Texas High Starts Fast + Cruises to 45-21 Defeat of Greenville

[By Josh Richert, Special to ETSN.fm]

TEXARKANA — Texas High dominated the first quarter, and that was all it took.

The Tigers scored twice on defense, had a long touchdown run and two TD passes during a 35-point onslaught in the opening period, and went on to topple Greenville, 45-21, Thursday at Tiger Stadium at Grim Park.

Jerry Wrightner had a pair of pick-6's, his first on the first offensive snap of the game, in the first. He returned one 42 yards and another 52 yards.

The Tigers (7-2, 5-1 in District 15-5A) ran just six offensive plays in the first quarter, scoring on three of those.

J'Kardi Witcher raced 54 yards on his only carry of the night. Quan Hampton caught a 69-yard bomb on Texas High’s first offensive snap, and Cade Pearson also connected with Jaylen Rhone for a 13-yard TD with 1:11 remaining in the first.

The Tigers forced four turnovers in the first half and scored 24 points off the takeaways.

Defensive end Jacobi Brewer intercepted a screen pass to set up Hampton’s 7-yard TD run, and a fumbled handoff was recovered by lineman Dejonta Harper. Five plays later, Ethan Montez booted a 30-yard field goal just before halftime.

With Texas High making mass substitutions, Greenville (2-7, 1-5) was able to hold the ball for long periods of time and put together lengthy scoring drives in the second half.

Carandal Hale, who finished with 103 yards on 26 carries, had an 11-yard TD run on the 11th play of the Lions’ first second-half possession.

Freddy Reyes caught a 19-yard TD pass from Westin Jarvis, and Jarvis also hit Derrick Givens for a 6-yard TD with 51 seconds left to finish off a 17-play drive that ate up 10:09 during the fourth quarter. Jarvis rushed for 90 yards and was 4 of 8 passing for 53 yards, two scores and three interceptions.

Each concludes the regular season next Friday night. Texas High travels to Mount Pleasant, while Greenville hosts Pine Tree.