Failed PATs Cost Arp in 19-18 Semifinal Loss to Boling

PORTER -- The Arp Tigers failed to advance to their first state championship game, missing on three point-after-touchdown attempts in a 19-18 loss to Boling on Friday night in a Class 3A Division II semifinal at Texan Drive Stadium.

Boling (13-2) will meet Gunter (15-0) at 5 p.m. Thursday from AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the title.

Arp finished its season at 12-3.

Kayce Medlock connected with Jacoby Hawkins on a halfback pass for a 55-yard touchdown with 4:51 remaining, but the PAT bounced off the upright, leaving Arp trailing by a point.

Medlock, an SMU commit, led Arp with 74 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. His 57-yard scoring run gave Arp a quick 6-0 lead with 9:33 remaining in the first quarter.

Boling got on the board when a bad snap got away from the Arp punter, resulting in a safety early in the second quarter. Bulldogs quarterback Vernon Jackson's 1-yard touchdown gave Boling a 9-6 lead it carried into halftime.

Arp regained the lead in the third quarter on Tyler Stewart's 1-yard QB sneak, but the two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

Boling tied the game, 12-12, on Francisco Olivera's 28-yard field goal late in the third. The Bulldogs went in front for good midway through the fourth when Elijah Gooden scored from 3 yards.