Catching up with the rival quarterback is Teague Lion #35 Azaya Patrick.
Sprinting down the field is Teague Lion #15 Jacovy McWilliams during the game against Mexia last week.
The Teague Lions gave up 20 points in the final three minutes of the first half and the Mexia Blackcats kept the lead for the 41-26 win in Teague Friday night.
The game had the buildup and it did its part to hold the intensity of the last few years. Jaylen Gipson scored three touchdowns and first year starter at quarterback Antonio Heard led his offense to keep within a touchdown.
Teague took the opening kickoff and drove down for a touchdown. The running of Jacovy McWilliams took control of the drive. He ripped off several big runs. Jaylen Davis capped the drive with a three-yard score. Ismael Diaz added the point after for the 7-0 lead.
Mexia could do nothing in the first quarter and were forced to punt three times in the opening quarter. Two short kicks gave the Lions great field position in Mexia territory at the 49 and 41 yard lines, but they could not get any more points on the board in the quarter.
Late in the first half, Gipson handed off to Jadrian Smith and he broke through the Lion defense for their first big gain of the game. The 56-yard run was stopped at the Teague four-yard line. Gipson ran it in from those four yards out and Marcus Gonzales added the extra point and the score was tied.
Mexia had tried an on-sides kick on the opening kickoff and after their second quarter score, they tried it again and were successful. Josh Beachum recovered the bouncing ball and the Blackcats took immediate advantage of the break. Travion Abor broke open down the far sideline and Gipson hit him in stride for the 44-yard score. The next play was perhaps the most exciting of the night. The extra point was blocked and JaQuaylon Daniels scooped it up and raced the other way. He outran the opposition down to the nine-yard line before Smith brought him down.
The final score of the first half was on a Teague miscue. Mexia turned the ball over on downs near midfield and the Lion offense came onto the field with eight second remaining in the half. Antonio Heard dropped to pass and his pass over the middle fluttered into the hands of Davion Abor. His defense blocked perfectly and he took the interception 70 yards for the touchdown. The point after made the halftime score 20-7.
Mexia could not score on the first possession of the second half and the Lions took advantage. Antonio Heard scored on a 12 yard run with 7:14 remaining in the third quarter. Diaz made it a six-point game with the extra point and cut the Blackcat lead to 20-14.
The Lions forced a mistake on the ensuing kickoff. The kick sailed over the front line and in front of the returners in an empty place. One of the Lion defenders covered the kick and the Lion offense returned to the field at the Mexia 25-yard line. They could not turn that into points.
Near the end of third quarter, Heard had a snap get by him inside the Lion 10-yard line. On the next play, he took a hit and the ball was separated from him and Mexia recovered at the two-yard line. One play later, Gipson plunged in from two yards out and the lead went up by two touchdowns again at 28-14.
Teague answered that score on the first play of the fourth quarter. Antonio Heard completed the drive with his second touchdown of the game on an 18-yard scamper. The PAT failed and the score was 28-20.
Beachum had a good kickoff return to the Teague 32-yard line and the Blackcats had a good opportunity to counter the Teague score. They completed that task with a five yard Gipson run, his third touchdown of the night.
Mexia had the chance to put the game away but the Lions defense got into the game. Teague was called on a roughing the kicker penalty and on the same play lost possession when the Blackcats recovered the punt. They declined the penalty and resumed possession at the Teague 46-yard line. One the first play of the drive, Gipson dropped to pass and Tyrese Heard stepped in front of the pass and raced 58 yards for the pick six. The point after failed and the Blackcat lead was 34-26 with just under five minutes to go.
Mexia would score a final touchdown with a little over two minutes to go. Gipson pitched to Beachum, who threw Davion Abor and completed the 32 score and the 41-26 win.
The Teague Lions even their record at 1-1 and will travel to Crusader Stadium in Belton on the campus of the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. They played a playoff game their last season and will have a regular season game against the Dublin Lions. Game time is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
