Giving their last marching performance for the season is the Might Teague High School Lion Band (at top) during halftime at last week’s playoff against the Whitney Wildcats.
The Teague Lions committed four turnovers and the Whitney Wildcats took full advantage of them in a 38-15 loss in the bi-district round of the playoffs at Midway’s Panther Stadium on Thursday night.
The Teague offense had two touchdowns called back due to penalties and the Lion defense stopped the Wildcat no-huddle offense but could not stop them on short fields. Whitney built a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter and Teague never led in the contest.
The Lions had a 38 yard touchdown run by J’Kybryan Harris and the Lions continued to move downfield until Duan Johnson intercepted a Zak Leija pass and the Wildcats got the defensive stop/
Teague held defensively and stalled again on offense and had to punt. The punt came down to Jairdyn Anderson and his 47 yard return set the Wildcats at the Teague 12 yard line. Three plays later, sophomore quarterback Mason Seely scored on a three yard run to put the first points on the night. Carson Griffin added the point after and the Wildcats led 7-0 with 2:57 remaining in the first quarter.
The Lions had a three plays and turnover on downs and the Wildcats took over at the Teague 45 yard line. Mixing the run and pass and keeping the Lions at bay with the no huddle offense, Whitney worked downfield and on the seventh play of the drive, David Haynes III scored on a nine yard run. The extra point was good and the Wildcats extended their lead to 14-0 in the first minute of the second quarter.
Teague was forced to punt and the Wildcats added to the lead. Seely connected with Marcus Wilson for a 21 yard touchdown and the Griffin extra point put the Wildcats ahead 21-0.
The Lions wasted little time answering this score. Leija hit Caden Gonzalez with a 46 yard pass down to the Wildcat 25 and Harris took care of the rest. His 25 yard touchdown run cut into the Wildcat lead. Henry Cordona hit the point after and the Wildcats held a 21-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
The teams exchanged punts in the last few moments and Whitney began a drive at the 24 yard line. Seely four passes and a couple of third down conversions and the final of the drive was a Seely nine yard touchdown to Jordan Johnson with nine seconds remaining and the Wildcats led 28-7 at the half.
Whitney extended the lead further when Haynes scored on a six yard run for a touchdown with 3:18 remaining in the third and Griffin tacked on a 38 yard field goal in the opening moments of the fourth.
The Lions would add a final touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. Leija passed to Gonzales for a 21 yard gain and to Braden Gauntt for twelve more to convert a fourth down. After converting a third down inside the 15 yard line, Shamar Davis ran in the last two yards of the drive for the touchdown. Cordona added the extra point for the final score of 38-15.
The Teague Lions finish their season at 6-5 under first year coach Zack Linscomb and they will return key players to the lineup in 2023.
(Photos by Jessica Risken)
