Players make plays: Hamilton praises Apaches after Lago Vista win

“Go undefeated. All the way.” 
That’s the mindset senior Christian Jurek says is driving the Gonzales Apaches as the season heads into its second half — and on Friday night, they took another step toward making that goal real. 

In front of a nearly packed stadium filled with proud hometown fans, the Apaches battled their way past Lago Vista, 34–28, in a four-quarter contest that tested every ounce of their composure and heart. The win kept Gonzales undefeated at home and improved their record to 5–1 overall and 2–0 in district play, securing the team’s place as one of the top contenders in District 13-4A. 

The atmosphere inside Apache Stadium matched the intensity on the field. The crowd was loud and lively from start to finish, cheering on the Apache Flames as they performed alongside nearly 30 elementary dancers from their  annual dance clinic  and roaring as the Apache Band delivered all four movements of their UIL show at halftime. It was a true hometown Friday night — and Gonzales delivered a game worthy of it. 

Head Coach Lyndon Hamilton said his players showed the kind of fight that separates good teams from great ones. 

“Winning is difficult,” Hamilton said. “We told the guys it would be a four-quarter football game, and they fought their tail off for all four. We’ve got things to clean up in all phases, but our players made some really big plays when we needed them to.” 

Hamilton credited the team’s growth to senior leadership and the home-field energy that carried through the night. 

“Our seniors are playing good ball, our juniors too — and they’re having fun,” he said. “The 12th Man was bumping tonight. The band, dance, and cheer all kept the energy high. Players make plays — the root word of ‘player’ is play — and our dudes made plays.” 

Travis Malveaux again provided the spark, powering through defenders for multiple touchdowns and returning a key kickoff that set up the game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter. After the game, he said the team’s energy came from each other. 

“I think I just gave the whole team energy and allowed them to do what they needed to do to win,” Malveaux said. “Whenever I felt like I didn’t do my best, they lifted me up. We’ve got each other’s backs.” 

Christian Jurek, who made several key receptions, said this week was all about focus and discipline. 

“We just kept pushing, coming off the ball, and playing clean,” Jurek said. “No flags — we did really good at that this week. I try not to make it about me; the team comes first.” 

For Jurek and the other seniors, the undefeated home streak carries special meaning. 

“It feels great,” he said with a grin. “It’s the first time I’ve experienced this. My hope is that we keep it going — keep making plays on offense, defense, and special teams. We want to go undefeated and make that district win.” 

With the victory, Gonzales remains in the thick of the playoff race behind only Jarrell (7-0, 2-0) and Salado (5-2, 3-0). The Apaches hold third at 5-1 and 2-0, followed by Wimberley (3-3, 1-1), Lago Vista (3-4, 0-3), Smithville (0-6), and Navarro (1-6, 0-3). 

Hamilton said the difference this week came down to composure and belief. 

“We’ve told them all season — play the next play,” he said. “No matter what happened before, good, bad, or indifferent, just keep going. That’s what we saw tonight.” 

Next up, Gonzales will hit the road to face Navarro, still searching for its first district win. The Apaches look to extend their streak and stay in the hunt for the district title. 

“We’ve got a huge week of work ahead,” Hamilton said. “The kids are handling business, they’re having fun, and we’re getting better every week.” 

With two home games left on the schedule and momentum on their side, the Apaches are right where they want to be — confident, competitive, and ready for whatever comes next.