The Tigers improved their record to 7-1, 3-0 in District 7-3A. Gatesville is now 5-3, 2-1 in district.
In a seesaw battle with plenty of big plays for both teams, perhaps the biggest came with 7:59 left.
The Hornets had just marched 74 yards in 10 plays to score on quarterback Shane Clark’s 5-yard run. The drive had seen Gatesville overcome a third-and-10 at its own 26 with a 13-yard completion from Clark to Ross Wallace. There also had been a 20-yard screen pass to Kevin Clarke, a 13-yard run by Clarke and a 15-yard personal foul penalty against the Tigers that gave Gatesville a first down at the Glen Rose 11. Gatesville had just moved to within six points of the Tigers and seemed to have the momentum.
That all changed in one play.
On the conversion following Clark’s touchdown run, Gatesville lined up in kick formation. But Immanuel Morales broke free up the middle and stormed in to block Jake Truss’ kick. Morales then scooped up the loose football and returned it all the way for two points.
The result: Glen Rose had an eight-point lead and the momentum.
On the ensuing possession, the Lions methodically drove 78 yards in 15 plays to increase their lead to 44-29 and, more importantly, ran 6:21 off the game clock. This left Gatesville only 1:38 to overcome a 15-point deficit.
Trailing by a point at halftime, the Lions grabbed their first lead of the game with 9 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Thompson snuck across the goal line from the 1 to cap a 61-yard, 10-play drive. Glen Rose attempted a two-point conversion, but Thompson’s pass fell incomplete, leaving the Lions with a 28-23 advantage.
Key plays on the scoring drive included a 34-yard pass from Thompson to Jorge Espino, and a 14-yard completion to Ty Taylor on third-and-13 at the Gatesville 18.
On the Hornets’ next possession, they moved from their own 23 to the Glen Rose 35 in eight plays before giving the ball over on downs.
The Lions struck quickly. On first down, Thompson lateraled to Colt Plaster near the left sideline; Plaster then heaved a 40-yard completion to Kevin Brooks. Next a pass interference penalty against Gatesville moved the ball to the Hornet 4. Evatt scored on the next play, and Tanner Tongate’s PAT kick gave Glen Rose a 35-29 lead with 22 seconds left in the third.
The Lions had the opening possession, but it ended with a harried Thompson throwing an incomplete pass from deep in his own end zone. He was flagged for illegal grounding on the play, which resulted in a safety.
Later in the first quarter, a 24-yard return by C.L. Riddle gave Gatesville possession at the Glen Rose 26. Three carries by Clarke covered the distance, and a PAT kick by Truss gave the Hornets a 9-0 lead.
Clarke finished the game with 138 yards on 25 carries, and he scored three touchdowns.
His second came on a 44-yard run on the Hornet’s next possession, giving Gatesville a 16-0 advantage with 11:29 remaining in the half.
Glen Rose then tied the score in a span of 19 seconds. First Thompson connected with Taylor on a 9-yard touchdown pass to cap a 67-yard, 12-play drive. Then Thompson scored on a 12-yard run one play after Ryan Rathke recovered a Gatesville fumble. The Lions converted two-point conversions after both touchdowns, making the score 16-16 with 8:24 left until halftime.
On the ensuing kickoff, Riddle broke free for an 82-yard return all the way to the Glen Rose 10. After two runs netted negative 1 yard, Clarke scored on an 11-yard screen pass with 4:43 remaining in the half.
The Lions scored again with 2:07 remaining in the half, converting another recovered fumble into a 1-yard Thompson touchdown run.
rray@temple-telegram.com
