Lightning delays verdict for Redwater football playoff game
PARIS, Texas—The game was moving lightning fast until Mother Nature intervened.
Pottsboro was leading Redwater, 14-7, Thursday at Wildcat Stadium when officials halted play because of lightning and rain with 9:30 left in the Region II-2A, Division I area football game.
Both offenses were struggling thanks to outstanding play by both defenses in the second half.
It was midway into the third quarter when the Cardinals took over at their own 38 after a Redwater punt. Using two quarterbacks, Pottsboro methodically drove down the field in 12 plays for the go-ahead score with 11:56 left in the game.
The Cardinals converted three third downs and a fourth-and-2
from Redwater's 23. Zane Pritchett scored his second touchdown of the game on a 3-yard keeper. Pritchett and the Cards' other quarterback Hunter Mullinex had run for a combined 114 yards.
Redwater (6-5) was driving when the game was stopped. The Dragons were facing a third-and-1 at their own 45.
Redwater forced three turnovers in the first half but only one turned into points for the Dragons.
The Cardinals were driving on their first possession of the game when Kolby Browning recovered a Pottsboro fumble at his own 20.
It was three-and-out for the Dragons, but they had the ball back two plays later on an interception by Neo Hudson at the Redbirds' 42.
On third-and-4 Neo Hudson broke free for 21 yards and a first down at the Pottsboro 15. Two plays later quarterback Michael Cochran kept and raced up the middle for a 12-yard touchdown. Cochran's PAT made it 7-0 with 10:01 left in the half.
Pottsboro turned the ball over for the third straight possession when Browning picked off a short pass at the Dragons' 39.
However, the Cardinals returned the favor seconds later when Zane Pritchett stole a Cochran pass and returned it 29 yards to the Dragons' 32.
Pritchett would carry the ball three of the next four plays, including an 18-yard TD scamper up the middle. Kory Waller's kick tied the score with 1:51 left before intermission.
See Saturday’s edition of the Gazette for more coverage.