The Mexia Blackcats fell behind 21-0 in the first half and a valiant comeback came up short in a 35-28 district opening loss on the road in Madisonville against the Mustangs.
Madisonville opened the scoring with just shy of two minutes to go in the first quarter on a Tyrese Brown five-yard run and the extra point put the score at 7-0. He added a second touchdown early in the second quarter and a short while later connected on a 48-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Dorman for a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Mexia got on the board early in the third quarter with a familiar connection. Senior quarterback Jaden Proctor found his favorite target Josh Beachum for a 51-yard score to cut the lead to 28-6.
Madisonville answered that score quickly with a home run of their own. Aaron Nellums broke away on a 64-yard touchdown run to extend the lead out to three scores at 28-6.
Proctor put his team back in the game with nine minutes left in the third quarter. He hit Miller with 19-yard pass and the two-point conversion made the score 28-14.
Madisonville again matched the score on a Uriel Willis 19 yard run to restore the 21-point lead at 35-14.
Mexia began a comeback that would come up short. Adrian Smith scored on a nine-yard run that finished a 71-yard drive. The added another touchdown with 10:26 remaining in the game on a bit of trickery. Proctor tossed to Beachum on a sweep and he pulled up and tossed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Dre’vaun Cooper to cut the Mustang lead to 35-28.
The Blackcats had a couple of players over the century mark in rushing. Smith finished with 14 carries and tallied 153 yards and Proctor ended his night with 123 yards on 14 tries.
