Putting a stop to Grapeland’s #7 gaining any yardage is VonTray Cooper with the tackle.
The Grapeland Sandies took a 14-point lead at the end of the first quarter and made it hold up in the 44-27 district win over the Wortham Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are in a must win situation at home on homecoming Friday night against the Overton Mustangs.
Senior receiver Jayce Black continues to re-write the record books. He set the career mark for catches last week and this week added the high mark for catches in a season with 52 on the season. He is near the yardage totals in a season and career and looks to eclipse them in the season finale.
Grapeland took the early lead on the first possession. Quarterback Rick Frauenberger mixed the run and pass to put the Sandies inside the Bulldog ten-yard line. Brayden Cheatham finished the 58-yard drive with a two-yard run and put Grapeland ahead 6-0.
Wortham had a beautiful drive to start their offensive drive moving from their own 31 to inside the Grapeland 15. Facing a fourth down, senior quarterback Zach Jones connected with Jayce Black but it was short of the first down and the Sandies took over at their own nine-yard line.
Grapeland went back to work and marched down the field. Frauenberger completed four of five passes on the drive and on the 12th play of the drive, Riley Chapman scored on a seven-yard run to extend the lead. He added the two-point run for the 14-0 to end the first quarter.
Jones threw an interception early in the second quarter and James Coleman returned it the Bulldog seven-yard line. The Bulldog defense stiffened and Black batted down a pass on fourth down to put the offense back on the field.
Black caught passes for 26 and 17 yards to move to near midfield. Jones completed a couple of passes to Cole Shivers, the second for a 17-yard touchdown score on fourth down. The drive took ten plays and 93 yards to cut the lead to 14-7.
The Bulldog defense forced a punt and took over at midfield. An 11-yard completion to Braxton Whaley and a third down pass to Shivers for 28 yards to inside the Grapeland 20. Jones connected with Black for his second touchdown pass on the night for the nine-yard score and the Garcia extra point tied the game at 14-14.
The Grapeland passing game put points on the board before the half. The offense ripped off ten yards at a time and the final play of the drive, Frauenberger hit Chapman for the 11-yard score. He again added the two-point conversion and the Sandies led at the half 22-14.
Wortham took the second half kickoff and made quick work to go down and score to tighten the gap. Shivers and Whaley caught passes for first downs running back Stephon Ester had a sixteen-yard run to the five-yard line. After a penalty backed the offense up to the 20, Jones finished the drive with an 11-yard pass play to Black for the touchdown to close the game to 22-20.
Grapeland needed only the next possession to reopen the gap. The Sandies offense converted a third down and two plays later, Josh Ackley caught a 28-yard touchdown pass and with the two-point conversion the lead grew to a 30-20 lead.
The Bulldogs methodically moved into position again but this time the questionable call stopped the drive. After Ester converted a third and short near midfield, Jones tossed a pass in the left flat to Logan Capers. It appeared to be a forward pass that fell incomplete, but the referees deemed it a lateral, and live. Chapman scooped up the ball and raced 52 yards for the score. Chapman caught the two-point conversion for the 38-20 lead.
Ester was the entire drive for the Bulldogs on the next possession. He carried three times for 51 yards, the last two 25 and 20 for the touchdown. Francisco Garcia kicked the point after to again cut into the Grapeland lead 38-27.
Grapeland would add a two-yard touchdown run by Frauenberger to close out the third quarter and the game with the 44-27 win.
Wortham is tied with Grapeland for fourth place in the District 11-2A Division II standings. Tenaha, Overton and Timpson have clinched playoff spots and the final one will be determined Friday night. Overton visits the Wortham Bulldogs and they must win the game and have Grapeland lose to winless Mount Enterprise to clinch a playoff berth. It is homecoming in Wortham and the Bulldogs are winless at home on the season. Game time is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff and check the pages of the Freestone County Times for the schedule of homecoming events next weekend.
Scott Batts reporting.
