Sophomore running back Doug Gentry, lining up beside veteran quarterback Trae Davis in the Blackcats’ spread, took a handoff and snaked his way 19 yards through the Gatesville defense to score with 43 seconds remaining to deadlock the issue.
Senior kicker Mason Alvarado then was successful on the extra point to give Mexia a come-from-behind 15-14 non-district victory over the Fightin' Hornets.
In a season opener delayed 15 minutes by a heavy thunderstorm that caused some of McKamie Stadium’s electronic goodies to fritz out, Mexia continually performed in the clutch in the closing minutes.
With 1:14 left to play, the Blackcats faced a third-and-20. Davis scrambled, chased by an aggressive Gatesville defense, and unloaded a pass that Chase Amick made a diving catch of at the 19-yard line. On the next snap, Gentry, who only had 33 yards on his previous 10 carries, broke his game-winner.
The deciding drive was set up by a shanked 25-yard punt after the Hornets had put previous punts of 49, 40 and 44 yards in the stat book.
Gatesville, trying to rebound from a 2-8 record under second-year coach Kyle Cooper, still had a chance.
However, the Hornets bobbled the kickoff, gained control and then fumbled the ball with Jared Jones recovering for the Blackcats. Gatesville’s second lost fumble of the game ended its hopes as Mexia retreated into victory formation. Two 4-yard losses on the final two snaps ended the game.
“Every play was a struggle, but the kids found a way to get things done,” Wiginton said of his team’s final drive. “The kids stepped up and found ways not to be stopped.”
Mexia had emerged from a first quarter - played without a stadium or 25-second clock - holding an 8-6 lead.
But Gatesville appeared to turn the game around on its first possession of the third quarter. The Hornets drove 60 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown that came on a 3-yard run by senior Cody Sheets. Quarterback Shane Clark executed a keeper for the two-point conversion to make the score 14-8 with 4:16 to go in the third period.
Both teams fumbled away the wet ball on their initial possessions of the game before scoring on their second offensive efforts.
Mexia drove 86 yards in 14 plays for its first score, which came on a 4-yard, third-down pass from Davis to senior Lance Bell. The key play in the push was a perfectly executed 26-yard screen pass from Davis to Bell. Davis ran a keeper off the swinging gate for the two-point conversion.
Gatesville countered the Blackcats with a six-play, 59-yard push with the touchdown coming on a 22-yard pass from Clark to lanky tight end Garrett Johnson. The attempt to kick the extra point failed.
Statistically, Mexia, trying to improve on last season’s 4-6 mark, posted a 17-13 edge in first downs and compiled 230 total yards - 130 in the air and 100 on the ground.
Davis provided much of the offense as he completed 15 of 25 passes for 130 yards and rushed 14 times for 36 yards.
Davis’ prime target was receiver Chris Miles, who caught six passes for 51 yards. Amick added 55 yards on four carries.
The Hornets, who ran 12 fewer offensive plays than the Blackcats, managed 130 of their 175 yards on the ground, with Sheets collecting 84 on 21 carries.
In next week’s action, Gatesville will visit Cameron Yoe and Mexia will face a major challenge at China Spring. Yoe opened its campaign Friday night with a 41-37 win over Waco Connally.
gwellnicki@temple-telegram.com
