Steele’s Malcolm Brown (28) scores one of his three touchdowns between Clemens’ defenders James Furlow (23), Joseph Savage (25) and Tyler Pollard (56) during the Knights’ 45-35 win last Friday over the Buffaloes. Photo by Greg Bell

Three game-breaking plays in the third quarter helped the undefeated Steele Knights beat their neighborhood rival Clemens Buffaloes, 45-35, Friday before a packed house at SCUCISD Stadium.

The No.8 state-ranked Knights, 5-0, 2-0 in District 27-4A, scored three touchdowns in a span of less than 4 minutes in the third, two on big offensive plays and one on an interception return, to pull away from the Buffaloes (3-2, 0-2) and beat their district rival.

Since the series started three seasons ago, the Knights have bested Clemens two out of three, including two in a row.

Trailing 21-17 late in the third, Steele took the lead for good when quarterback Jacob Trevino hooked up with Cameron Chandler on a go route for a 45-yard score, as Chandler beat his defender and hauled in the pass in the end zone. Matt Nelson added the point after to put the Knights up 24-21 with 3:55 in the third.

Steele coach Mike Jinks said the Knights and Trevino did a good job of reading the aggressive Clemens’ defense and were able to set up a situation in which Chandler was isolated one-on-one with a Buffalo defensive back on the play.

“We saw they had eight or nine guys stacked up at the line,” Jinks said. “We wanted to get the ball to him (Chandler) on top and execute.”

After holding the Buffaloes to a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, it didn’t take the Knights long to score again. Sophomore running back Malcolm Brown scampered 77-yards untouched on a draw play to extend Steele’s lead to 31-21 with 37 seconds left in the third.

Steele then put the game out of reach when Shane Huhn intercepted Clemens quarterback Mark Leal’s pass in the flat and returned it 33 yards for the score on the last play of the third period, putting the Knights up 38-21 going into the fourth quarter.

The Buffaloes were never able to stop Brown, who rushed for a game high 267 yards on 30 carries and scored three touchdowns. Steele controlled the line of scrimmage, as the Knights rushed for 317 yards and totaled 460 yards of offense. Trevino finished with 143 yards passing on 9 of 13 attempts.

Brown said Jinks gave the Knights some simple advice at halftime when they were up 17-14. “Coach told us not to put our heads down, and (to just) do our job,” Brown said.

Clemens coach Greg Ferrara said the Buffaloes did all they could to push the Knights to the limit. “We tried as hard as we could,” Ferrara said.

Jinks said the Knights learned how to be resilient when confronting a strong, emotional challenge from their intra-district rivals.

“We were able to handle it,” Jinks said. “This game will help us the rest of the way. Our kids wouldn’t quit.”

The Buffaloes got off to a good start when Joseph Lizcano returned the opening kickoff 58 yards to the Steele 45, setting up Leal’s 19-yard touchdown screen pass to running back Charles Ross. Erik Hunsaker booted the point after to put Clemens up 7-0 at the 8:23 mark of the first quarter.

Steele answered with its own score, which was set up by a 40-yard kickoff return by McClain. The Knights went on a nine-play, 60-yard scoring drive, capped off by Brown’s three-yard run with 4:17 remaining in the first, knotting the score at 7.

Early in the second quarter, the Knights took their first lead of the game when Brown scored from 2 yards out for a 14-7 lead. Later in the quarter, the Buffaloes tied the game at 14 on a 28-yard scoring run by Ross with 1:51 before halftime.

But the Knights had enough time to regain the lead before halftime, going 66 yards in 11 plays to get into field goal range for Nelson, who booted a 33-yarder on the last play of the first half.

Clemens took its final lead when Ross, who rushed for 120 yards on 20 carries, scored on a 12-yard run midway through the third quarter. A roughing the punter penalty against Steele kept the Buffalo scoring drive alive and Clemens benefited from a face mask penalty, which put the Buffaloes in scoring range.

Besides Ross, Leal led the Buffaloes’ offense with 203 yards passing and three touchdowns.

Now 0-2 in District 27-4A play, the Buffaloes face a make-or-break game for their season when they host the Boerne Champion Chargers at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Chargers are also winless in district play after losing to Alamo Heights, 17-10, last week on a touchdown in the final minute of play. Whoever wins Friday’s game will still be in the hunt for one of four district playoff spots.

The Knights will take their undefeated record on the road to New Braunfels Canyon Friday, which will be a battle of undefeated teams in district play. Canyon comes into the game at 4-1, 2-0 in district after beating up San Marcos, 48-14, last Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.