Lions dismantle Tigers in district opener
Texas High started strong but couldn’t keep the same rhythm against John Tyler in the District 7-5A, Division I opener Friday.
The Tigers built a 10-0 lead, but the Lions piled up 357 yards on the ground and routed the home team, 51-16, at Tiger Stadium in Grim Park.
John Tyler (2-2, 1-0) finished with 499 yards of total offense and limited THS to 204, almost all coming through the air.
Cameron Grant rushed for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Lions, and Roderick Hawkins also scored a pair of TDs and had 93 yards. Eight different players carried for John Tyler, with Tevarri Graves coming in for 71 yards on four carries in mop-up time.
Devlen Woods connected on five of 12 passes for 142 yards and three touchdowns—two to K’lon Warren, who had three grabs for 83 yards. Ke’Andre Street had two catches for 59 yards and a TD.
Tiger QB Coltin Clack was 12-of27 passing for 194 yards and a score to Kobe Webster. Clack also threw an interception, just his second of the year. Webster had six grabs for 50 yards, and Rian Cellars added three receptions for 42 yards.
Diego Chavez kicked a pair of field goals for Texas High (2-3, 0-1).
John Tyler piled up 285 yards of offense in the first half, with 223 rushing yards coming on only 14 carries.
The Tigers had 182 yards of offense, 177 through the air but only five rushing yards on 25 attempts.
The Lions came back from their two-score deficit with a vengeance.
Texas High went three-and-out on the game’s opening possession,
and John Tyler blocked the punt to take over at the Tiger 21. A holding penalty brought back a score, and Texas High’s defense held to force a 52-yard field goal, which was short and wide right.
The Tiger responded with a 10-play drive, Clack finding creases in the secondary to hit on all five pass attempts for 62 yards, the last 12 to Webster in the back of the end zone.
Chris Lyles forced a fumbled on the ensuing play, and Mason Jones recovered for THS at the Lion 46. After a couple of first downs, Chavez booted a 31-yard field goal to stake the Tigers to a 10-0 lead.
Two plays later, Hawkins raced 54 yards up the middle for John Tyler’s first points for a scoring drive that lasted just 44 seconds.
The Lions forced another punt, and Michael Hogg returned the punt from the THS 40 to the 13. Grant covered that on the first play, rushing in with 1:16 left in the first to give JT the lead.
John Tyler’s next possession lasted 59 seconds, Grant’s 60-yard jaunt setting up a 10-yard strike from Woods to Warren for a 20-10 lead.
The Lions next drive lasted just 1:14 with Hawkins racing 15 yards for his second TD.
Texas High answered with a 7-play campaign, Chavez kicking a 30-yard field goal to make it 27-13 with 5:13 left in the half.
The Lions needed four plays and 31 seconds to score again, Grant darting in from the 13 for his second touchdown of the half.