Two Corsicana Running Backs Reach Century Mark in 35-17 Win Over Nacogdoches

CORSICANA -- Behind a plodding running game and quarterback sneaks, Corsicana  battled past Nacogdoches 35-17 on Friday in Corsicana.

 Ja’Micha Polk led the Tigers with 20 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown.

Daveon Crawford had a breakout performance as he carried the ball 25 times for 100 yards and a score.

Quarterback Kishawn Kelly emphasized how the Tigers’ night went as he carried the ball 18 times for three touchdowns — all on sneaks of two yards or less — and 44 yards.

All told, the tigers rushed the ball 64 times for 286 yards and five touchdowns.

While the Dragons struggled to contain the Tigers’ slowly-plodding rushing attack, the Nacogdoches offense did come up with some touchdowns on big plays.

Noah Hildebrand hit Alex Gregory on a deep strike midway through the second quarterback for a 52- yard touchdown.

Then, in the second half, Brandon Jones made his cameo appearance at running back a memorable one — taking his sole carry 59 yards for a score.

Hildebrand finished the night with 11 completions for 172 yards and the touchdown.

Corsicana took the early edge after holding the Dragons’ on the opening drive.

The Tigers took over and drove town the field to score on a two-yard sneak by Kelly and take a 7-0 edge with 1:29 left in the first quarter. Corsicana would never relinquish the lead from there.

The Dragons drove down the field on the next possession, but were contained late in the drive by the Tiger defense and had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Chris Campos — cutting into the Tigers’ lead 7-3 with 9:31 before the half.

Corsicana responded by scoring on its next drive — another two-yard sneak by Kelly for a 14-3 edge — and then kicking an onside kick, which the Tigers then recovered to set up the offense again with good field position.

The Tigers didn’t disappoint, scoring another touchdown on a one-yard rush by Polk with 3:53 remaining in the first half.

The Dragons responded by cutting into Corsicana’s halftime lead to 21-10 as Hildebrand hit Gregory for the score.

Nacogdoches then held Corsicana on the first drive of the second half and then scored on a touchdown on the following possession on Jones’ long touchdown run to make the score 21-17.

For a moment it looked like the Dragons were back into the game.

But the Tigers closed things out by scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win the game 35-17.

Kelly scored his final touchdown of the game on another one-yard sneak with 11:57 left and then Crawford tacked on the Tigers’ final touchdown on a seven-yard rush with 5:34 to play.

Following the loss, the Dragons are 1-5 (0-3 in District 16-5A). Corsicana improves to 5-1 (2-1 in 16-5A).