Edwin Mims + Daingerfield Hold Off Wall, Set Sights on State Title

WACO -- Thanks to the dynamic Edwin Mims and a stingy second-half defense, the Daingerfield Tigers defeated the Wall Hawks, 29-22, at Waco ISD Stadium on Friday and will be making their ninth state championship appearance.

The multi-talented Mims played three positions on offense (quarterback, running back, and wide receiver) and scored on runs of 13 and four yards in the first half, but his 56-yard scamper in the third broke a 22-22 tie and proved to be the game winner.

Mims finished with 143 and three scores on 18 carries.

Daingerfield (12-3) will play Cameron Yoe for the Class 2A Division I state championship at noon Friday (Dec. 21) at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. It will be Daingerfield's fourth title game appearance n five years.

"There's a lot of tradition in Daingerfield," Daingerfield coach Aric Sardinea. "Our kids believe every time they step out onto the field, they'll be successful Our tradition is what keeps up going."

Wall (12-2) opened the second-half with the ball at its own 27-yard line. On the first play, quarterback Luke Dacy mishandled the shotgun snap, and Daingerfield linebacker Jonathan Barber fell on the loose ball giving the Tigers great field position. The next play, Cordarius Anderson ran up the middle for a 24-yard touchdown run. Mims would take a toss to the pylon for the 2-point conversion and it was tied at 22 at the 11:42 mark.

Wall took five plays on its next drive to get to the Tigers' 46-yard line. Tailback Grant Eubanks broke containment and headed for the second level when he was hit by Barber and fumbled. Corey Smith recovered the ball at the Tigers' 44-yard line with 9:45 left in the third.

On the very next play, Mims went 56 yards to the house, and Daingerfield never looked back.

"In every ball game, there are a few plays that change the game," Sardinea said. "Our kids started playing with a lot more energy, and at that particular time, they just kept fighting. Edwin is a special kid, and just basically did what he's supposed to do. He's what Daingerfield is all about. It's in his blood."

Wall got the ball at the 10:42 mark of the fourth, and went on a 15-play drive, converting two fourth downs in the process. But Dacy was stuffed on fourth-and-2 and Daingerfield took over at its own 12.

Daingerfield went seven plays on its first drive, culminating in a Mims 13-yard touchdown jaunt at the 8:59 mark, giving the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.

Wall quickly answered with a seven-play drive of its own, covering 85 yards, when sophomore Clint Masters punched it in from 9 yards out. A missed two-point conversion made it 7-6 Daingerfield.

Masters would lead the Hawks with 123 yards and two touchdowns. Wall rushed for 313 yards on the night, but only managed 75 in the fourth quarter.

Daingerfield came back with an 11-play drive that lasted more than seven minutes behind the legs of Anderson. He had runs of 12, 14, and 11 yards. Mims scored on a 4-yard run at the 1:11 mark in the first, and held a 14-6 advantage.

Wall punched back, this time going 56 yards, when Eubanks broke a run for 30 yards down to the 1-yard line. Dacy scored on a 1-yard dive, and Eubanks' 2-point conversion tied it at 14 with 11:31 left in the second. Eubanks tallied 88 yards, while Dacy added 54.

Wall's Masters would score on the next possession, a 13-yard run, after a nine-play drive. When Brent Maschek caught the two-point conversion, the Hawks held their first lead, 22-14. It would be the last time Wall would score.

Daingerfield would finish with minus-1 yards in the second quarter to Wall's 116. The first half ended when Wall's Matschek intercepted an Alexander pass at midfield.