Tyler Bishop Gorman Puts Stamp on Big Regular Season With 28-14 Win Over Tyler Grace

[By Nathan Wright, Special to ETSN.fm]

TYLER -- By request of Tyler Bishop Gorman head coach Cody Gipson, the scoreboard at McCallum Stadium was to remain on all night Friday night.

So until it is turned off, it will read 28 for the home team (Gorman) and 14 for the visiting team (Tyler Grace Community).

T.K Gorman quarterback Michael Goodwin had another huge game Friday night and led the Crusaders to only their second victory over Tyler Grace since 2008 and secured a spot in the playoffs for his team.

The Crusaders (8-2 overall, 5-2 in TAPPS District 2, Division II) will face Houston Second Baptist in the first round of the playoffs. The Cougars (8-2, 5-2) will also open the playoffs next week.

“It is an unbelievable feeling for my program,” Gipson said. “It is an unbelievable feeling for my kids and my community and I couldn’t be more proud of them. In the end, my kids prepared. My kids had heart and they went out and executed a great game plan.”

The Crusaders took the early lead on their first offensive series of the game. Logan Botello scored from a yard out to give T.K. Gorman a 7-0 lead with 5:53 to go in the first quarter.

The Cougars tied the game with just minutes to go before halftime. Quarterback Chandler Nutt broke free for a 71-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 3:17 left in the second quarter.

The game was tied at the break after the Crusaders missed a 41-yard field goal on the last play of the first half.

T.K. Gorman struck first in the second half. With 4:39 to go in the third quarter, Goodwin and Martin Guzman hooked up for a 5-yard touchdown to put the Crusaders ahead 14-7.

It was the only passing touchdown of the game for East Texas’ leading passer, who completed 18 of 24 passes for 217 yards.

“Our quarterback had to make great decisions at the line of scrimmage,” Gipson said. “We put a lot on him as far as run-pass. He did a great job tonight getting us into some plays and getting us out of some plays against their defense which really allowed us to make some great plays.”

After another missed field goal on their next possession, Goodwin found the end zone with his feet the next time the Crusaders had the ball. With 11:20 remaining in the game, he scored from 46 yards out to make it 21-7.

Goodwin rushed for 85 yards on 19 carries.

Tyler Grace cut the T.K. Gorman lead to 21-14 with 8:35 left in the game on a 14-yard pass from Christopher Wilhelm to Jonny Spitzer, but that would as close as the Cougars would get.

Botello scored his second touchdown of the game on the Crusaders’ next possession, this time from 9 yards out with 1:44 to go in the game to seal the big win for T.K. Gorman.

“This is just a great experience, to go out, winning on our home field,” Goodwin said. “It is just a great team win.

“We had some negative plays, a couple of sacks, a lot of penalties, but we overcame adversity and came out on top in the end.”

T.K. Gorman overcame adversity all week as rain flooded McCallum Stadium early in the week and the team had to travel to Tatum to practice.

But now, with momentum on their side, they enter the playoffs with a matchup next week in Houston.

“We have a lot of momentum,” Goodwin said. “We have the utmost confidence in our team and we are ready to go do something special in the playoffs.”