Sometimes when forty-eight minutes is not enough, the play goes on. The Teague Lions made good use of the time to hang onto a 40-33 overtime win over the Mexia Blackcats.
Before the game, the teams met at midfield to present gifts for the Chris Parks scholarship fund. Teague High School contributed $3000 and Mexia High School added $1750 to the Parks family. Chris Parks was a part of both coaching staffs in Teague and Mexia for 23 seasons.
Teague took the opening kickoff and completed the drive for the games’ first score. The Lions called a timeout facing a fourth down inside the Blackcat 20.
When play resumed, quarterback Zach Satterwhite (pictured at top) threw across the middle and hit Antonio Heard for the 14-yard score. Roberto Escobedo added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
It did not take long for the Blackcats to match the score. Davion Carter scooped up the ensuing kickoff and raced up the near sideline for the 64-yard touchdown. Laio Ortiz added the tying extra point and the game was tied and the Blackcats had not run an offensive play.
With just under four minutes remaining in the first quarter, Tayvis Coleman (pictured above) scored on a two-yard run through the Mexia defense to put the Lions back on top 14-7.
Mexia sent their offense out on the field for one of their 13 offensive snaps in the first half. Following a Teague interception, Travion Carter rolled to his right and connected with Davion Carter for the 43-yard scoring strike and a tie score 14-14.
The teams were going at each other on every play and the game stayed close for the remainder of the night. With 3:01 remaining in the first half, Davyeon Dixon caught a four-yard pass from Satterwhite. The extra point was no good and the Lions led 20-14.
Less than a minute, Travion Carter matched the score on a quarterback keeper. His shifty moves finished the 33-yard score. The point after failed and the half ended with the game tied at 20-20.
The second half began with a disaster of a drive for the Blackcats. A holding penalty pushed the Blackcats back and a pair of sacks by Trevor Cooper and Marcus Williams set up a fourth and 41 inside the Mexia 10. Teague took the punt and eventually turned the ball over on downs.
Mexia took their first lead of the season on a Josh Beachum end around from 20 yards out and a 27-20 lead with 2:07 remaining in the third.
Teague wasted little time scoring and did with 35 seconds left on a burst up the middle by Dixon (pictured above). The important extra point was true and the game was tied at 27-27 heading into the final quarter.
Jadrian Smith hit pay dirt with a 14-yard run with 3:35 left in regulation. The point after was no good and the Blackcats led 33-27.
Teague took the offense down the field in the final seconds and got into position. The Lions had a last chance and Coleman took the handoff and fumbled into the end zone. An offensive lineman recovered the ball and when the pile emptied the game was tied 33-33 with 22 seconds remained.
Mexia burned their final two timeouts to ice Escobeda. It paid off as the snap rolled up to the holder and the kick never got off and the score remained tied.
The game went into overtime and the Lions began on offense. Coleman scored on a four-yard run and the defense held the Blackcats out and the Lions got their first win of the season 40-33.
Teague has one final game before beginning district play. They return to Crusader Stadium on the campus of Mary Hardin-Baylor to take on the Dublin Lions. Mexia travels to Groesbeck to renew the annual “Battle of the River.”
(Photos by Monte Calame)
