The Teague Lions battled top ten Malakoff on the road for three quarters and it took two late touchdowns for the Tigers to earn the win and continue to lead the district standings.
The Lions took the trip to a heavily favored Malakoff team and they rolled up almost 300 yards in the loss and the offense sustained drives and took a lead in the second half.
Malakoff took the lead by double digits in the first quarter on their first two possessions. The Lion defense forced two fourth down situations and the Tigers were able to convert and Damien Jackson scored on a one-yard run. Following a Teague punt, the Tigers went back to work and Jason Tennyson added the second touchdown on an eight-yard run to extend the lead to 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Teague began their comeback in the closing moments of the first quarter. Ke’mauri Evans ripped off a 66-yard run to the Malakoff 16 but the drive stalled and the Lions missed a field goal.
The Lion defense set up the offense when the front line stiffened and stuffed Jackson on a fourth down play at the Lion 31-yard line. Teague quarterback Zak Leija was sacked but the offense recovered and then he was forced to scramble threw a strike to a wide open Caden Gonzales that covered 47 yards and cut into the Malakoff lead. The extra point was no good and the Lions trailed 14-6 in the first minute of the second quarter.
The Teague defense continued to set the tone in their path to get the lead. Malakoff quarterback Mike Jones was intercepted and it was returned to the Tiger 15-yard line. Leija connected with Gonzales for the second time in the half, this time on a 16-yard touchdown pass. The conversion to tie the game was no good and the Lions sliced into the Malakoff lead at 14-12 late in the first half.
Malakoff kicker Juan Gonzales added a field goal and the Tigers had a 17-12 halftime lead.
Teague was able to grab the lead midway through the third quarter and it was the big play offense that moved the Lions downfield. Leija passed to Jehmel Rice in traffic and he added to the play, running down to the Malakoff 27-yard line, the play covering 43 yards. Later in the drive, Evans took the direct snap and raced around the left side on a five-yard touchdown run and the Lions had an 18-17 lead with 8:32 remaining in the third quarter. The extra point was blocked.
The teams exchanged possessions through the remainder of the third quarter but Malakoff added two fourth quarter touchdowns to claim the lead and close out the game. Tennyson added two touchdown runs and a two-point conversion to win the game 32-18.
Teague evens its record at 1-1 in district play and the remaining district games put the Lions in the heart of the playoff race. They trail Malakoff (3-0), Groesbeck (2-0), and Mexia (2-1) in the standings and the Lions have Groesbeck, Fairfield and Mexia on their schedule. In fact, the Lions will host the Blackcats in a pivotal district game on Friday night.
(Photos by Jessica Risken)
