Academy clinches playoff berth with dominate win

San Marcos Academy is heading back to the playoffs for the third straight year as the Bears defeated the Kerrville Our Lady of the Hills Hawks 56-0 on homecoming night.

The Bears improve to 4-4 of the season and will face San Antonio Castle Hills for the District Championship at home next Friday.

Aiden Nolen started the blowout for the Bears as the running back rushed for a 23 yard score to give Academy a 6-0 lead.

The Academy offense got the ball back before Nolen scored again on a four yard rushing touchdown to put the Bears up 12-0.

The Bears defense came up with another stop to give the ball back to the offense once more as Academy responded in kind with a 36 yard rushing touchdown from running back Cash Miller to go up 18-0.

Quarterback CJ Crauthers added on another score for the Bears finding Nolen in the endzone for the 23 yard pass play to give Academy a 26-0 lead following a PAT kick from Ayo Okoya-Thomas.

Nolen added the final touchdown of the first quarter as the running back scored from 55 yards out to give the Bears a commanding 34-0 lead.

The Bears offense continued to hum in the second quarter as Miller scored his second rushing touchdown of the game to put Academy up 42-0.

Another stop by the Academy defense led to another score as Crauthers found Nolen again for the second connection of the night, scoring a 37 yard passing touchdown to give the Bears a 48-0 lead.

Crauthers hit Okoya-Thomas on the Bears next possession for a 13 yard touchdown as Academy made it a 56-0 game.

The game was then called by halftime via the 45 point mercy rule.

Nolen led the Bears offense with only three carries for 82 yards and three touchdowns while catching two passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns.

Miller carried the ball four times for 56 yards and two touchdowns as the Bears racked up 168 yards on the ground on only eight carries.

Academy will begin preparations for the district championship deciding game next week as the Bears host Castle Hills.

Last year’s showdown for the district championship was an all time classic as Academy held off the Eagles 64-55 for the program’s first football district championship in 25 years.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. next Friday.