Big Second Quarter Helps Malakoff Take Care Of Tyler Grace

MALAKOFF -- The Tigers scored 22 unanswered points to close a big first half against Tyler Grace Community in what ultimately became a 46-14 win Friday at Tiger Stadium in non-district competition.

The game was a 7-7 contest through a quarter of play.

Judd Miller was responsible for 14 points as Malakoff (3-0) began to pull away. He threw both of his touchdown passes in the period and also threw a two-point conversion toward 174 yards through the air.

Tyler Russell had a big game on the receiving end -- both touchdown receptions and 116 yards on 10 catches.

Grace (2-2) struggled to pass as freely. Braydon Stone threw for 73 yards and one touchdown two interceptions, but Uchenna Uduma ran for 122 yards on 33 attempts.

The Cougars hopped on the board first after Malakoff fumbled away its first possession. Garrett Tauscher hauled in a 19-yard pass from Stone for a 7-0 lead with Adrian Alvarado's extra point kick.

But Q.T. Barker ran the ensuing kickoff back for a 75-yard touchdown.

Rusell opened Malakoff's big run -- and gave his team a 15-7 lead -- with a 7-yard pass from Miller and then caught the two-point conversion.

Jaquaylon Hart returned an interception 50 yards later in the quarter before Miller found Russell once again for a 29-7 halftime lead.

Barker ran in from 48 yards to start the second half and Everado Garcia put the game out with a 28-yard field goal.

Udema scored from 39 yards before the third quarter ended, but R.J. Carr got those points back for Malakoff on a 86-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Malakoff will begin its District 9-3A Division I schedule next week by hosting Whitney. Grace also will be at home for its TAPPS Division II, District II opener against Dallas Christian.