Taylor Truitt’s extra-point attempt to break a tie with 26 seconds to play bounded off the shoulder pad of Adrian Byrd and still looped over the goal post to give Central Texas Christian School a crucial 64-62 victory Friday night over Marble Falls Faith at Frazee Field.
CTCS moves to 5-4 on the year and 2-0 in TAPPS District 3 to set up a district championship showdown next Friday against Austin Hill Country. Faith falls to 5-4, 0-2.
Caleb Paschal and Jeremiah Bergert combined for six touchdowns and 382 rushing yards to lift the Lions to the thrilling victory.
Down 62-56 with 1:19 to play, the Lions drove 60 yards in seven plays for the game-tying touchdown. Paschal had runs of 15 and 26 yards on the drive to set the plate for Bergert, who bounced off tacklers and into the end zone from the 1. Truitt got his kick through for the two-point margin.
The Flames were unable to convert its desperation attempts in the final seconds.
As six-man games go, the first three quarters were relatively mild-mannered in terms of scoring. The two teams jockeyed with the lead in the first half. William Diamond scored three touchdowns for the Flames in the half to go with Byrd’s 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Paschal scored on runs of 10 and 14 yards, respectively, for the Lions. Bergert rambled in from the 12 and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Brent Reynolds and the Lions trailed 28-26 at halftime.
The two teams were tied, 34-34, going into the final quarter. Bergert went in from the 1 and the Flames’ Chase Penner answered by hauling in a 24-yard pass from Ryan Roberts.
Both teams combined for 62 points in a wild fourth quarter.
CTCS took the lead with 4:04 remaining by driving 54 yards in seven plays. Paschal went around left end for 17 yards to the 3 to set up Brian Browder’s sprint to the pylon from there.
The Flames took their last lead when Byrd went in from the 7 to cap a 60-yard march in seven plays with 1:27 left to put Faith up 62-56.
Paschal led all rushers with 195 yards on 20 carries followed closely by Bergert with 187 on 19. Diamond paced the Flames with 161 yards before leaving the game with an injury.
CTCS piled 553 yards of total offense compared to 492 for the Flames.
twaits@temple-telegram.com
