Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace running back Mason Patek eludes the reach of a Rice defender Sept. 13.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace defender Colton Lawson puts down the Rice quarterback deep in Rice territory.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Cotey McLemee of Eustace hones in on a Rice running back during Sept. 13 action.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Dominic Walker prepares to catch a fourth-down Eustace pass during the first quarter.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace receiver Jeremy Rummel (center) finds a crease in the Rice defense Sept. 13.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace quarterback Rhett Dyer scrambles for yardage Sept. 13 versus Rice.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace ISD celebrates homecoming Sept. 13 with the football game against Rice, before which Eustace High School (EHS) senior Ranger McKee (from left) is named Homecoming King and EHS senior Madilyn Andrews receives Homecoming Queen honors.

EUSTACE–The Eustace Bulldogs earned their first victory of 2024 with a 42-14 win Sept. 13 against Rice on homecoming night.
A 32-yard Rhett Dyer pass to Jeremy Rummel sealed the deal for Eustace with 6:33 remaining in the third quarter, with Mason Patek’s extra-point kick giving Eustace a 29-0 lead. Dyer added to that winning advantage with a 3-yard quarterback keeper up the gut with 11:04 left in the game. Patek’s kick padded the score to 36-0.
An 85-yard Rice touchdown pass spoiled the shutout with 10 minutes left in the game. Rice’s 2-point conversion failed, leaving the score at 36-6. Rice added another long touchdown pass of 81 yards with 7:28 remaining and succeeded with their 2-point conversion pass to reduce the Eustace advantage to 36-14.
Eustace answered that with a 4-yard Patek touchdown run set up by a pass to Talyn Smith. The extra-point kick was blocked, leaving the final at 42-14.
At the start of the game, Eustace took a short Rice kickoff at Rice’s 49. A steady dose of Patek rushes had Eustace at Rice’s 32, where Eustace turned the ball over on downs 2 minutes into the contest.
The next Eustace possession was about to end with a punt, the snap for which sailed, but punter Patek grabbed the ball and ran 10 yards for a first down.
Ethan Gallet galloped to the Rice 35, then another Gallet rush to the Rice 1-yard line was called back by a penalty. A fourth-down Dyer pass to Dominic Walker placed Eustace on the Rice 6. After a loss of yardage, Patek ran 9 yards for the game’s first score with 1:54 left in the first quarter, giving Eustace a 6-0 lead after the missed extra point.
Then, with 1:06 left in the first, a Rice punt snap sailed out of bounds for a Eustace safety, allowing Eustace to extend its advantage to 8-0. After Eustace kept the ball on offense after the safety, Patek ran to the Rice 26.
Two plays later, Dyer’s quarterback keeper from 21 yards out scored Eustace’s second touchdown. After penalties moved the extra-point kick attempt back, Patek nailed the try for a 15-0 Eustace lead with 1:15 remaining in the first quarter.
A Danny Boles and Grady McLemee sack stopped Rice’s next drive. Jeremy Rummel took the punt and reversed field to appear to put Eustace on Rice’s 18, but a penalty negated the play.
Eventually, Eustace’s Ethan Marquez ran 18 yards to the Rice 3, from which Gallet punched it in for a touchdown with 6:14 left until halftime. Patek’s extra-point kick accounted for Eustace’s 22-0 lead at intermission.
Eustace had another scoring chance before the half, set up when Jackson Hernandez and Marquez sacked Rice’s quarterback on fourth down with 3:09 remaining until the half, starting the Eustace offense at the Rice 43. That drive was halted when Rice blocked a Patek 26-yard field goal attempt with 2 seconds remaining in the first half.