Senior defensive back Justin Jefferson broke up a fourth-down pass in the end zone with 36 seconds left as Belton came from behind to beat Killeen Shoemaker 34-30 in a thrilling homecoming Friday night at Tiger Field.

“I just looked at my man. He looked up and got ready to put up his hands and I looked back and there it was,” Jefferson said. “It was like it was in slow motion. I can’t even explain how proud I am of this defense on the last drive.”

The Tigers improved to 1-4, 1-1 in District 12-5A, and ended their eight-game losing streak that dated to last season’s 47-45 win over the Grey Wolves.

“It feels good,” Belton coach Rodney Southern said. “I’m excited for these kids. The one thing they’ve done, even through this tough stretch, is they’ve done everything I’ve asked them to do. For a coach, that’s all you can ask. All four quarters, we stayed mentally in the ballgame.”

Shoemaker, which lost 42-41 in overtime to Bryan last week after coming up a yard short on the potential game-winning two-point conversion, fell to 1-4, 0-2.

“We just didn’t make plays when it was time to make plays offensively,” Grey Wolves coach Ken Gray said. “Defensively, we’ve got to stop people. We’ve been playing well enough and we’ve been stopping them, but tonight we didn’t stop them. They did a great job.”

On the final series, Shoemaker moved the ball 33 yards in eight plays and had a first-and-10 at the Tigers’ 14-yard line. Senior linebacker Kyle Voss stuffed Dion Demers for a 1-yard loss. Then, Shoemaker quarterback Jameill Showers couldn’t find Derrick Mays in the back of the end zone and underthrew M.J. Porter on the next play.

On fourth-and-11 from the 15, Showers sprinted to his left and lobbed a pass toward Mays. But Jefferson turned around in time to deny the touchdown with 36 seconds left to preserve the win.

“We haven’t been finishing the last few games,” said Voss, who caught a 41-yard touchdown pass that pulled Belton within 23-22 in the third quarter. “We had to finish and get this win and get some momentum and confidence for the next game. I just can’t explain this feeling right now. It’s overwhelming.”

Added Southern: “We gave up two cheap (touchdowns), but they gutted it out when they had to. We’re in man coverage and have two defensive backs that are locked on their man. Their eyes are where they’re supposed to be and that was the difference in the ballgame.”

The teams combined for 845 yards of offense and 37 first downs.

The Tigers racked up a season-high 456 yards, including 188 on the ground. Ash was 15-of-22 passing for 268 yards and ran for 148 yards, accounting for five touchdowns.

With Belton facing a third-and-8 at the Shoemaker 35, Ash found Robby Hogan for a 35-yard score with 5:34 remaining to give the Tigers their first lead at 34-30.

The Grey Wolves nearly broke the game open early. The Tigers mishandled a snap and Ash, trying to avoid giving up an easy touchdown, tossed the ball out of the end zone for a safety and a 2-0 Shoemaker lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Derrick Mays returned it 70 yards for a score and a 9-0 lead with 5:59 to go in the first quarter.

After Belton’s Kevin Thornton returned the following kickoff to midfield, Ash fumbled on a hit by Kynyquys Bryant and Jordan Burks picked returned it 40 yards before the play was nullified by an offsides penalty.

Five plays later, Ash scored from 29 yards out and the teams traded touchdowns until Hogan’s catch.

Porter finished with four catches for 147 yards, including an 88-yard score with 40 seconds left before halftime and a 9-yard score that gave Shoemaker a 30-22 lead with 6:17 left in the third.

“Oh my god,” Voss said. “We’re back on track, back on track. All we got to do is focus on A&M next week."

The Tigers play at College Station A&M Consolidated next Friday.

cmeister@temple-telegram.com