LINDALE— Gabe Adams was huge in Pine Tree's 56-28 defeat of Lindale on Friday. 

The junior returned two interceptions for touchdowns as part of a comprehensive win at Eagle Stadium. 

Adams first Pick 6 occurred in the end zone and turned into a 102-yard touchdown return for a 21-7 halftime lead.  

His second did not go as far, but was as just as impressive, intercepting a pass in the middle of the field and returning it the other way for a 55-yard score. That made it 48-28 with 5:23 left to play and Pine Tree coasted from there. 

Pine Tree’s Gabe Nelson and D.J Freeman combined to rush for 375 yards. Not to mention Keshon Williams rushing for three touchdowns.

Freeman amassed 209 yards on just 10 carries, helped by three of his last four going for 60, 38 and 53 yards.  

Nelson produced 166 on 14 rushes with his longest one also his most impressive. With Pine Tree leading 28-14 late in the third quarter, Nelson took a handoff on first-and-10 from the 31. He went to the left toward his sideline and looked to be hemmed in after an 8-yard gain. Instead, Nelson stayed inbounds and broke a tackle so he could reverse back toward the right. He continued to follow blocker and break more tackles en route to a 69-yard touchdown. 

That made it 35-14 with 3:24 remaining in the third. 

Lindale quarterback Dillon Heinaman, save for two interceptions returned for scores the other way, also produced a big night in a losing effort. The senior finished with 22-of-38 for 316 yards and four touchdowns. His third of the game was a 51-yard strike to Conner Boyette, which answered Nelson’s TD and returned Lindale’s deficit to 14 points, 35-21, with 11:19 to play in the game. 

Pine Tree re-established its three-score lead, thanks to a 38-yard keeper from Freeman followed by Williams’ third TD of the night. 

Lindale showed its resolve with Heinaman leading the Eagles back down the field, capped by a 1-yard TD pass to Boyette on fourth-and-goal. 

Things looked to be turning even more interesting when Lindale recovered the ensuing onside kick. 

And then Adams made sure Pine Tree would never be threatened again with his second Pick 6 of the game. 

Pine Tree (5-4) moved to 3-3 in District 9-5A Division II with the victory while Lindale (5-4) dropped to 4-2. 

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