By Todd Wills

JACKSONVILLE — Phil Castles called last week’s season-opening loss to West Mesquite disappointing.

Friday’s 28-17 loss to Jacksonville on a humid night at the Tomato Bowl?

“It’s almost unbelievable,” Castles said.

The Tigers, who led 17-14 at halftime, dominated the line of scrimmage, especially in the third quarter. They held the ball for almost the entire quarter. And they still held the same lead going into the fourth.

And Jacksonville took advantage of it.

After the Tigers had a touchdown run by Dominic Kelly called back on a holding call, the Indians mounted an 80-yard drive to retake the lead.

Jacksonville quarterback Ryan Black hooked up on a 16-yard touchdown pass to Tradarreon Moreland with 9:42 left in the fourth quarter to retake the lead at 21-17.

The Tigers bounced back, driving to the Jacksonville 20 and just missed on a screen pass that would have given them first-and-goal. Instead Cameron Cutrer had back-to-back incompletions after Cody Evans was stuffed on second down.

Jacksonville took over with 6:12 left and drove 80 yards in nine plays with Kendrick Hatton scoring on a 1-yard run for a 28-17 lead with 2:56 left.

The Tigers overcame adversity early. They rallied from down 7-0 and 14-7 in the first half after muffed punts helped give Jacksonville the lead.

“We just had a couple of bad mistakes,” said Evans, who finishes with 188 yards rushing.

The Tigers’ running game kept them in the game in the first half.

Evans had 49 yards on a long drove that ended when Dominic Kelly scored on an 11-yard screen pass from Cameron Cutrer to tie the game at 7-7 with 3:27 left in the first quarter.

Then the Tigers tied it again at 14-14 on an 8-yard run by Johnathan Anderson with 5:24 left in the second quarter.

Corsicana took momentum into halftime when Grant Gibson made a 37-yard field goal at the gun for a 17-14 halftime lead. It was the Tigers first made field goal going back to 2007.

“It’s was huge for Grant,” Castles said. “He was pumped up.”

The Tigers, which stuffed Jacksonville on first and second down, finished the game with six sacks. The linebackers, led by Martin Davis, were all over the place.

The Tiger offensive line crushed the Indians as Corsicana rushed for 242 yards on 40 carries.

At no time was it more evident than in the third quarter.

The Tigers mounted a long drive that started at their own 15-yard line to begin the second half, with Evans again spurring the drive before cramps forced him out of the game with Corsicana facing second-and-two at the Indians 27. Kelly fumbled on the next play.

The Tigers got a quick stop and again moved the ball when Kelly appeared to score on a 33-yard touchdown run for a nine-point lead. But the play was called back on what appeared to be a phantom holding penalty. Castles didn’t comment on the play after the game.

“Dominic made a lot of great plays today,” Evans said.

Jacksonville stopped the Tigers and started its drive to take over the game.

Afterward, the Tigers were shellshocked, but still positive.

“When you win up front, you’re supposed to win the game,” Castles said. “Offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, they did a tremendous job. Cody did a great job.

Javonti Hines, who made a memorable first down late in the game on pure individual determination, said he’s not worried.

“We just have to work harder in the fourth quarter,” Hines said.

Added Evans: “It’s not that bad. It’s not like it is having an impact on us making the playoffs.



4th Quarter Fizzle

Sports Editor Todd Wills gives three reasons why the Tigers were outscored 14-0 in the fourth quarter:

1. It started in the third. The Tigers had the ball for almost 11 minutes in the third quarter and failed to score. They had a fumble and a touchdown called back on a holding penalty.

2. Busted coverage. The Tigers got pressure on Indians quarterback Ryan Black, but he was able to heave a prayer for a 16-yard TD pass for a 21-17 lead.

3. No third-down stop. The Tigers had a chance to get the ball back late, but Black was able to scramble for a first down with 4:00 left.



————



Jacksonville 28, Corsicana 17

Corsicana 7 10 0 0 -- 17

Jacksonville 7 7 0 14 – 28



First Quarter

J – Chris Hall 52 pass from Ryan Black (Jeff Landrum kick), 8:21

C – Dominic Kelly 11 pass from Cameron Cutrer (Grant Gibson kick), 3:27

Second Quarter

J – Kendrick Hatton 1 run (Landrum kick), 9:46

C – Johnathan Anderson 8 run (Gibson kick0, 5:24

C – Gibson 37 field goal, :00

Fourth Quarter

J – Traderreon Moreland 16 pass from Black (Landrum kick), 9:42

J – Hatton 1 run (Landrum kick)



C J

First downs 21 9

Rush-Yards 40-242 26-71

Passing Yards 112 152

C-A-I 11-27-1 9-15-0

Fumbles-lost 4-3 4-0

Punts-avg. 1-29 3-33

Penalties-yards 8-74 5-40



Individual

Rushing – C: Cody Evans 26-188, Dominic Kelly 4-23, Johnathan Anderson 4-21, Javonti Hines 2-10, Cameron Cutrer 4-0. J: Kendrick Hatton 14-48, Michael Hatton 3-28, Cory Hamlett 1-3, Ryan Black 7- (-1), Jeff Landrum 1- (-7).

Passing – C: Cutrer 11-27-1-112. J: Ryan Black 9-15-0-152.

Receiving – C: Kelly 3-50, J. Hines 3-29, Chris Edling 1-13, Christian Hines 2-12, Ostin Anderson 2-8. J: Chris Hall 1-52, Justin Davis 2-42, Lavante Franklin 1-37, Traderreon Moreland 1-16, M. Hatton 1-6, Brandon Orr 2-3, K. Hatton 1- (-4).



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