DESOTO — The Tigers made their return to the playoffs Friday night after a three-year absence, and really it was like this Corsicana postseason drought never happened.

There was senior Cody Evans taking handoff after handoff for 267 yards on 44 carries, just like it was Ketric Sanford in 1994. There was the Tigers' special teams making big plays. There was the Tigers defense forcing one of the area’s best offensive players, West Mesquite’s Trevonne Boykin, into critical mistakes. There was coach Phil Castles making crucial decision at defining moments in the game.

Evans led the way to a 32-21 victory over West Mesquite in a Class 4A Division II Region II Bi-district playoff game at DeSoto's Eagle Stadium, but there were heroes all over the place for the Tigers.

“That was big,” Castles said. “We just had a good game. I can’t say enough about our special teams and defense. Our offensive line and backs.”

Corsicana will play Marshall at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Tyler Rose Stadium in an area-round playoff game.

On a night of big plays for the Tigers, it was Evans gashing the Wranglers for what seemed like eight or nine yards every time he touched the ball that won the game.

With the game tied at 7-7 with 6:49 left in the first half, Evans rushed the ball 10 times on a 14-play drive, including eight straight times. Cameron Cutrer finished off the six-minute, 17-second drive with an old reliable for these Tigers, a 1-yard quarterback sneak for a 14-7 lead.

The Tigers then stunned the Wranglers before halftime, as kicker Grant Gibson kicked a perfect pooch kick straight down the middle of the field. Sophomore Johnathan Anderson sprinted down the field and got the ball off a bounce to give the Tigers the ball at the West Mesquite 25 with 29 seconds left in the first half.

“They were all bunched up,” Castles said. “So we called that from the sideline. They let it hit the ground and we got down there before they could get to it. Jonathan jumped up there and took it.”

The Tigers got the ball down to the Wranglers 5 and took two shots in the end zone before Gibson made a 22-yard field goal for a 17-7 halftime lead.

West Mesquite came out of the locker room determined to score, driving down to the Corsicana 13. But Javonti Hines intercepted a pass by Boykin and returned it 40 yards. It helped the Tigers flip the field position, even though they went three-and-out.

Punter Steven Mrasek had a perfect punt killed at the West Mesquite 8, and the Tigers came out and got a three-and-out, forcing the Wranglers to punt out of their own end zone.

The Tigers took over around midfield and made a big play in the passing game as Cutrer completed a 50-yard touchdown pass for a 24-7 lead with 6:50 left in the third quarter. Hines ran a post and Cutrer lofted the ball perfectly into a steady breeze.

The Tigers defense forced another punt, getting a key sack by Christian White.

“We wanted to get pressure on him,” White said of getting to Boykin.

Corsicana went on a 11-play drive that was mostly Evans again. Evans scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with 10:11 left in the game. A two-point run by Anderson made it 32-7.

West Mesquite did score two late touchdowns on a 1-yard run by Ladarius Drew and 55-yard touchdown catch by Gary Owens Jr. But Evans made two huge plays, foiling two perfect onside kicks by Wranglers kicker Justin Stout.

“That joker wanted to win this game more than anything”" Castles said.

The Tigers appeared like they would fall behind early in the game. After going three-and-out on their opening drive, a poor punt gave West Mesquite the ball at the Corsicana 36.

After a 32-yard run by Boykin, he took off again up the middle of the field and appeared to be going into the end zone when Cameron Washington popped the football loose and White pounced on the loose ball.

“We forced a couple of big fumbles,” Castles said. “We got some key stops and won the turnover battle.”



Moving on

Sports Editor Todd Wills gives three reasons why the Tigers made a big splash in their return to the playoffs with a 32-21 victory over West Mesquite:

1. Cody Evans. Evans had a Tigers’ playoff-record 267 yards and 44 carries. He also recovered two onside kicks.

2. Scoring to end the first half. The Tigers scored 10 points in the final minute of the first half to take a 17-7 halftime lead.

3. Rattling Trevonne Boykin. The Tigers forced Boykin to throw two crucial interceptions as Javonti Hines had a pick and so did Ostin Anderson.



Corsicana 32,

West Mesquite 21



Corsicana 0 17 7 8 — 32

West Mesquite 0 7 0 14 — 21



Second quarter

C: Cody Evans 13 run (Grant Gibson kick), 10:00

WM: Trevonne Boykin 1 run (Justin Stout kick), 6:49

C: Cameron Cutrer 1 run (Gibson kick), :32

C: Gibson 22 fg, :00

Third quarter

C: Javonti Hines 50 pass from Cutrer (Gibson kick), 4:17

Fourth quarter

C: Evans 5 run, 10:06

WM: Ladarius Drew 1 run (Stout kick), 8:09

WM: Gary Owens Jr. 35 pass from Boykin (Stout kick), 3:46



C WM

First downs 23 16

Rushes-Yards 58-279 23-163

Passing Yards 86 167

C-A-I 6-14-1 11-18-2

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1

Punts-avg. 3-31.7 2-43.5

Penalties 1-5 8-40

INDIVIDUALS

RUSHING — C: Cody Evans 44-267, Johnathan Anderson 10-9, Dominic Kelly 2-3, Cameron Cutrer 2-0. WM: Trevone Boykin 16-155, Ladarius Drew 7-8.

PASSING — C: Cutrer 6-14-1-86. WM: Boykin 11-18-2-167.

RECEIVING — C: Javonti Hines 3-53, Christian Hines 3-33. WM: Gary Owens Jr. 6-87, Drew 2-38, Greg Thurmond 2-27, Ngwu 1-15..

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CORSICANA (6-5, 4-3 in 16-4A)

West Mesquite...................... .....L 40-29

at Jacksonville................... .........L 28-17

at Whitehouse...........................W 37-30

Waco University*.........................L 42-27

at Waco Midway*......................W 40-31

Midlothian*.................................W 33-28

at Ennis*.............................L 28-21 (OT)

Waco*.........................................W 32-22

at Waxahachie*...........................L 21-14

Cleburne*...................................W 29-13

*Denotes 16-4A game

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Bi-district

West Mesquite..........................W32=21