The Teague Lions posted 21 points off turnovers and dominated the district leading Groesbeck Goats at Lion Stadium on Friday night. The Lions evened their district record at 2-2 and are very much alive for a postseason berth over the final two weeks of the season.
The Teague Lions bounced back from a 24-point road loss to the Mexia Blackcats and put themselves in a position to take the runner up spot in District 8-3A Division I with a pair of wins over Kemp and Fairfield in the final two weeks of the regular season. They could be out of the playoff race with a loss during that time as well.
The Lion defense put themselves in position with a fumble recovery and the Lions scored early in the first quarter on a Ke’Mauri Evans six-yard run. Alex Lopez added the extra point for the early 7-0 lead.
The Goats matched that score in quick fashion as they moved down the field and scored a Tyler Platt five-yard run and the point after tied the score midway through the first quarter.
Groesbeck was working on the go-ahead score early in the second quarter, but the Lion defense put a stop to all movement. Platt had his pass intercepted by a leaping J’Kybryen Harris at the Goat 28-yard line and the Lions were in business.
Jaden Cole scored on a 15-yard run to put the Lions ahead to stay. The sophomore running back scored with eight minutes remaining in the first half. The point after was no good and the Lion lead was 13-7.
The Lions had a third takeaway in the first half and would turn their first three takeaways into 21 first half points. Evans scored his second touchdown on a four-yard score with a minute left in the half and would take a 21-7 lead into the half.
Teague put a pair of touchdowns on the board in the opening moments of the third quarter and blew the game open. Shamar Davis, seeing his first action in several weeks, scored on a six-yard touchdown run and later, sophomore quarterback Zak Leija connected with Tylin Randle on a 13-yard touchdown pass and the lead was 35-7 at the end of the third quarter.
Leija scored on a 37-yard run through the Goat defense and the Goats scored a final touchdown in the final five minutes and the Lions completed the dominating victory,
If the season ended today, the Lions would miss the playoffs, however, they are in the thick of the playoff hunt. They could finish at 4-2 with a pair of wins over the next two weeks and that would put them in a tie with Groesbeck for second, provided Groesbeck loses to Malakoff in the final week. Teague would have the tiebreaker by virtue of the Friday win. If Teague splits the final two games, they could be out of the playoff race.
Malakoff leads the district race and Groesbeck is in second with Fairfield and Mexia tied for third and the final two playoff spots. Fairfield holds the tiebreaker over Mexia. The playoff race will clear up in the final two weeks.
Teague travels to Kemp to take on the winless Yellowjackets on Friday night.
(Photos by Jessica Risken)
