The Malakoff Tigers jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 51-0 shut out win in Malakoff on Friday night. The Tigers continue to lead the district standings and the Fairfield loss evens the district record at 1-1.
The Eagle defense kept the game close till near the first half. Jaylon Shed had a ten yard run for a first down but the Eagles had to punt. Malakoff took the ball at midfield after a solid punt return but would turn the ball over on downs. Finn Smith made an open field tackle to keep a pass short of the first down and River Bonds moved down the line of scrimmage on a big hit to stop a fourth down play.
After a scoreless first quarter, Fairfield made their first threat to score in the game. Shed ripped off a 13 yard run and Smith caught a pass from Cockerell that covered 31 yards to the Malakoff 44 yard line. The drive would stall and the Eagles lined up to convert on fourth down, but a couple of penalties sent out the punt unit and would pin the Tigers back on their own seven yard line.
On the first play of the drive, Jason Brackens stopped a short pass to Chauncey Hogg for a three yard loss back to the four yard line. The Tigers went to the big play and Mike Jones took off on a 41 yard run to the Fairfield 43 yard line. Jones passed to Parker Poteete to finish the 93 yard dive on a 43 yard touchdown and the Tigers took the 7-0 lead.
Cockerell was picked off in Fairfield territory on the next drive and returned it to the Eagle 39. Jones passed to Hogg for the touchdown and the Tigers opened a 13-0 lead. Malakoff added a late touchdown on a Jones to Dalton Lyles covering 30 yards. He also had a 29 yard catch on the drive. The conversion run was good and the Tigers led 21-0 at the half.
Hogg returned a punt 79 yards early in the third quarter and the Tiger special teams unit blocked a punt back into the endzone that resulted in a safety and the Tigers lead swelled to 30-0.
Kayland Davis caught a 21 yard touchdown pass and Lyles added a 26 yard run. A late Bubba Hicks scored set the final score at 51-0.
Malakoff leads the district race by a half game at 2-0. Teague and Groesbeck have each won a district game but have now had their bye week.
Mexia and Fairfield are tied for the fourth spot at 1-1 and will face each other on Friday night at Eagle Field.
