Hallsville Cruises to 35-13 Win vs. Rival Pine Tree

[By Jeff Henderson, Special to ETSN.fm]

HALLSVILLE -- The Hallsville Bobcats extended their winning streak against rival Pine Tree Pirates behind the efforts of senior Macailyn Wilder, beating Pine Tree 35-13 and racking up 463 in yards in total offense.

Wilder accounted for 263 of those yards, including two touchdowns and 95 yards on 15 carries on the ground, and three more touchdowns and 168 yards on 10 of 17 passing.

Hallsville’s defense held Pine Tree to 31 yards on 23 rushing attempts. Pine Tree (3-3, 0-2) was more successful through the air, throwing for 224 yards and a touchdown.  Dalvin Manns led the Pirates, going 9 of 19 for 125 yards. Caleb Chumley, playing in his first game of the season after recovering from a toe injury, added another 99 yards on 6 of 17 passing.

Hallsville (5-2, 2-0), which beat PT for the 12th consecutive season, yielded the fewest points it's given up this season.

The game was the first for Pine Tree following the resignation of head coach Derek Fitzhenry, whose separation agreement was agreed to by the PTISD school board earlier Friday. Offensive coordinator Derrick Hennigan is PT's interim AD/head football coach.

Wilder started off the scoring on Hallsville's second drive of the night on a quarterback keeper, knifing his way through the Pine Tree defense on a 32-yard run with 7:01 left in the first quarter. Wilder found himself in the Pirate end zone again early in the second quarter on a 14-yard scamper set up by powerful 48 yard run by Hallsville junior Khalil Sneed, who finished with a game-high 130 yards on 13 carries.

Down two touchdowns, Pine Tree orchestrated arguably its best drive of the night, marching 68 yards on 16 plays for a nine-yard touchdown pass by Chumley to Stefen Pentecost. Chumley took advantage of Hallsville’s aggressive pass rush by setting up the touchdown on three well-played screen passes to Mason Hays, who led Pine Tree with seven catches for 129 yards.

Hallsville missed a field goal wide left late in the second quarter, but Pine Tree could not capitalize and was forced to punt. With 35 seconds left in the first half, the Bobcats took two plays to score their third touchdown, the score coming on a well-executed 46-yard wheel route catch-and-run down the right sideline by Hallsville’s Jacob Taylor, who led Hallsville with three catches for 63 yards. The touchdown gave Hallsville a 21-7 halftime lead.

Hallsville dominated the third quarter, capitalizing on two Pine Tree turnovers on their first two drives. The first turnover, a Chumley fumble, ended with an 18-yard pass from Wilder to Jamil Young. The second turnover, a Jacori Crayton interception and 23-yard return, led directly to Hallsville’s last score of the night, a Wilder to Andre Jones 28-yard strike with 6:56 left in the third quarter.

Pine Tree added its second touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a three-yard run by Chumley aided by a fourth-down trick play that had Manns throwing to Dylan Lightfoot for a two-yard reception and toss back to Chumley, who rumbled for 15 more yards and kept Pine Tree’s offense on the field. Hallsville’s Dwayne Johnson blocked the PAT.

Hallsville travels to Sulphur Springs next week, while Pine Tree hosts Marshall.