KAUFMAN — When it mattered, the big play magic was there for the Palestine Wildcats.

The Wildcats got two big plays in the fourth quarter, one on offense and one on defense, helping them put away a stingy Kaufman team, 24-10, on Friday at Lion Stadium.

After Kaufman cut the Palestine lead from 10-0 to 10-7, Palestine got the ball and started a drive from its own five-yard line.

Three plays later, that drive was over and Jadarrius Beasley was catching his breathe in the end zone.

The senior took a handoff from quarterback Gee Clark, broke two tackles in the backfield and ran around the right end to cut the corner.

From there, there was no catching him and he ran 87 yards for the touchdown to put Palestine up 17-7.

After a Kaufman field goal cut the lead to 17-10 and Palestine was forced to punt with four minutes left, it was the defense’s turn to put some points on the board.

With Kaufman starting a drive inside its own 15, the Lions handed off to LaXavier Batte, who ran at right tackle.

There to meet him was Palestine linebacker Caleb Cargill, who stripped the ball from Batte’s arms and took it into the endzone to put the game way, giving Palestine a 24-10 lead.

It was a big play for Cargill, who had fumbled a kickoff earlier in the game right after a Kaufman touchdown, giving the Lions the ball back. But, no points came of that drive.

Only a Lucas Valencia field goal separated the teams at the half, with Palestine holding a 3-0 lead.

But, the Wildcats forced the Lions to punt to open the third quarter, and rumbled down the field after they got the ball back.

Jarrell Owens capped the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run to the left sideline, giving Palestine a 10-0 lead.

Tony Butler almost put the game away on the ensuing Kaufman drive, with the Lions at the Palestine 30-yard-line.

Kaufman quarterback Clay Rhodes lofted a pass toward Cameron Duncan that Butler looked poised to intercept. But, the ball went right through his hands and into Duncan’s waiting arms, cutting Palestine’s lead to 10-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, Cargill fumbled the ball, but the Lions could do nothing with it.

Beasley ran for 110 yards on only seven carries, his second-straight game to eclipse 100 yards without carrying the ball more than 10 times.

Owens and Ben Luckett combined for 80 yards on the ground, while sophomore quarterback Gee Clark — making his first varsity start — was 6-of-12 for 66 yards.

Battee led Kaufman on the ground with 65 yards, while Rhodes threw for 92 yards on 7-of-14 passing.

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