Mustangs hold on for 30-23 win over Daingerfield in opener
HUGHES SPRINGS, Texas—Bryce Johnston delivered when Hughes Springs needed it most. The junior wingback scored on runs of 15 and 54 yards as the Mustangs held on for a hard-fought 30-23 season-opening win over the Daingerfield Tigers here Thursday night.
Johnston, who finished with 84 yards on just six carries, cashed in on his final two touches, enabling the Ponies to escape with a victory.
Not to be overshadowed was the performance of Tiger senior signal-caller Reggie Jeter, who rushed 19 times for game-high 105 yards and scored three times.
The Mustangs were in complete control the first half and scored on their first two possessions. Ja'Kobie Craver found the end zone first when he took an inside handoff and glided 51 yards to the house. Brother Tradarian Craver pushed his way across for the 2-point conversion to give Hughes Springs the early 8-0 lead with just over two minutes gone in the young season.
Ja'Kobie wound up with 83 yards on just four touches, while Tradarian pounded out 78 yards on 13 totes. Isaiah Bolden chipped in with 62 yards on 14 carries.
The Mustangs, who piled up 323 yards offense, all on the ground—finished the eve-
ning with 20 first downs. The Tigers, meanwhile, racked up 232 yards of offense and totaled 15 first downs.
Bolden staked the Mustangs out to a 16-0 lead when he finished off a 7-play, 57-yard drive with a 13-yard rumble up the middle at 4:38 of the first quarter. He added the 2-point run.
Daingerfield broke from halftime like an entirely different club. The Tigers took their first two possessions and cashed in with points. Jeter got flushed from the pocket on fourth-and-six and skated 18 yards to the flag. Jose Bello drilled the PAT to complete the 8-play, 52-yard march that needed only 3:35 of the play clock.
It was Jeter again this time from 10 yards out on another improvisation. He simply outraced the Hughes Springs defense to the corner on the 2-point conversion and Daingerfield was back in business at 15-16 with 2:59 to go in the third.
The Mustangs proceeded to go back to their bread and butter, grinding out a 12-play, 75-yard sojourn that Johnston closed with his 15-yard scat on fourth down. Tradarian pushed his way in for another 2-pointer and the lead moved to 24-15 with still 8:10 to play.
Jeter nor his Tiger teammates would go quietly. Daingerfield moved 51 yards in 10 snaps and Jeter scored on a cutback against the grain dart from 14 yards out at 2:40. After Jeter tacked on another 2-point convert, it was 23-24 and things were far from over.
That's when Johnston shut the door with his 54-yard gallop. After breaking outside containment, Johnston dove the final three yards to the flag to make it 30-23.
The Tigers still had time, but the magic ran out for Jeter. Hunter Brabham and Tradarian Craver dropped Elijah for a 5-yard loss on third down and Jeter's desperation heave on fourth down fell incomplete.