The Teague Lions fell behind 43-0 in the first half and were dominated in an area playoff matchup New Caney’s Randall Reed Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The 56-14 playoff loss to the Hitchcock Bulldogs ends the Lions impressive season 8-4.
Hitchcock, Columbus, and Yoakum all from the same district entered the final four eliminated the remaining three District 9-3A Division I teams (Teague, Palestine Westwood, and Fairfield). The Bulldogs move on to take on the Franklin Lions in the regional semifinal.
The Bulldogs took the first possession and moved through the Teague defense. Senior quarterback Marquise Allen had to step in when the starting quarterback was injured and guided the Bulldogs for the first score of the game.
Terrell Allen finished the 53-yard drive with a two-yard blast up the middle with 7:36 remaining in the opening quarter. The Bulldogs took the early 7-0 lead.
The teams exchanged possessions, and the Lions began a drive at their 33-yard line. Jaden Cole picked on a first down to move the chains and a couple of penalties backed them into a second and long situation. Senior quarterback Zak Leija dropped to pass on a screen and Allen tipped the ball up and to himself and raced the remaining 20 yards for the touchdown. The point after made the score 14-0.
Teague would drive inside the Bulldog 30 and turn the ball over on downs and Hitchcock made quick work of the possession. Jared Dotson ran for 27 inside the Lion 25 and Kelshaun Johnson caught a 24-yard touchdown pass to push the lead out to 21-0.
Another turnover on downs, this time at the Bulldog ten pinned Hitchcock a long way from paydirt. On third and four from the 12, Allend dumped a short pass to Johnson, and he raced up the far sideline for the 88-yard touchdown and blow the score open at 28-0.
Terrell Allen added a final three-yard blast for the 36-0 halftime lead. The lead became 43-0 early in the third on a 76-yard punt return from Brian Harris.
Teague added two fourth quarter touchdowns on a seven-yard run from Cole and Ny’Land Coaster added a two-yard touchdown run to end an impressive six-minute drive to close out the season for the Teague Lions.
Finishing their football career for the 8-4 Lions are Korey Silar, J’Kybryan Harris, Zak Leija, Quincy Jones, Cliff Coleman, Bo Bowers, Evan Gilbert, Jesus Vera, James Ingram, and Matthew Ponce.
Scott Batts reporting.
(Photos by Jessica Risken)
