NEW BOSTON, Texas-One two-point conversion made the difference between victory and defeat.
New Boston got the edge as it stopped a late Hooks two-point conversion run and nudged the Hornets, 14-12, in the season opener Friday at Lion Stadium.
Hornet quarterback Brent Hughes connected with Logan Murray on a 42-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to pull Hooks to within two.
New Boston's defense, after taking a penalty on a pass interference call, stopped Hooks' 2-point conversion run from the 1 1-2 yard line for what turned out to be the winning play.
Big running back Deandre Dedmon pounded the ground for a 28-yard TD run with 11:49 left in the fourth quarter for the Lions.
After a fumbled snap and a 5-yard penalty, Hooks faced a fourth-and-21 from its own 11 yard line in the third quarter. The punter fumbled the snap, and New Boston took over from its own 1-yard line.
Quarterback Philip Sissons snuck the ball in for the touchdown, and Dedmon added the 2-point conversion on a hard-nosed run to the left side.
Malik Estell caught a tipped pass for a 32-yard touchdown pass from Hughes with just over a minute left in the third.
The first half was a defensive battle. New Boston was making headway on its first drive when the runner fumbled the ball to give Hooks possession on its own 47 yard line.
Kyler Murphy had a 9-yard rush and quarterback Philip Sissons had two carries for eight yards on the Lions' first drive.
Hooks was held to zero yards on its first drive by New Boston's defense.
Sissons had an 8-yard scamper during the Lions' second possession, but the drive was short lived and ended in a punt.
The Hornets went three-and-out, and New Boston's third possession was highlighted by a 29-yard pass from Sissons to Samuel Sanchez.
A few minutes after Sanchez's catch, Hooks' defense stiffened and forced a Lion punt.
Seth Mahar broke free around the edge for a 27-yard gain on the Hornets' fourth play after the punt.
The run put Hooks in business at New Boston's 23-yard line.
Wide receiver Montrell Estell took a handoff, was stopped five yards behind the line of scrimmage, reversed his field, and gained 10 yards to put the Hornets at the 6 with a first-and-goal.
On the next play, Hooks' quarterback fumbled the snap and it cost the Hornets nine yards.
New Boston's defense stopped Hooks' run game, and the Hornets failed on a fourth-and-goal from the Lions' 15.
The Lions rushed twice for eight yards before time expired in the second quarter.
New Boston's Sissons was the leading rusher for the game with 14 totes for 82 yards and one TD.
The Lions travel to DeKalb next week, and the Hornets play at Redwater.
Hooks 0 0 6 6 - 12
New Boston 0 0 8 6 - 14
Third Quarter
NB-Philip Sissons 1 run (Deandre Dedmon run), 7:04
HKS-Malik Estell 32 pass from Brent Hughes (pass failed), 1:36
Fourth Quarter
NB-Dedmon 28 run (run failed), 11:49
HKS-Logan Murray 42 pass from Hughes (run failed), 2:52
HKS NB
First Downs 8 10
Yards Rushing 24-121 36-164
Yards Passing 88 29
Passes A-C-I 19-7-0 2-1-1
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2
Penalties 10-55 7-55
Punts-Avg. 5-35.4 4-37.5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Hooks, Hughes 2-9, Mo. Estell 3-17, Ma. Estell 9-29, Mahar 6-35, team 4-(minus 31). New Boston, Sissons 14-82, Murphy 9-24, Dedmon 12-64, Jacob Bobbitt 1-2, team 1-(minus 8).
PASSING-Hooks, Hughes 7-19-0-88. New Boston, Sissons 1-2-1-29.
RECEIVING-Hooks, Mo. Estell 3-6, Logan Murray 2-48, Ma. Estell 2-34.