Texas High Hangs On For Tight 24-17 Victory Over Hallsville

[By Josh Richert, Special to ETSN.fm]

TEXARKANA -- Texas High played its fifth straight game that came down to the wire.

Playing with a 17-point lead in the second half, the Tigers had to score and make a defensive stop in the final 3:06 to preserve a 24-17 win over Hallsville to celebrate Homecoming on Friday at Tiger Stadium at Grim Park.

The Bobcats turned the ball over five times in the first half, including twice in the red zone, but were able to clean up the ball security after intermission.

Hallsville’s Mason Beatty booted a 28-yard field goal on the first drive of the second half to make it 17-3.

Kah’lil Sneed finished off a 14-play, 93-yard campaign with a 25-yard touchdown run on a swinging gate play to start the fourth quarter for the Bobcats, and Wyatt Wolverton plunged in from the 1 with 6:27 left in the game. Beatty tied the game with his PAT.

The Tigers answered with a six-play drive, as Javon Thomas rumbled 37 yards to paydirt with 3:06 left in the game. The decision was still in question.

Lance Hardman returned the ensuing kickoff 72 yards to the Tigers' 16, but Hallsville failed to move the chains as the Texas High defense made a game-saving stand.

Texas High forced five Hallsville turnovers in the first half, and the Tigers' three scores were each aided by a turnover.

Dee Jones stripped the ball at the Texas High 5 and raced 95 yards to paydirt, thwarting a 13-play opening drive by the Bobcats.

Hallsville fumbled the kickoff, and J'Kardi Witcher's 20-yard return of the fumble recovery set up the Tigers at the 15. Ethan Montez kicked a 36-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in the first quarter to give Texas High a 10-0 lead.

The Tigers' field goal attempt from 43 yards was short, but the teams threw interceptions on back-to-back plays. Jones had the pick for Texas High, and J. T. Taylor intercepted deep for Hallsville.

The Bobcats fumbled the ball away on the third play, recovered by defensive tackle by Will Brown at the 14. Thomas ran 10 yards and then 4 yards for the touchdown and 17-0 lead with Montez's PAT.

Hallsville's next possession moved from its 26 to the Texas High 23, but a tipped pass was intercepted in the end zone by linebacker K. J. Reid.

Texas High 24, Hallsville 17

At Tiger Stadium at Grim Park, Texarkana

Hallsville                0     0     3    14    —    17
Texas High          10     7     0      7    —    24

First Quarter
TH-Dee Jones 95 fumble return (Ethan Montez kick), 1:25.
TH-FG Montez 36, :25.
Second Quarter
TH Javon Thomas 4 run (Montez kick), 7:15.
Third Quarter
HAL-FG Mason Beatty 28, 9:36.
Fourth Quarter
HAL-Kah'lil Sneed 25 run (Beatty kick), 11:53.
HAL-Wyatt Wolverton 1 run (Beatty kick), 6:27.
TH-Thomas 37 run (Montez kick), 3:06.

                                                HAL                 TH
First Downs                                 19                  15
Total Yards                                298                188
Rushes-Yards                       41-163          33-111
Passing Yards                            135                 77
Comp.-Att.-Int.                    17-25-2           8-15-1
Fumbles-Lost                              7-3               2-0
Penalties-Yards                         7-70             7-60
Punts-Avg.                             1-29.0           4-36.3

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Hallsville, Sneed 23-83, Wolverton 7-23, Roger McCuller 10-57, Nick Branch 1-0. Texas High, Thomas 17-127, Cade Pearson 7-17, Jarion Anderson 2-18, J'Kardi Witcher 1-4, Demondre Cooper 3-(minus 2).
PASSING—Hallsville, Wolverton 14-19-1-117, McCuller 3-7-1-18. Texas High, Pearson 8-15-1-77.
RECEIVING—Hallsville, Jamil Young 8-72, Andrew Southard 3-25, Coleton Lasseter 2-18, Auryan Parks 2-14, Sneed 1-20. Texas High, Thomas 3-48, Anderson 3-17, Chaz Davis 1-10, Jaylen Rhone 1-2.