Irric Deyon Runs for 312 Yards + Three Touchdowns in Palestine’s 38-13 District Win Over Bullard

BULLARD – Palestine tailback Irric Deyon rushed for a career-high 312 yards and three touchdowns as Palestine pulled away from Bullard 38-13 in a District 9-4A Division I game at Panther Stadium.

Deyon had 171 yards in the second half when Palestine out-scored Bullard 21-0, including runs of 44 and 65 yards. The 44-yard run anchored a 94-yard drive that ended with Claude Rodgers throwing a 12-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Dever to give Palestine a 24-13 lead and the momentum for the rest of the game.

Palestine (4-3, 1-2) snapped a three-game losing streak as well as ending a seven-game skid in district play that extended back to the 2014 season finale when the Wildcats beat Brownsboro 41-26. Bullard dropped to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in district.

Bullard had a chance to take the lead on the opening drive of the second half. Trailing 17-13, the Panthers moved 56 yards to the Palestine 13-yard line when a pass by Cleet Bowman deflected off the hands of receiver D'Juan Martin. Palestine linebacker Quinn Tinley caught the deflection for an interception that started the Wildcats' 94-yard march.

The Panthers also scored no points off three Palestine fumbles they recovered in the first half.

After Dever's touchdown and a three-and-out Bullard possession Deyon's 65-yard run set up a 7-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Jhamonte Milton with 33.6 seconds left in the third quarter. Palestine recovered a Cleet Bowman fumble at the Bullard 10-yard line to set up a 1-yard Deyon touchdown run with 6:15 remaining.

Palestine scored first with 6:50 left in the first quarter when Deyon sprinted 55 yards for a touchdown. The Wildcats had chances to add to their lead, but they made three turnovers in the first quarter, the third an interception by Bullard defensive lineman Josh Blalock with 51 seconds remaining.

Blalock's pick started a 61-yard drive for the Panthers capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by Luke Bowman. Palestine countered with its own 61-yard drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Deyon.

Palestine extended its lead to 17-6 on a 33-yard field goal by Edgar Ayala with 2:03 left in the second quarter, but Bullard needed just 1:35 to move 71 yards, capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by Cade Duvak with 28.3 seconds remaining. Bullard's late scoring drive was highlighted by a 40-yard pass from Cleet Bowman to Nic Costas.

Landry Lesseter and Devin Chavez had first-half fumble recoveries for Bullard while Ty Crayton forced a fumble.

Cleet Bowman finished with 172 yards passing. Palestine's Joshua Williams led all players with 10 tackles while lineman Nomar Villegas had big game with six tackles and two sacks. Donovan Yeley had two tackles for losses for Bullard.

Palestine will have a bye next week before hosting Chapel Hill on Oct. 21. Bullard plays at Chapel Hill next Friday.