TYLER -- A safety and a clutch Dallas Christian drive in the final seconds cost Tyler Grace a chance at redemption in a 26-24 loss Friday at Clyde-Perkins Stadium in its TAPPS Division II, District II opener.

Drew MacKay hit a winning field goal for Dallas Christian (5-0, 1-0), which won the head-to-head game last year by two points, from 33 yards with 35 seconds left to play.

MacKay's try from some distance would have tied the game if not for a safety earlier in the fourth quarter.

Grace (2-3, 0-1) bobbled a kickoff just after Dallas Chrisitian went up by a score of 14-10 and got pinned at its own 3-yard line. Two plays later, the Cougars were called for holding in the end zone.

Dallas Christian built its lead up to 23-10 later in the final period before Cougars quarterback Braydon Stone propelled Grace on a comeback bid.

Stone threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Zach West, the defense got a stop and then Stone ran in from 22 yards out to give the Cougars a 24-23 lead with 1:30 to play.

Neither team could get on the scoreboard in the first half, but Dallas Christian opened scoring on its first drive of the third quarter with Garrett Cody's 5-yard run for a 7-0 advantage after MacKay's point after.

Stone answered to cap a 70-yard drive moments later to tie the score and Andrew Carrazo gave Grace a 10-7 lead to close the third quarter after the defense held Dallas Christian to yet another empty possession.

But Cody capitalized on the first drive of the fourth quarter and Jacob George gave Dallas Christian its 23-10 lead on a 28-yard run shortly after Grace kicked the ball away off its safety.

Grace running back Uchenna Uduma broke 100 yards on 22 carries. He eclipsed 600 yards on the season in the process.

Stone completed 12 of 28 passes for 206 yards, but he threw two interceptions. He also ran 13 times for 71 yards.

The Cougars' defense helped hold Dallas Christian to its season-low in points. Fort Worth Chrisitian, the defending Division II state champions, also surrendered 24 points to Dallas Christian.

Grace will try to rebound this upcoming week at Cedar Hill Trinity Christian.

Dallas Christian will next host Tyler All Saints.

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