Tigers claw way to victory

Jaylen+Stewart+carries+the+ball+during+a+play.+The+Tigers+won+with+a+score+of+35-21.

Kaitlyn Gordon

Jaylen Stewart carries the ball during a play. The Tigers won with a score of 35-21.

Story by Nick Mitchell, Jackson Cheney and Connor Brooks

The Texas High Tigers faced off against the Sulphur Springs Wildcats Oct. 13 at Wildcat Stadium. The game ended with 35-21 victory for the Tigers.

On the first possession of the game, Texas High recovered a Wildcat fumble and gained yards leading to a short touchdown run by Chris Sutton. The PAT was good which put the Tigers up 7-0 early in the first quarter.

After kicking the ball back to the Wildcats, the Tigers’ Seth Willis intercepted a pass and ran it back 16 yards for a touchdown. The PAT was successful to put the Tigers up 14-0 with 10 minutes left in the first quarter.

After a Wildcat punt, Texas High quarterback Riley Russell, threw a 97-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tevailance Hunt. This put the Tigers up 21-0 because of a good PAT with 5 minutes left in the first quarter.  

“We were told not to let up,” Hunt said. “We played every quarter like we were down.”

After the two teams had traded turnovers and punts, Sulphur Springs running back Colten Allen scored a 6-yard running touchdown in the last minute of the first half and had a successful PAT. The score at halftime was 21-7 with Texas High in the lead.

To start off the second half, Riley Russell ran 68 yards to score a touchdown on a quarterback draw, making the score 28-7 after a Tiger PAT.

“Riley had a great game,” Hunt said. “He had some great runs and great passes.”

The Wildcats responded with a 38-yard touchdown and a PAT to reduce the gap, making the score 28-14 with 6 minutes left in the third quarter.

The Tigers shot back with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Hunt including a PAT with 3 minutes left in the third quarter. The score was then 35-14.

On a quarterback draw, the Wildcats were able to score a 1-yard touchdown before kicking, making the score 35-21, but with only 30 seconds left in the game the Wildcats were unable to come back. The final score of the game was 35-21.

“We just have to keep a good mindset,” Hunt said. “And it starts with practice.”

Texas High, coming off their first district win, will play the Mount Pleasant Tigers Friday at 7:30 in Tiger Stadium.