The Mexia Blackcats built a 30-0 halftime lead and cruised to a dominating win over the Teague Lions in the home opener for Teague.
Disaster struck early for the Lions when the opening kickoff bounced around on the ground and Joshua Beachum pounced on it for the early turnover. The Blackcats turned it into points when the drive stalled out at the 19-yard line. Lalo Ortiz came on and made a 26-yard field goal for the 3-0 lead with 8:53 remaining in the first quarter.
Mexia added more points just a few minutes later. Blackcat quarterback Jaden Proctor dropped back to pass and zipped on over the middle to Beachum for a 41-yard touchdown. The point after was no good and Mexia had a 9-0 lead.
On the kickoff, the Lions special teams booted the ball again and the Blackcats recovered. Proctor passed to Regarion Hicks and he was tackled at the Teague eight-yard line for a first down. A couple of plays later, Jadrian Smith pushed his way in for the five-yard touchdown and the lead grew to 15-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Proctor and the Blackcat offense took advantage of another Teague mistake in the first half. Ty Gamble caught a 14-yard pass for a touchdown and freshman Lamarrion Miller hauled in a 23-yard touchdown pass in the far corner for a 30-0 halftime lead.
Mexia took the ball to open the second half and put an exclamation point on the night. Proctor threw his fourth touchdown pass on the night on a 75-yard strike to Beachum. Smith would add to the lead early in the fourth when he took the handoff and raced up the sideline for a 73-yard touchdown run and the lead grew to 44-0.
Teague would avert the shutout with just under three minutes remaining in the game. Gelico Green scored on a ten-yard run to cut the lead to 44-7.
The Blackcats added a final touchdown on the night with some reserves getting some playing time. Jalil Wright came into the game and scored on a 77-yard run to end the game and the Blackcats took a 51-7 win.
Teague enters their open week on Friday and then will be at home for the following three weeks. Mexia returns to the road to play the Malakoff Tigers and then have their home opener at the new Blackcat Field on September 21 when they face Coldspring-Oakhurst.
(Photography by John Reddoch)
