TYLER, Texas - Texas High never got untracked on offense.
The Tigers finished 2 of 5 on fourth-down tries, missing their last three, and finished with just 213 yards of total offense during a 16-0 loss to John Tyler in the District 7-5A, Division I opener Friday at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
The Lions (1-4, 1-0) scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from Texas High (3-2, 0-1) and win their homecoming game.
"John Tyler's got a really good defense; they've proven that week in and week out," Tigers head coach Gerry Stanford said. "We knew what we were facing coming in, but the biggest thing is we have to take care of us.
"I don't think we took care of us. We made too many mistakes, and we didn't play with the physicality we're capable of playing with."
Frank Turner made two big catches for 94 yards to propel John Tyler to a second-quarter field goal and the second touchdown of the fourth quarter - a 3-yard run by Kitan Crawford.
Tracy Cooper ran for 140 yards on 33 carries to lead the Tiger offense.
Sophomore Brayson McHenry, making his first varsity start, completed 4 of 12 passes for 36 yards and two interceptions.
Cameron Ford threw for 171 yards on 12-of-19 passing for the Lions. Ken'Yontae Pinkard also had a 14-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter to stake JT to a 10-0 lead.
The Tigers never got much going offensively in the first half, the best scoring opportunity coming right before halftime. A fourth-down pass glanced off Kobe Webster's fingertips as he streaked into the end zone against double coverage.
The Lions tried to take advantage of the turnover on downs, but a deep pass was intercepted by Marquavious Fisher as time expired on the second quarter.
John Tyler had ended THS' first two drives with interceptions.
Crawford picked off a McHenry pass at the Lion 12 on the first drive of the game, and after the Tiger defense forced a punt by John Tyler, Travion Ates came up with a pick at the JT 24.
The ensuing four possessions resulted in punts, and Turner hauled in a 53-yard bomb from Ford to set up Victor Leon's 35-yard field goal with 2:40 remaining in the second quarter.
The ensuing Tiger drive ended with the missed fourth-down pass.
"Our message will be the same as always: we've got to take care of us," Stanford said. "I told the kids, 'one can't equal two.' It all goes back to how we prepare, how we get ourselves ready, and what we've got to do to get better."
John Tyler travels to Wylie East next week, and Texas High hosts McKinney North for homecoming.