The Teague Lions built a 30-14 lead late in the fourth quarter and had to hold onto the lead in the final moments in a 30-28 win over the Bullard Panthers Friday night. The Lions end the non-district part of the schedule at 4-1.
The Teague defense made its presence known early when Clifford Coleman picked off a pass. Panther quarterback Tyrin Pree tried to dump off a pass to his running back, but Clifford stepped in front and the Lions took over in Panther territory.
Nyland Coaster had a 13-yard run to pick up a quick first down. He would later spin out of a tackle inside the ten for another first down. On fourth and three from inside the five, Coaster scored the three-yard touchdown and put the Lions ahead 7-0 following the point after by Alex Lopez.
The Lions added a second touchdown before the first quarter was finished. Bullard had their punt downed at the Teague six-yard line and the Lions wasted little time getting downfield. Coaster ripped off a 38-yard run to near midfield. Senior quarterback Zak Leija scrambled on a pass and found Bryce Bates. He hauled in a long pass inside the five and the Lions cashed in on a Leija touchdown run. He also added the conversion run and the Lions lead grew to 15-0.
Bullard answered that score on the next drive. Pree dropped to pass on a free play when he caught the Lion defense offsides. He completed the pass to Nathan Zamorano down to the three-yard line and Pree pushed in for the score and the Panthers cut the lead to 15-7 on the point after.
Teague countered the score with a 67-yard drive. A quick connection from Leija to Jykybryan Harris for nine yards and then a Leija short run with a Bullard penalty put the Lions in good scoring position. Coaster run five of the next six plays and finished the drive with a one yard run and the Lopez extra point put the Lions ahead 22-7 late in first half.
The Panthers drove down in the final minute of the first half and reached the ten-yard line. They converted on a key fourth down and in the final seconds, Pree passed into the end zone and Harris was coming back to the front of the end zone and intercepted the pass, but his momentum took him out of the end zone and the Lions began the drive at their own one and ran out the remainder of the first half.
Bullard scored midway through the third quarter when they completed another long pass after drawing the Lions offsides. Pree scored on the one yard run and the point after cut the Teague lead to 22-14.
Teague built the lead back up to two scores on a 74-yard drive. Leija had a short run, and it turned to a first down on a Bullard personal foul near midfield. Leija dropped to pass and threw a strike to Bates for the 57-yard touchdown. The extra point try was mishandled and Kade Kormos passed to Brayden Leija to complete the two-point conversion, and the Lions led 30-14.
Bullard posted two late touchdowns, and the Lion defense held off the rally to preserve the 30-28 win.
The Teague Lions finish the non-district portion of the schedule at 4-1. They will have their open week and then open the district season with a trip to cross-county rival Fairfield on October 11.
(Photos by Jessica Risken)
