GLADEWATER, Texas-Redwater scored two crucial fourth-quarter touchdowns to open District 8-3A, Division I play with a 33-21 football victory over winless Sabine Friday night on the Cardinals' home field.
The Dragons (4-2, 1-0) broke a 14-14 tie by outscoring the hosts 21-7 in the game's final 15 minutes. Sabine tumbles to 0-6, 0-1 with the loss.
Redwater's Seth Lathrop snapped the 14-all deadlock by dashing 80 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 3:03 remaining in the third quarter. Joe Hendrix's PAT gave the visitors a 21-14 lead.
The Dragon defense got in on the scoring when lineman Colton Bradford recovered a fumble for a touchdown with only 9:49 left in the contest. The extra point failed, leaving Redwater with a 27-14 advantage.
Sabine made a last-ditch rally when Mauro Gallegos scored on a 13-yard run and Nolan Owens' PAT sliced the Dragons' lead to 27-21 with 7:42 showing on the clock.
The Dragons answered when Austin Warlick scored his second touchdown of the night-this one on a 4-yard run-to put the game away with only 2:23 remaining.
Warlick finished with a team-high 86 yards rushing on 13 carries. His first touchdown came on an 11-yard run in the second quarter.
Lathrop added 83 yards on just two carries, with 80 coming on his TD scamper.
Peyton Davis scored the Dragons' other touchdown on a 14-yard run, also in the second quarter as Redwater took a 14-7 halftime lead. Davis had nine carries for 65 yards as the visitors rolled up 319 yards on the ground and 360 yards total offense.
Quarterback John Michael Russ completed 4-of-6 passes for 41 yards, with Davis catching one for 24 yards and Lavoundrick Vaughn two for 8 yards.
Both teams turned the ball over twice, all on fumbles.
Redwater returns to district action next Friday, traveling to New Boston.
McGehee 40, Genoa Central 34
GENOA, Ark.-McGehee built a 26-14 halftime lead and held off Genoa Central in Conference 6-3A play Friday in the Dragons' home stadium.
Genoa Central started the season at 3-0 but has since followed with three straight losses and stand at 0-3 in conference play. The Owls improve to 4-2, 2-1.
Hoyt Bassett and Tyler Moreland scored two touchdowns each for the Dragons, who outscored McGehee 20-14 in the second half to make the game close.
Moreland had scoring runs of 31 and 10 yards and Bassett had TD runs of 3 and 1 yards for Genoa Central, and Jacob Jackson also had a 1-yard plunge.
Owl quarterback Coryontae Smart had three touchdown passes and Deonta Haynes scored twice on an 80-yard interception return and 10-yard run.
The Dragons amassed 404 yards total offense, with 368 coming on the ground. McGehee had 332 total yards, including 209 rushing.
Ore City 52, Hooks 41
HOOKS, Texas-Ore City played rude visitor, knocking Hooks from the unbeaten ranks in District 7-3A, Div II play Friday night at Hornet Stadium.
The Rebels (2-5, 1-2) entered the game as underdogs, but they used a strong fourth-quarter performance to pull off the upset over the Hornets (3-4, 2-1).
Hooks took a 34-32 lead into the fourth quarter when Montrell Estell hauled in a 31-yard scoring pass from Connor Price as the third period ended.
That's when Ore City rallied, scoring three touchdowns to rally and take a 52-34 lead. The Rebels finished with 557 yards total offense, including 324 through the air and 233 on the ground.
The Hornets had 458 total yards, with 369 coming via rushing.
Quarterback Tanner Organ threw two of his three touchdown passes in the final period. The first went to Nick Hughes (56) and the second with Wesley Chilton (31 yards). Dustin Ritter, who rushed for a game-high 220 yards on 23 totes, also ripped off a 30-yard scoring run as the Rebs saw their lead balloon to 18 points.
The Hornets made it closer when Malik Estell scored on a 32-yard run-his third TD of the night-to make it 51-41 following Logan Murray's PAT with 3:20 remaining. But Hooks couldn't get any closer and now must travel next week to upstart Daingerfield, which pounded DeKalb, 37-7, Friday.
Malik Estell finished with 142 yards rushing only nine carries, scoring on runs of 22, 15 and 32. Montrell Estell also scored on a 12-yard run and hauled the 31-yard pass from Price.
Both teams turned the ball over twice, one a fumble and one an interception.
Pittsburg 56, Atlanta 20
PITTSBURG, Texas-Pittsburg spoiled Atlanta's District 7-4A, Division II opener by knocking off the favored Rabbits by 36 points.
Both teams are now 4-2 overall.
The Pirates took a 13-6 first-quarter lead and expanded it to 35-20 by intermission. Pittsburg's defense when shut out Atlanta's usually potent offense by shutting them out 21-0 in the second half.
The Rabbs had their four-game winning streak snapped with the loss.
Subvarsity
L-E's 8th edges Paris
PARIS, Texas-Damien Henderson had a 25-yard touchdown run and a 2-point PAT run as Liberty-Eylau's 8th grade edged Paris, 22-20, on Thursday.
Taklan Hampton scored first for the Leopards on a 30-yard run. Samondre Lewis caught a 4-yard TD pass from Clayton Smith for the game's winning score. Tyrone Hunter had a 2-point conversion run for L-E.
Paris shut out the Leopards' 7th grade A team, 30-0.
Jerry Ware rushed into the end zone from 25 yards out as Liberty-Eylau shut out the Wildcats, 6-0, in the 8th grade B game.