Tyler Lee Rallies in Second Half to Take Down Texas High, 38-37

[By Johnny Green, Special to ETSN.fm]

TEXARKANA — Maybe the extra day's rest prompted by Friday's heavy rains gave both Tyler Lee and Texas High the rest needed for Saturday's shootout at Tiger Stadium in Grim Park.

And in the end, a game dominated by big plays on both sides of the ball, was decided by a blocked extra point that the Raiders turned into a 38-37 victory over the Tigers.

Sophomore quarterback Zach Hall capped a 12-play, 78-yard drive after the blocked PAT with a 3-yard scoring run with 3:37 left in the game. On Texas High's ensuing drive, the Raider defense took advantage of a false-start penalty to stop Texas High at the Lee 34-yard line. The game ended with Texas High blocking a Lee punt and returning the ball inside the 10-yard line as time expired.

Texas High (2-1) twice led by two touchdowns, but the Raiders scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, only one on offense. Trailing 31-17, Lee got a 92-yard kickoff return for a TD by Bryce Wilkerson and a 57-yard interception return from Brandon Durman to tie the game with 9:23 remaining.

Jarion Anderson's 63-yard kickoff return and an offsides penalty set up quarterback Kody Hunter's sixth TD of the season -- a 3-yard run with 8:39 to play -- but then came the blocked PAT.

Hunter threw for 188 yards, completing 13 of 19 attempts with three touchdowns to Javon Thomas (31), Anderson (23) and Kevin Harris (37). The other score came on a 23-yard pass from Clete Norton to Taylor Jackson on a fake field-goal attempt.

Hall ran 27 times for 114 yards and TDs of 10, 7 and 3 yards. He also set up the final score with a 25-yard run.

Lee's defense held Texas High's leading rusher, Tre Walker, to 17 yards on 18 carries. Texas High had only 23 rushing yards in the game.

Tyler Lee improved to 3-1 on the season.

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Tyler Lee 38, Texas High 37

Tiger Stadium at Grim Park, Texarkana

Tyler Lee               3    7    7   21   —   38
Texas High            0  17    7   13   —   37
First Quarter
TL-FG Chris Blas 22, 3:43
Second Quarter
TH--Javon Thomas 31 pass from Kody Hunter (Alex Frederick kick), 11:52
TL--Zach Hall 10 run (Blas kick), 8:43
TH--FG Frederick 26, 3:13
TH--Taylor Jackson 23 pass from Clete Norton (Frederick kick), :30
Third Quarter
TH--Jarion Anderson 23 pass from Hunter (Frederick kick), 6:52
TL--Hall 7 run (Blas kick), 1:16
Fourth Quarter
TH--Kevin Harris 37 pass from Hunter (Frederick kick), 11:52
TL--Bryce Wilkerson 92 kickoff return (Blas kick), 11:39
TL--Brandon Durman 57 interception return (Blas kick), 9:23
TH--Hunter 3 run (kick failed), 9:39
TL--Hall 3 run (Blas kick), 3:37

                                       TL                TH
First Downs                      18                 10
Total Yards                      298               234
Rushes-Yards             52-216            21-23
Passing-Yards                   82               211
Comp.-Att.-Int.            7-10-1         14-20-1
Punts-Avg.                   3-38.7          2-45.5
Fumbles-Lost                    1-0               2-1
Penalties-Yards               7-50             3-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Tyler Lee, Hall 27-114, Tavon Wesley 15-72, Marquiston Williams 5-22, Wilkerson 2-7, Juwan Bans 2-1. Texas High, Tre Walker 18-17, Hunter 2-5, Terrance Butler 1-5, Team 1-(-5).
PASSING—Tyler Lee, Hall 7-10-1-65. Texas High, Hunter 13-19-1-188, Clete Norton 1-1-23.
RECEIVING—Tyler Lee,  Wilkerson 5-56, Williams 2-26. Texas High, Corey Jones 1-5, Terrance Butler, 4-42, Thomas 2-36, Walker 3-14, Jackson 2-49, Anderson 3-65 .