Kerrville Tivy 24, Boerne Champion 19: Antlers thwart a second-half comeback by Chargers.
DISTRICT 14-5A-II
Quick take: After Champion took its first lead early in the fourth quarter, Tivy responded with an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 15-yard TD pass from Cole Miears to Fisher Middleton for what turned out to be the winning score in both teams’ District 14-5A-II opener. Miears played quarterback for most of the second half after Trapper Pannell opened the game as No. 3 Tivy’s starting quarterback. Miears’ mobility was a plus as he extended plays that helped secure the game.
Highlights: Tivy scored its first two touchdowns thanks to great field position. Brooks McCoy’s 15-yard TD reception opened the scoring. The drive was set up by a fumble recovery on No. 2 Champion’s 45 by Garrett Kleypas. The Antlers took a 14-6 lead early in the second quarter on Pannell’s 36-yard keeper. The drive started at midfield following a 24-yard Champion punt. The Chargers pulled to within 7-6 at the 2:41 mark of the first quarter on a 10-yard TD catch by Reed Cantrell, capping 99-yard drive. The extra point was blocked.
Tivy’s Jared Zirkel — a Georgia pledge —made a 35-yard field goal as time expired in the first half for a 17-6 lead. The field goal was set up by a goal-line stand. The Chargers drove to Tivy’s 1 and were held out of the end zone. The Antlers took over with 2:00 left. Miears provided runs of 26 and 39 yards on the drive, leading to Zirkel’s kick. The Chargers pulled to within 17-13 on a 3-yard TD run by quarterback Luke Boyers with 1:32 left in the third quarter. Champion took the lead on its next possession with a 56-yard run by Tamari Jenkins on the second play of the fourth quarter.
What it means: Tivy (3-1, 1-0) won its third in a row since opening the season with a 14-13 loss against Dripping Springs. The Antlers defeated Champion for the third straight time and they lead the overall series 9-3. Champion (3-1, 0-1) suffered its first loss of the season after opening with victories against Stevens, San Antonio Veterans Memorial and MacArthur.
Quotable: “This is a district opener, and we know Boerne Champion is always a great opponent. It’s always a close game. To be able to come back like that tells you something about us … We can’t stay on this win for too long. We have tonight, and that’s it.” – Miears.
Game balls: Miears rushed for 99 yards and threw for 110 yards on 15-of-22 passing … Tivy defensive lineman Hayden Poe came up with a key sack for a loss of 12 yards on third down that thwarted a promising drive as Champion looked to take the lead with less than three minutes remaining . ... Jenkins rushed for 206 yards on 22 carries. Up next: Champion plays host to Medina Valley at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tivy plays Kennedy at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Edgewood Memorial Stadium.