He stands only 5 feet 6 1/2 inches, and weighs 170 pounds, but he plays big on the football field.

They don't call Alamo Heights running back Justin Rosenthal the "Red Rocket" just because he has red hair. He's quicker than he is fast, but he's a threat to score any time he touches the ball.

Rosenthal put on quite a show in the Mules' 41-16 dismantling of Kerrville Tivy on Friday night at Orem Stadium, rushing 39 times for 212 yards and three touchdowns. He scored another TD on an 8-yard screen pass from Cullen Mills, diving over a horde of would-be tacklers to land in the end zone.

A senior, Rosenthal scored on runs of 1, 3 and 67 yards, frustrating the Antlers with his ability to use his blockers.

"I've said all season that this is a great year to be a running back at Alamo Heights because we've got a heck of an offensive line," said Rosenthal, a senior. "I'm a decent running back, but our o-line is great. It's all about the offensive line.

"This feels good tonight because we were playing a very good team. I love playing against Tivy. I think both teams bring out the best in each other."

Alamo Heights improved to 7-2 overall and 6-0 in District 27-4A, clinching at least a tie for the league title heading into its regular-season finale against second-place Steele. The Knights rolled past Seguin 48-0 on Friday night to stay one game behind the Mules at 5-1. Tivy and Clemens, both 4-2, have clinched the remaining two playoff spots.

Rosenthal's running also opened up the passing game for Mills, who completed 14 of 17 passes for 217 yards and two TDs.

Facing a second-and-17, Mills hooked up with David Garza for a 55-yard scoring strike that gave the Mules a 27-3 lead at the half. Mills also scored on a 3-yard run.

Center Read Egger, guards Nick Morton-Gonzaba and Cullen Wernette, tackles Matt Cohen and Evan Golden, and tight ends Steven Elder and David Cantu did a great job of clearing the way for Rosenthal.

But make no mistake: The Red Rocket is one heck of a high school running back.

"He plays with a lot of heart and he's modest," Alamo Heights head coach Don Byrd said, smiling.

Tivy quarterback Johnny Manziel, an outstanding player himself, and Rosenthal hugged each other after the game.

"Justin is a great player," Manziel said. "He was very tough tonight."

Heights had the ball first in the second half and needed only four plays to score, Rosenthal squirting free on an inside dive and outrunning the stunned Antlers for a 67-yard TD that made it 34-3.

The Antlers scored their first TD on a 16-yard pass from Manziel to Colton Vick on their next possession. The Mules fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and Tivy recovered at the Heights 17. Manziel passed to Andy Kinnison for a 17-yard TD on first down, cutting the deficit to 34-16 with 7:13 left in the third quarter.

Heights fans really got nervous after Wyndham Burney returned an interception to the Heights 41 on the Mules' next possession with 2:05 left in the period. The Antlers drove to the Heights 16, but the threat ended when a fourth-down completion from Manziel to Kinnison in the back of the end zone was out of bounds.

The Mules put the game out of reach on their next possession, setting sail on a 15-play, 84-yard drive that ended with Mills' 3-yard TD.

The Mules won what expected to be a back-and-forth game relatively easy, jumping out to a 14-0 lead before Tivy got on the board with a field goal.

Rosenthal scored his first TD on a 1-yard run, capping an 11-play, 83-yard drive on the Mules' initial possession. After Tivy went three and out, Heights carved out a 10-play, 48-yard drive that ended with Mills' scoring pass to Rosenthal on the screen pass.

The Antlers responded with a 20-yard field goal, but the Mules made it 21-3 on their ensuing possession when Rosenthal scored his 3-yard TD with 3:18 left in the half.

"He's a good, strong runner," Tivy coach Mark Smith said. "He does everything well"

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