Corsicana —
The Tigers lost their starting quarterback, tailback and fullback to injuries during Friday’s home opener against Forney at Tiger Stadium.
Corsicana still found a way to win a game it really needed.
Backup quarterback Zach Rash led the Tigers on a second-half comeback, and the defense shut down Forney as Corsicana rallied for a 27-17 for its first win of the season.
The Tigers had to overcome a first-half injury to starting quarterback Devontay Bell, the heart and soul of their offense; to tailback Bobby Wallace, part of a three-headed tailback committee; and fullback Pedro Escamilla, who also left the game in the first half.
Rash, tailback Donovan Fields, fullback Hunter Easley and a swarming defense led the Tigers back from a 17-12 halftime deficit.
“It says a lot for the resiliency of those kids,” Tigers coach Phil Castles said. “Rash. Hunter Easley. It’s pretty neat. It’s pretty special.”
Rash led a 74-yard drive in the third quarter to start the slow turn around in a game that seemed like it might slip away from the Tigers.
Wallace started out the drive with several tough runs, including an 8-yard run that he was injured on at the Tiger 41. Fields came into the game and did the rest. His 32-yard run gave the Tigers a first-and-goal at the Forney 4. On second-and-goal, Fields surged into the end zone for a 4-yard TD run and also added the two-point conversion for a 20-17 lead with 5:10 left in the third quarter.
Forney’s Jack King, who made a 55-yard field goal at the end of the first half, missed a 32-yard field goal that would have tied the game early in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers defense did its job penetrating at the line of scrimmage, forcing a Forney punt midway through the fourth quarter. Breyon Hill then crashed through for the Tigers and blocked a punt at the Forney 32, setting up the Tiger score that put the game away.
Rash completed a key third-and-13 pass to tight end Tiano McDonald for a first-and-goal at the Forney 2. Fields finished off the drive with a 2-yard run for a 27-17 lead with 5:00 left in the game.
The Tigers defense did the rest. Corsicana allowed 43 yards in the second half.
Corsicana dealt with adversity from the opening kickoff from a muffed kick and then two injuries to Bell in the first half.
King popped up the opening kickoff and Wallace didn’t get to the loose ball in time and the Jackrabbits recovered at the Tiger 23. Forney took advantage of a third-down offside penalty for first-and-goal, and King flipped a pass over the middle to Lane Johnson for a 9-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.
The Tigers responded after the first injury of the game to Bell, who went down with a knee injury after fighting for extra yardage.
Rash came in and guided the Tigers to the goal line, where Bell re-entered the game and crashed into the end zone on fourth-and-goal to cut Forney’s lead to 7-6. The Tigers converted a two-point conversion but a penalty wiped it out, and David Cruz missed on the extra point from 35 yards.
Bell was injured again the next time the Tigers had the ball when he went down on a short run on the Forney sideline. Rash came back in again and drove the Tigers inside the Forney 10 where Rash kept the ball on a zone read and scored a 3-yard run from a 12-7 lead.
“Zach’s a great kid,” Castles said. “What an effort.”
The Tigers tried to fool the Jackrabbits after a defensive stand, but with Wallace in at quarterback, a fumbled snap was recovered by Forney at the Tiger 9 yard line. King kept the ball on a sneak and dove to the goal line for a 14-12 Forney lead.
Forney then got a blast of momentum at halftime when King drilled a 55-yard field goal with the wind at his back with 14 seconds left in the half.
Sports
CHS Football: Team effort
Tigers overcome injuries, beat Forney 27-17
- Sports
-
-
GC Softball: Mildred wins Game 2, but falls in series finale to Garrison
The Mildred Lady Eagles dropped their regional semifinal series to the Garrison Lady BulldogsSaturday in Lindale. After losing a heartbreaker on Friday night, the Eagles fought back to take Game 2, 2-1, but fell in the deciding game, 3-1.
-
GC Baseball: Dawson earns sweep, series, with 4-3 win over Muenster
Four. It’s the number that will be on the dry erase board at Monday’s practice in Dawson, and it represents the number of wins the Bulldogs baseball team needs to get to Austin. The Bulldogs beat Muenster Saturday, 4-3, earning a sweep in the Region II-1A quarterfinals series.
-
UPDATED: GC Baseball: Dawson holds off Muenster to take Game 1, 7-5 (Corrects Game 2 time)
Dawson raced out of the gates, then made an early lead stand up with a 7-5 win over Muenster in a Region II-1A quarterfinal series.
-
GC Softball: Mildred falls to Garrison, 1-0, in Game 1
The Mildred Lady Eagles dropped Game 1 of their best-of-three series with the Garrison Lady Bulldogs, 1-0, in eight innings on Friday night in Lindale.
-
MORGAN: IRS & Mack? Scrutiny abounds for Texas teams
There is a scandal brewing in Austin. No, it has nothing to do with Rick Perry and the rainy day fund or allowing guns on college campuses. It concerns Mack Brown’s boys at the University of Texas. Apparently, Mack has filed as a non-profit organization with the IRS. Unfortunately, he filed as a 501C under the name “The U‘T’ Party,” and the IRS has put them under intense scrutiny.
-
GC Softball: Hubbard stymies Trenton, 3-0, to advance to II-1A finals
When Nakaila Banks led off with a single and scored soon after a sacrifice bunt and two errors, it looked like Hubbard might be looking at a big offensive night. It turned out to be anything but, and it also turned out to be more than enough. Olivia Curtis was splendid on the mound, striking out 13, and the Lady Jags dumped Trenton, 3-0, in the Region II-1A semifinals before a crowd of 250 in Crandall.
-
NC Baseball: Top dogs? Conference has fared well in Grand Junction
The Navarro Bulldogs won’t back down when it comes to believing they’re as good any team that will be at the JUCO World Series. The rankings say so. Navarro is No. 1 on PerfectGame.com, a website devoted to amateur baseball. The Bulldogs are No. 4 in the latest NJCAA National Poll released this week.
-
GC Softball: Finally Soaring: Eagles have history, injuries behind them
When Mildred fell in Game 1 to Salado two weeks ago, it may have been “here we go again” for the Eagles. For the second straight season, they had gone undeafeated in district, and expectations were high.
-
GC Softball: Hubbard stocked with players, wins and unity
Anyone who has ever coached at any level knows when you have twice as many players as spots on the field or court, it can be a nightmare. In Hubbard, it’s working out just fine for the softball team.
-
GC Baseball: Gritty Way - Dawson seniors take pride in lengthy season
For a trio of Dawson seniors, this has been a rewarding spring. A solid baseball season has taken them somewhere they haven’t been since they were freshmen: Three rounds deep in the playoffs.
- More Sports Headlines
-
GC Softball: Mildred wins Game 2, but falls in series finale to Garrison
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident
Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains
Raw: Fierce Bombing in Qusair, Syria
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
Raw: Accused US Spy Reportedly Leaves Russia
AP CEO: Records Seizure 'Unconstitutional'
Fatal Hot Air Balloon Accident in Turkey
Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest
'Babyland': Camp Lejeune's Toxic Legacy?
Raw: Heavy Tornado Damage in Shawnee, Okla
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
