Clutch

Wed, 10/27/2021 - 10:22 am

Tigers use 23-point fourth to outlast Mavericks, 51-48

Randall Bustos tacks on an extra point as Jacksboro outlasted Eastland 51-48 Friday, Oct. 22. The Tigers head to Comanche Friday. Photo/Brian Smith

After a heartbreaking loss to Dublin last week, the Jacksboro Tigers took the field Friday night against the district-leading Eastland Mavericks with something to prove.

The Tigers did just that in overcoming a two-touchdown deficit and keeping their composure while mounting a comeback which gave the Tigers a three-point lead in the final minute. With the pressure mounting and the Tiger defense needing a stop, the squad got what it needed and Jacksboro wound up with a thrilling 51-48 home field win over the Mavericks.

Both teams are now 2-1 in District 5-3A Division II (Jacksboro 4-3, Eastland 3-5 overall).

The Tigers let it be known they were in this to win this early, needing less than two minutes to get on the board via a 55-yard scoring pass from Lando Belcher to Peyton Kinman for a 6-0 lead.

The visitors would score the next 20 points to lead by 14 with 9:50 left in the first half.

The Tigers held tough with another quick scoring drive, going 57 yards in three plays. Belcher went up the gut 39 yards to pay dirt and then found Kaleem Howard with the conversion toss to cut the lead to 20-14.

Eastland QB Keaton Hicks, one of three Mavs who rushed for more than 100 yards, put the lead at two scores again with a one-yard run for a 27-14 lead with 2:32 left in the half. Less than 90 seconds later, the Tigers found pay dirt again. Baylor Laake capped a 54-yard drive scoring from six yards out with barely a minute to go in the first half.

After forcing Eastland’s first punt to open the second half, the Tigers marched 85 yards. An 18-yard strike to Kinman, who had eight catches for 189 yards, and a big pass interference penalty on fourth down aided the Purple.

On fourth down from the one, it was Howard doing the honors around the right side to give the Tigers a 28-27 lead.

Exactly three minutes later, Hicks found Derek Harris with an 11-yard strike and Judson Beard with the two-point conversion for a 35-28 lead going into the fourth quarter.

For the full story, see the Wednesday, Oct. 27 edition of the Jacksboro Herald-Gazette.