cut the lead to three.
Mason Bryant’s clutch punt from his own end zone with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter that reversed field position and gave the Antlers a long field to start their final drive.
Tyrell Washington’s game-sealing interception of a Karson Valverde pass with two minutes to go that ended the Antlers’ last threat to score.
With the other 25-5A playoff teams all losing their opening round games, the Knights are now the only district team still alive in the chase for the 5-A state title.
The team will travel to Eschenburg Field in Floresville to play the Victoria East Titan in the area playoffs. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
To hear exclusive interviews and see our comprehensive photo gallery of the pregame, game and halftime festivities, please see below. Reporting by J.R. Cardenas. Photos by J.R. Cardenas, Gregory James, Tony Lavorgna, Madison Olsen, Adrian Pena and Dave Winter.
![ONE LAST BATTLE CRY: Senior Valeria Villafuerte-Perez celebrates with her friends after the senior class won the spirit competition. At each pep rally, a different game is played with volunteers from the crowd. Villafuerte-Perez was nominated by her friends to play a game in which the goal was to snatch a pom-pom from an opponent.
“Before school started, my friends and I had talked about going all out for senior year, so I told them to nominate me for a game since it was our last [Shoal Creek Showdown] pep rally,” Villafuerte-Perez said. “I wasn’t really scared to go down to the floor in front of the whole school, all I was focused on was getting the crowd hyped for the game.”
Villafuerte-Perez entered the game determined to win. After several rounds, as there were just two people left, she managed to snatch the last pom just in time, in order to secure a victory for the senior class.
“I was really happy I won the game for the class of 2026,” Villafuerte-Perez said. “Honestly, I just wanted to win because seniors rule.”
As this was her first pep rally as a senior, the event carried extra meaning to Villafuerte-Perez.
“Being in the stands as a senior feels very surreal,” Villafuerte-Perez said. “I still remember my first pep rally, and now I’m a senior having my last pep rally, I think in that moment it really set in that I’m a senior, and that I’m going to graduate soon.”
Caption by Sophia Manos. Photo by Julia Copas.](https://macshieldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/54750679693_5f7d007e27_o-1200x675.jpg)
