The Teague Lions fell behind 17-0 in the second quarter and they came to take a lead, only to fall short of a win in the opener in Teague and new head coach Zach Linscomb. The Rockdale Tigers claimed the 38-29 win.
The game was the first for new head coach and athletic director Zach Linscomb, coming to Teague from New Caney and the Lions responded with a spirited effort and valiant comeback.
The Tigers took the ball first and marched downfield. They mixed conventional and hurry-up offense and the running game and short passing game put Rockdale in scoring position. From inside the 15-yard line, Tiger quarterback Blayden Barcak called his own number and he reached the endzone from 12 yards. Daniel Romero added the extra point and the Tigers took a 7-0 lead.
Teague took their first possession and were forced into a quick third down. Quarterback Zak Leija connected downfield to Jehmel Rice inside the Tiger 20. The Lions would turn over possession on downs at the Rockdale 13.
Rockdale would add a second touchdown of the first quarter. Barcak tossed a short pass downfield and Robert Owens hauled it in and raced into the endzone and the lead grew to 14-0. With 8:10 remaining in the first half, Rockdale added a 22-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead.
Teague began to spring to life in the latter moments of the first half. Rice intercepted a pass in the endzone, however the Lions had to punt from deep in their own end of the field. Rockdale took over on offense but freshman linebacker Jaden Cole took over the series. He had a big hit on Spencer, and two intense quarterback pressures and forced the Tigers to give the ball back to Teague in the final moments of the first half.
With time running out, Leija dropped to pass and found Korey Silar inside the ten with a great catch. With seven seconds remaining, Shamar Davis scored on a two-yard run, cutting the lead to 17-7 as the teams left for the locker room.
The Lions opened the second half with the ball and quickly moved down the field. The drive stalled at the 34-yard line and the Lions were faced with a fourth and long. Leija was forced to scramble and while on the run, hit rice in the endzone with a 34-yard touchdown catch and Lions were within three on the Henry Cordona extra point.
Rockdale was trying to regain the first half momentum, but the Lion defense was in control for the moment. Teague forced the Lions to punt.
The snap went over the punters head and into the endzone. Romero retrieved it and threw a pass out of the endzone and was flagged for intentional grounding and the result was a safety, drawing the Lions closer at 17-16.
Teague took the free kick and had an opportunity to take the lead. The offense did not move in the first three plays and faced a fourth and 11.
Leija passed to Caden Gonzales and his tough catch made the first down and the Lions continued on. Davis took the direct snap and raced up the middle for a 28-yard touchdown and the Lions took a 23-17 lead on the extra point.
Rockdale found their offensive execution from the first half and made quick work to put Spencer in for a two-yard score and the Tigers regained the lead.
Teague would not be outdone. Gonzales returned the kick 39 yards to near midfield. Rice had a run down to the 29-yard run and then Leija hit Rice across the middle for a 29-yard touchdown with 8:38 remaining in the game. The point after never got attempted and the score stood at 29-24.
The Tigers put points back on the board quickly and with 5:11 left, Spencer scored on a five-yard run to regain the lead for good at 31-29. On the first play of the next possession, the Lion offense left the ball on the ground and Rockdale recovered and Barcak scored on a two-yard keeper and the eventual 38-29 final.
Teague takes to the road next Friday when the take on the New Waverly Bulldogs.
(Photos by Jessica Risken)
