The Teague Lions jumped out to a big halftime lead and cruised to a 57-13 win at Huntington on Friday night. The Lions have clinched a playoff spot and will host Diboll in a seeding matchup in the regular season finale.
The Red Devils took the first possession and quickly fumbled, and Eli Gilbert fell on the ball and put the Teague offense on the field. Teague needed only two plays to put the games first points on the board. Ny’Land Coaster had a 13-yard run and followed it up with an 18-yard blast for the touchdown. Jaden Cole ran in the conversion for the early 8-0 lead.
Huntington did match the early score in the first quarter. Red Devil quarterback Brandt Kovar ripped off a 51-yard run to the Teague ten and three plays later found Matteo Markly for the five-yard score. The point after was good and Huntington cut the lead to 8-7.
The Lions put together an impressive, bruising drive to extend the one-point lead. They moved down the field on a 13 play, 64-yard drive, converting on third down three times. Korey Silar took the handoff and weaved through the Red Devil defense for the six-yard touchdown and the failed two-point conversion put the Lions ahead 14-7 near the end of the first quarter.
Teague would add a quick touchdown before the end of the period. After a Red Devil punt, senior quarterback Zak Leija dumped a pass to J’Kybryan Harris, and he raced down the far sideline for the 79-yard catch and run. Silar caught the conversion pass for the 22-7 Lion lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Lions extended the lead near the midway portion of the second quarter on a Coaster 19 run jaunt the put the Lions ahead 29-7.
The Huntington offense took a good kickoff return and set up inside the 30-yard line. Kovar’s pass wind intercepted by Leija when he stepped in front of the receiver and raced down the sideline on a 55-yard pick six and the lead swelled to 36-7.
Kovar ran in a four-yard touchdown for the second score of the contest for Huntington.
Harris and Leija connected on two more touchdowns in the final minutes of the first half, the first for 40 yards and following with a 27-yard score. The Lions led 50-13 at the half.
Mario Cuevas spelled the starting runners and found his way into the scoring sheet with an impressive 28-yard run for the final touchdown of the game and the 57-13 score.
Palestine Westwood leads the district at 4-0, with the Lions a pair of games back at 2-2 along with the Fairfield Eagles. Diboll is in the second spot, one game back. Crockett still has a chance for a playoff spot sitting at 1-3. Teague will host Diboll in a game that could improve the Lions in the standings.
(Photos by Jessica Risken)
