Mesquite Pulls Away From Tyler Lee in Fourth Quarter, 24-14

TYLER – Playing conditions were less than optimal for Tyler Lee and Mesquite, who were playing in their biggest game of the season Friday night.

There were three-and-outs, turnovers, and plenty of missed opportunities on offense for each team. But it was Mesquite that made the most of theirs.

LaDarius Turner rushed for 120 yards and two, fourth-quarter touchdowns in Mesquite’s 24-14 win over Tyler Lee at a rain-soaked Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

The Skeeters’ win almost assured them of playoff berth out of District 11-6A, while Lee’s playoff chances took a significant hit in defeat.

Lee (2-5, 1-2) cut its deficit to 17-14 with 5:29 remaining on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jamar Arceneaux and a two-point conversion pass from Mark Patton to Jamal Ligon.

But Mesquite (5-2, 3-1) drove right down the field, and put the game away with Turner’s 17-yard scoring run with 1:35 to play.

It was a night to forget for the Lee offense, which was limited to a season-low 148 yards. The Red Raiders, which came in averaging 318 rushing yards per game, finished with just 61.

Mesquite did all its damage on the ground. Dylan McGill was 0-for-5 through the air with an interception, but ran for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Arceneaux was Lee’s leading ground-gainer with 20 yards on 13 attempts.

For three quarters, Lee’s defense was dominant, limiting Mesquite to just one touchdown and 119 yards. But the Skeeters erupted for 17 points in the fourth, and rolled up 142 yards.

Lee had only nine yards in the first quarter, and turned it over on downs, and lost one of two fumbles on the night in the second to go into halftime with just 41 yards.

The Red Raiders recovered a Mesquite fumble at midfield early in the third quarter, and scored on Patton’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Ligon with 5:33 remaining in the period. The extra point, however, was blocked.

Turner’s 47-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth pushed Mesquite’s lead to 14-6, and Iram Perez’s 22-yard field goal following the second Lee turnover of the game gave the Skeeters a 17-6 advantage with 8:14 remaining.

The Red Raiders responded with their best drive of the night, marching 74 yards in 12 plays. On fourth-and-long, Patton hit Zaylon Walker for a 19-yard gain to the 1-yard line, setting up Arceneaux’s score.

Patton passed for 87 yards on 6 of 17 completions, and Walker had three catches for 47 yards.

Mesquite’s bye is next week, and it returns to action Nov. 1 at home against Rockwall. Lee plays at Rockwall next Friday night.

Mesquite 24, Tyler Lee 14

At Christus TMF Rose Stadium, Tyler

Mesquite           0      7      0    17    –    24
Lee                   0      0      6      8    –    14

Second Quarter
MES—Dylan McGill 3 run (Iram Perez kick), 11:11.
Third Quarter
LEE—Jamal Ligon 14 pass from Mark Patton (kick failed), 5:33.
Fourth Quarter
MES—LaDarius Turner 47 run (Perez kick), 11:42.
MES—FG Perez 22, 8:14.
LEE—Jamar Arceneaux 1 run (Ligon pass from Patton), 5:29.
MES—Turner 17 run (Perez kick), 1:35.

                                   MES                     LEE
First Downs                      15                       11
Total Yards                      261                    148
Rushes-Yards             47-261                 37-61
Passing Yards                      0                     87
Comp.-Att.-Int.              0-5-1               6-17-0
Punts-Avg.                   3-31.7               4-34.8
Fumbles-Lost                    3-2                    3-2
Penalties-Yards                5-45                  5-27

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Mesquite, LaDarius Turner 20-127, Dylan McGill 17-88, Ja’Darion Smith 7-43, Cantrell Ray-Jackson 1-3, Nate Miller 1-2, Team 1-(-2). Lee, Jamar Arceneaux 13-20, Jamarion Miller 10-18, Ryan Williams 2-14, Jamichael Turman 2-13, Sebastian Grady 1-11, Jordan Printers 4-8, Malik Hall 1-4, Mark Patton 4-(-27).
PASSING—Mesquite, McGill 0-5-1—0. Lee, Patton 6-17-0—87.
RECEIVING—Lee, Zaylon Walker 3-47, Jamal Ligon 2-28, Te’vion Massey 1-12.