The end of the school year brought about graduation and the final sports events of the season. Several area athletes put on a show for large crowds at the Victory Bowl events sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The events began with the baseball and softball games at the Sportsplex on the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton. Fairfield infielder Zac Barlow represented the Fairfield Eagles and had a roster spot on the Blue Team coached by Joel Kuehl, also from Fairfield.
With his team trailing 4-0, Barlow worked a walk and was stranded in scoring position. He later flew out to short centerfield in his opportunities to play. He started on defense and played second base.
China Spring slugger Brett Cain launched a towering home run to put the Red Team ahead 13-4 and they would add one more for a 14-4 run rule win.
Saturday began the full day of events with the All-Star Volleyball game at University High School. Katherine Higgins of Teague was a reserve player for the Blue Team and played well with a few blocks and several spikes over the net. There were several rallies throughout the match but the Blue team won in straight sets 3-0.
At evening began to fall, the gridiron took center stage with more than 75 football players. Zach Jones of Wortham drew the start at quarterback of the Red Team and the Blue defense stepped up for the first big play of the game. Nathan Vick of Teague bottled up Jones and made the tackle for a loss on the first play from scrimmage. Jones fumbled and the ball was turned over to the Red offense. The Blue defense held them away and red turned possession over on downs at the Blue 15.
On the first play of the next drive, Jones handed off to Hillsboro running back Kamion Bell. He stumbled through the offensive line but righted himself and outran the defense for the 85 yard touchdown. It was the first of two scores on the night for the games’ offense player of the game.
Groesbeck quarterback Mitchell Waller played the first quarter for the blue team and led his team to a field goal near the end of the quarter and Blue trailed 7-3.
Early in the second quarter Cole Baker took over at quarterback and quickly found his old favorite target, Jacob Spivey. The short pass turned into a 70 yard touchdown and the Blue team had their first lead of the game at 10-7.
During the second quarter, Wortham tight end Jayce Black donned #77 and played on the Red defensive line and Fairfield’s Aaron Pfleeger played on the Blue offensive line.
Bell scored his second touchdown of the night and the Red team led 14-10 at the half.
The Blue team quickly regained the lead when Baker connected over the top of the Red secondary to Mikquon Dever of University for a 54 yard score.
The Red team tied the score at 17-17 on the first play of the fourth quarter and the scoring stopped and it appeared the game would end in a tie since there is no overtime period in the Victory Bowl.
Both teams missed field goals and late in the game, Blue had the ball at their own 15. McGregor quarterback CJ McLeain had his passed tipped into the hands of defensive back CJ Bivins of Kerens. Bivins raced 16 yards for the pick six and the Blue squad led 24-17 with 1:38 remaining.
McLeain returned for the last gasp of the night and faced a fourth and 19 with under a minute to go. McLeain scrambled for time and launched a deep pass to Evan Hickok of Waco Vanguard. He finished the last 25 yards of the catch and the extra point tied the game at 24-24. The game would end in the tie.
Bivins was named the defensive most outstanding player.
Other players seeing action in the game were Nick Mooneyham of Fairfield and Chandler Boyd of Groesbeck.
