ENNIS -- The Dragons' unbeaten streak ended Friday in a 57-26 loss at Lion Memorial Stadium in Ennis.

Fortunately, the Nacogdoches players will not have to relive their dive to a 1-1 District 16-5A record the next time they meet.

"I just told them to forget about it," head coach Bobby Reyes said. "We're not even going to look at the film of it. We're going to forget about this one and get ready for Corsicana."

With the help of blocker Sam Morgan, Coronado Tolbert rushes for a 50-yard touchdown score on his way to a 200-yard night. (Jeff Stapleton, ETSN.fm)
With the help of blocker Sam Morgan, Coronado Tolbert rushes for a 50-yard touchdown score on his way to a 200-yard night. (Jeff Stapleton, ETSN.fm)
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Reyes' team gained notoriety in East Texas last week with a complete game win against now-No. 9 Lufkin. It took its show on the road to the southern Metroplex and it went over like a trip to the dentist's office.

Alex Gregory gave Nacogdoches (4-1, 1-1) outstanding field position with a 23-yard kick return to the Ennis 46 after the Lions scored on the game's opening possession. Coronado Tolbert drove the reaming 44 yards to tie the game.

The Dragons only called one pass play on their first drive, an incompletion, but it was going to be that kind of night. Tolbert finished the game with 29 carries for 200 yards.

The rest of the starting offense put together 71 yards.

Quarterback Hunter McClellan completed 4 of 13 passes for 65 yards, threw an interception and had a second pass picked on a tip.

The team also lost fumbles on two consecutive drives, once for a short James Lockhart scoop-and-score the other way and the other to kill a promising ensuing drive near the end of the first half.

The Dragons only got one stop all game. A turnover on downs at their own 37-yard line following the second fumble.

With four extra possessions, the Lions dinked their way to 487 yards. They only created one big play, a 61-yard touchdown pass from Devin Smith to Donta Thompson which upped the lead to 50-20.

Ennis quarterback Devin Smith rushed six times for 52 yards in addition to 151 yards through the air on eight completions. Running backs Taylor Thompson and Tre Elliott combined for 158 yards on 16 carries.

The problem was Ennis' offense only lost yards once.

"We turned the ball over four times," Reyes said. "We don't do that. We didn't play worth anything on defense. They're a good football team, which we knew they were. They took it to us tonight. But it's one district game. We're going to move on. We played a good football team at their place and got beat."

Ennis (3-2, 2-0) opened the game with an 11-play, 75-yard drive. It featured one pass play called back on a hold.

Tolbert responded with the 44-yard drive.

Ennis scored the next 14 points, a 70-yard drive with no passes and then converted Nacogdoches' first interception into a 49-yard drive capped with a 22-yard pass.

 

Nacogdoches safeties Jaylon Lane (28) and brother Corey Lane kept Ennis running back Taylor Thompson (3) and the Lions' ground attack from big play scores on the ground. (Jeff Stapleton, ETSN.fm)
Nacogdoches safeties Jaylon Lane (28) and brother Corey Lane kept Ennis running back Taylor Thompson (3) and the Lions' ground attack from big play scores on the ground. (Jeff Stapleton, ETSN.fm)
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Trailing 21-7, the Dragons punted away their next possession. A roughing the punter penalty extended the drive but cost receiver Bryce Matthews the rest of the game with a lower leg injury. Tolbert scored from five yards out a few plays later.

Ennis then drove 61 yards on six run plays and scored. Nacogdoches fumbled for the short scoop-and-score and then Tolbert fumbled on the next drive for a halftime deficit of 35-14.

The Dragons punted their first possession of the second half 17 yards with place kicker Rudy Fuentes filling in for Matthews. Ennis drove 50 yards despite a holding penalty with one pass play mixed into a 10-play drive.

Tolbert scored on a 50-yard run to cut the deficit to 42-20 with 1:17 to play in the third. The Lions scored the next 14 points.

Both teams pulled their starters for the final six minutes of the game. Nacogdoches running back Ronnie Roberts ran for 56 yards of a late 71-yard touchdown drive.

The Dragons will try to bounce back next week at home against Corsicana (3-2, 2-0). Ennis will visit a Whitehouse team in dire need of a win after falling to Lufkin elsewhere in District 16-5A play Friday for an 0-2 record in the league.

"You know, the win against Lufkin was good because it put us one up on a team that's going to beat a lot of other people in the district," Reyes said. "This is one loss. That's what it is. Ain't nobody going to get through this district unbeaten."

Ennis defensive end and Texas A&M commitment James Lockhart celebrates an 11-yard scoop and score Friday in the Lions' win against Nacogdoches. (Jeff Stapleton, ETSN.fm)
Ennis defensive end and Texas A&M commitment James Lockhart celebrates an 11-yard scoop and score Friday in the Lions' win against Nacogdoches. (Jeff Stapleton, ETSN.fm)
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Ennis 57, Nacogdoches 26

District 16-5A Game
At Lion Memorial Stadium, Ennis

Nacogdoches     7    7      6     6    --    26
Ennis                 13   22    14    7     --   57

First quarter
ENN--Tre Elliot 11 run (Brandon Martinek kick), 8:02
NAC--Coronado Tolbert 6 run (Rudy Fuentes kick), 3:59
ENN--Desten Johnson 25 run (kick failed), :54
Second quarter
ENN--Donta Thompson 22 pass from Devin Smith (Taylor Thompson run), 10:11
NAC--Tolbert 68 run (Fuentes kick), 6:02
ENN--Thompson 12 run (Martinek kick), 3:43
ENN--James Lockhart 11 fumble return (Martinek kick), 3:28
Third quarter
ENN--Elliott 9 run (Martinek kick), 4:17
NAC--Alex Gregory 50 pass from Hunter McClellan (kick failed), 1:17
ENN--Thompson 61 pass from Smith (Martinek kick), 1:04
Fourth quarter
ENN--Dee Wilson 3 run (Martinek kick), 6:24
NAC--Ronnie Roberts run 8 (run failed), :38

 

 

                                               NAC                 ENN

 

First Downs                               18                    23
Total Yards                               330                  487
Rushes-Yards                        41-254           43-327
Passing Yards                          76                   160
Comp.-Att.-Int.                     5-14-2              8-13-0
Punts-Avg.                              1-17                 0-0
Fumbles-Lost                         3-2                   1-0
Penalties-Yards                     7-46                 8-93

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Nacogdoches, Coronado Tolbert 29-200, Ronnie Roberts 9-55, James Oglesbee 2-5, Hunter McClellan 1-(-6). Ennis, Taylor Thompson 10-87, Dee Wilson 8-71, Tre Elliott 10-58, Devin Smith 6-52, Desten Johnson 1-25, Issac Montemayor 6-19, Unlisted Player 2-15.
PASSING--Nacogdoches, McClellan 4-13-2--65, Oglesbee 1-1-0--11 Ennis, Smith 8-13-0--151.
RECEIVING--Nacogdoches, Alex Gregory 1-50, Taylor White 1-11, Sam Morgan 2-9, Tay Forest 2-8. Ennis, Thompson 5-125, Johnson 2-29, Taylor Thompson 1-6.

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