DeKALB, Texas-Sometimes a football game comes down to a matter of inches.
For DeKalb, it came down to about a foot in overtime as the home-standing Bears defeated Prairiland, 14-8, in the season opener for both teams Friday night at Bear Stadium.
The two teams battled to an 8-8 deadlock at the end of regulation. The Bears then scored the go-ahead touchdown on their OT possession, but the extra point was blocked, leaving the hosts with a 14-8 lead.
The Patriots moved close to the goal line in their overtime possession, but a false start penalty moved the ball back. DeKalb then stopped a runner about a foot shy of a first down on a fourth-down play, clinching the victory.
Paul Pewitt 31, Sabine 25
GLADEWATER, Texas-Lucas Hungerford connected with TyShun Mitchell for three touchdowns and tossed another to Jonah Hungerfield as Paul Pewitt beat the host Cardinals in the season opener.
Mitchell also had a 90-yard kickoff return for a score and hauled in scores of 33, 34 and 46 yards from Lucas Hungerford. Mitchell finished with six grabs for 117 yards, the Brahma QB was 9-of-14 passing for 154 yards with no picks. Lucas Hungerford also rushed 16 times for 81 yards.
LaBrandon Webster rushed 24 times for 150 yards, and Nick Garrett and Devonta Coffey were defensive standouts.
Harleton 53, Linden-Kildare 35
HARLETON, Texas-Harleton running back Ted Fuller rushed for 263 yards and five touchdowns to power the host Wildcats to the season-opening win over the Tigers.
Fuller rushed 22 times and scored on a 75-yard bolt in the first half. He added second-half touchdowns on runs of 1, 10, 12 and 14. Teammate Hunter Wallace added 125 yards rushing and three TDs, one a breakaway 69 yarder.
Harleton, which rolled up 427 yards on the ground, outscored Linden-Kildare 25-0 in the second half after the Tigers had built a 35-28 halftime cushion.
L-K was led offensively by Ja'Kevian Rose, who rushed for 67 yards, . Marcus Jones added 47 yards on the ground, including a 1-yard scoring run.
Tiger quarterback Marty Johnson completed 10 of 25 passes for 94, including a TD pass to Rose, who caught three passes for 56 yards. Johnson also recovered two Wildcat fumbles.
Marcus Jones tacked on a pair of scores for L-K, one a 20-yard fumble return and the other on a 1-yard plunge. Cortez Peterson scored the Tigers' final touchdown after scooping up a fumble and rambling 22 yards.
Linden-Kildare turned the ball over four times, two on fumbles and two on interceptions. Harleton had six turnovers, three fumbles and three interceptions.
Edgewood 10, Clarksville 0
EDGEWOOD, Texas-Edgewood jumped to a 10-0 lead and lightning forced the game to be called by that score just 5:04 into the season-opening game for both teams.
The Bulldogs scored a touchdown and field goal to take the 10-0 lead before the game was stopped at the 6:56 mark in the first quarter. Following a long delay due to the lightning, the game was called, giving the hosts the win over the Blue Tigers.
Ore City 35, Maud 28
ORE CITY, Texas-Maud fell behind 28-7 in the first quarter, but mounted a furious comeback that fell just short against Ore City. Maud scored 21 unanswered points over the course on the second and third quarters to tie the game going into the fourth quarter, but a 20 yard pass from Cartea Douglas to Nick Hughes in the fourth quarter proved to be the game winner.
Maud was led by Gage Jones with 61 yards passing, and 122 yards rushing and Markese Conkleton with 98 yards rushing. Both players also scored 2 rushing TDs. Jones also threw an interception in a losing effort.