Rabbits’ big second half leads to playoff win

LONGVIEW, Texas— Atlanta came up with four second-half turnovers and scored five unanswered touchdowns to eliminate Mount Vernon, 38-14, in a Class 3A, Division I regional playoff game Thursday at Pine Tree’s Pirate Stadium.

Keyshawn Easter had a pair of fumble recoveries in the second half for the Rabbs’ defense, safety J.J. Fields Intercepted a pass, and running back Jawan King rushed for his second and third TDs in the third quarter for Atlanta.

King finished with 100 yards and three scores on 12 carries, Caleb Hamilton added 105 yards on seven totes, and quarterback Andrew Samples scored twice in the fourth quarter on short runs after throwing a touchdown midway through the second quarter that started the string of five TDs.

Kade Wood and Kentrell Andrews also had fumble recoveries for Atlanta, which limited Mount Vernon to 113 yards in the second half for a 279-yard total.

The Rabbs (8-5) will face either Gladewater or Malakoff in the state quarterfinal round next week. Those teams play tonight.

The Tigers’ season ends at 9-4, two of the losses to Atlanta.

The Rabbs rolled up 406 yards of total offense with 279 coming on the ground attack.

The Rabbs managed 214 yards of total offense before halftime, but a blocked PAT gave the Tigers a 14-13 lead at intermission.

Mount Vernon had 166 yards of offense—all but a 42-yard touchdown reception by Dalton Decker coming via the rushing attack.

Braden Bolin made a diving interception on the third play from scrimmage for the Tigers, setting up MV at the Rabbs’ 26. Six plays later, Pletcher bulled his way in from the 1 for the score with 8:22 left in the first quarter.

Atlanta’s next two drives ended in punts, but the Rabb defense forced three-and-outs by Mount Vernon.

Wood hauled in a 26-yard pass on the first play of Atlanta’s fourth possession to spark the offense. Jawan King raced 12 yards for another first down, Dra Nelson had an 11-yard catch during the drive, and Keyshawn Easter raced 34 yards to set up King’s 1-yard plunge to tie the game with 11:22 left in the half.

Six plays later Decker took a quick pass from Pletcher on a seam route and raced untouched for the TD at 7:47.

Atlanta answered in five plays, Joshua Edwards racing down the left sideline and making a running catch for for a 42-yard strike from Samples with 6:22 left.

Rabb nose guard Andrews recovered a fumble to stop the ensuing Tiger possession, thwarting a scoring opportunity at the Atlanta 11 with 55 seconds left before halftime.

The Rabbs drove to the Mount Vernon 33 before time expired on the half.