Arlington Lamar vs Arlington Martin: 44-36 Arlington Lamar

A key 3-5A district rivalry, Arlington Lamar leads the series 18-9-2 but it was Arlington Martin (6-1, 4-0 in district 3-5A) who were the favorites coming into Friday night’s game. Another reason to pick Martin was that Lamar starting sophomore quarterback Shane Buechele was out with a foot injury giving the start to junior quarterback Andy Quinn. Quinn did not disappoint completing 17 of 31 pass attempts for 258 yards and a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jaries King (9 rec 187 yards) his main target on the night. However he was helped on the ground by senior running back Cameron D. Smith who ran for 161 yards and four touchdowns. The Martin offense came to play as well totaling for 530 total yards. Quarterback Eric Walker for Martin completed 19 of 26 pass attempts for 304 yards and two touchdowns, but what ended up killing Martin were the two interceptions and fumble that Walker had in the first three quarters. He did try to lead a fourth quarter comeback, but the night belonged to Lamar as they sealed a district-rattling victory.

Mesquite vs Tyler Lee: 61-54 Tyler Lee

A 20-16 Mesquite lead at halftime was the calm before the storm as Mesquite and Tyler Lee combined for 79 points in the second half and over 1000 total yards in the game (Tyler Lee: 471 Mesquite: 571) to make this a thrilling shootout. For some players, like Mesquite receiver Ernesto Alonzo (4 rec, 101 yards, 2 TDs) and Tyler Lee running back Kyjuan Johnson (20 att, 178 yards, 3 TDs), the second half posed a new life as each failed to get anything going in the first half. While some bloomed late, others like Tyler Lee quarterback Zach Hall (6-11, 86 yards, 2 TDs, 97 rush yards, TD) who scored in both the first and second half, and Mesquite running back Shadavian Reed (18 att, 261 yards, 3 TDs) who ripped two 60-yard touchdown runs, were dominant the whole game.  The game winning touchdown came from Tyler Lee receiver Marquiston Williams who caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Raleigh Poster.

Frisco vs Frisco Centennial: 35-28 Frisco Centennial

Both teams came into this game 5-2 and 3-1 in a competitive 9-5A district. Frisco struck first with a 12-yard touchdown run by senior running back Max Steitle (25 att, 155, 2 TDs) in the first quarter. Frisco Centennial would respond in the second quarter outscoring Frisco 21-7 thanks to two 28-yard touchdown runs by Centennial senior quarterback Kelly Cordova (13-21, 187 yards, TD, 127 rush yards, 3 rush TDs) and a 73-yard run by senior running back Kamari Burnett (13 att, 112, TD). The score would remain the same going into the fourth quarter, with Centennial ahead 35-21 Frisco quarterback Jake Battaglia (6-21, 109 yards, 2 TDs, INT) connected with Rasheed Kilpatrick (4 rec, 86 yards 2 TDs) for a 54-yard TD pass. Frisco would then recover the onside kick then would drive all the way down to the Centennial 29 yard line where the Centennial defense would hold on a fourth and seven to seal the win and give Centennial a shot at the district title against The Colony next week.

Frisco Wakeland vs The Colony: 28-22 The Colony

Another hard fought district 9-5A game featured the only undefeated team left in 9-5A, The Colony. The Colony’s defense has been a force having yet to allow over 21 points coming into this game (allowed 22). They also average just over 2 turnovers a game (forced 3) and have only allowed over 300 yards once this year against Frisco, coincidentally the only game this year where they didn’t force a turnover, and gave up 208 today against Frisco Wakeland. The Colony led 13-10 at halftime thanks to a 15-yard fumble return for a touchdown by The Colony’s defender Paul Lewis and a 1-yard run by running back Bryan Hammond (8 att, 23 yards, TD). Wakeland would respond after the half scoring 12 straight points in the third quarter with a punt blocked out of the endzone, a 21-yard field goal by Bryce Lear, and a fumble recovered in the endzone and the upset alert was on going into the fourth quarter. The Colony would respond in the fourth with two 1-yard touchdown runs by sophomore Alec Gibbons (26 att, 125 yards, 2 TDs) to keep the undefeated season alive for The Colony.

Arlington Seguin vs Mansfield Legacy: 44-41 Mansfield Legacy

Mansfield Legacy was trying to bounce back after a bad loss to a good Ennis team, so Arlington Seguin had their hands full hands full in this game. An unconventional shootout as both teams ran the ball over 50 times (Legacy: 52 Seguin: 61) and both teams ran for over 300 yards (Legacy: 455 Seguin: 321). The fireworks started early on Legacy’s first possession senior running back and offensive star Kijana Amous (33 att, 247 yards, 3 TDs) gave Legacy the first points of the night on a 62-yard run. Seguin would respond with a Darrian Hammonds (19 att, 107, 2 TDs) 1-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing possession for Legacy quarterback Terrence Ivery (4-9, 40 yards, 175 rush yards, 2 rush TDs) ran for a 43-yard touchdown. The game went back and forth with the only passing touchdown coming in the second quarter (Kelton Moore 53-yard pass to Isaiah Spencer for Seguin). Fast forward to the fourth quarter where quarterback Kelton Moore (184 rush yards, 3 TDs) had a 26-yard run to give Seguin the lead and it was Legacy’s turn to respond. On a fourth and four from the Seguin 35-yard line Terrance Ivery ran all 35 yards for the touchdown and after the two-point conversion Legacy would be up 44-41. Seguin still had over three minutes and drove all the way down to the Legacy 43 yard line. But two costly sacks and a Kelton Moore incompletion on 4^th and 23 sealed the victory for Legacy.

by William Russell
Lone Star Gridiron Intern
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