Tigers maul Lions, 41-21
TYLER, Texas — Texas High had big plays in every aspect of the game.
The Tigers won the kicking game, special teams, the battle of turnovers, and offense and defense during a 41-21 victory over Tyler Thursday at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
The THS win snapped a 6-game losing streak in the series for the Tigers, who last beat the Lions in 2008 (42-14).
Texas High (1-0) scored 10 points off a pair of Tyler fumbles and rolled up 390 yards of total offense — 280 via 40 rushes. The Tigers did not have a turnover.
Clayton Smith had three sacks, Caleb Arnold and Jaden Kelly each recovered a fumble on Lion kickoffs, and Braylon Stewart found the end zone three times in the second half.
Stewart rushed for 179 yards on 17 carries, and Vontrey Anderson added 10 rushes for 43 yards and a pair of TDs.
THS led 27-7 entering the fourth quarter.
The Tigers won the battle of field position in the first half, and took a 13-point lead on Tyler before the Lions drove nearly the length of the field for a score with less than five minutes until intermission.
Texas High held a 13-7 lead at halftime, turning a fumble into THS’ second field goal of the first quarter.
After THS forced a 3-and-out on the game’s first drive, Texas High started from its own 48-yard line. Oscar Hernandez booted a 23-yard field goal on the 11th snap of the possession to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead with 7:40 left in the opening period.
The ensuing kickoff was muffed, settled and then fumbled by Tyler, and Arnold recovered at the Lion 12. Texas High didn’t get in the end zone, and Hernandez booted a 25-yard field goal with 6:16 remaining in the first.
The Lions marched to the THS 30 on 11 plays, but Clayton Smith dropped them ball carrier for a 3-yard loss on fourth-down to give the Tigers possession at their own 33.
Anderson bulled his way in from the 2 on the 10th play, and Hernandez’s PAT made it 13-0 with 10:43 left in the half.
The kickoff was again mishandled by the Lions, who started from their own 3. However, Makavion Potts made an adjustment on an under-thrown ball from Pinkard, to make the reception and raced to the end zone for a 41-yard TD. The scoring drive covered 97 yard in nine plays for Tyler.