by Don Julian
The Wildcats’ football team suffered its’ first loss of the football season, 42-28 to Corsicana at Gerald Prim Stadium Friday night. The Wildcats had a hard time containing Tigers’ quarterback Blake Hoffman and the Corsicana senior scored on two long runs in the fourth quarter to help put the game away.
The Wildcats actually scored first in the game taking the opening kickoff and driving 76 yards for a score. Quarterback D’Corian Young threw a 4 yard TD pass to receiver Landry Tyson. With a good extra point kick the Wildcats led 7-0 with 8:05 left in the first quarter. Corsicana answered with a 77 yard touchdown drive of the own. Tigers running back Dajioun Nathan scored from nine yards out. The score was 7-7 with 4:08 left in the first quarter.
After a Wildcat punt, Corsicana was on the move again driving 50 yards to take the lead. Nathan scored from 6 yards out aided by Corsicana blockers who pushed a big bunch of players into the end zone. Corsicana led 14-7 with 10:59 left in the second quarter. It didn’t take long for the Wildcats to tie the score. On the ensuing kickoff, a Wildcat up man DQ Pitts fielded the kick at the 34 yard line and raced through the Tigers all the way to the end zone for a 66 yard kickoff return TD. The game was tied at 14-14 with 10:46 left in the second quarter. Later the Wildcats had an opportunity to get into the lead before halftime but a 22 yard field goal attempt was blocked. Later Wildcats’ safety Landry Tyson intercepted his third pass of the season and the game was tied 14-14 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Wildcats missed out on two more opportunities to take the lead. Austin Dodd had a long punt return for a touchdown wiped out by a penalty. Later a field goal attempt ended up short of the uprights. Just before the end of the third quarter, Corsicana took the lead. A Tigers’ 80 yard drive ended with a one yard touchdown run by Nathan. The Tigers led 28-21 with just 1:15 left in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats tied the score again. The Wildcats went 61 yards scoring on a clutch 32 yard flanker around play by Dodd. It was now 28-28. Corsicana quickly responded as Hoffman took over. The Tigers drove 57 yards on two Hoffman runs, the second which went for 29 yards and a score. The Tigers went up 28-21 with 6:13 left in the fourth quarter. Then disaster struck for the Wildcats. They muffed a short kickoff and the Tigers recovered at the Wildcats 27 yard line. As the Tigers neared the Wildcats’ end zone and with the Wildcats defense trying to stop them, the Wildcats got a most unfavorable call from an official. Hoffman was stopped cold on a running play and several Wildcats drove him back and tackled him. The official flagged the Wildcats for a personal foul and gave the Tigers penalty yardage and a first down near the goal line. Nathan scored on a short run. The Tigers were now up 35-21 with just 2:51 left in the game. Still the Wildcats refused to give up. The Wildcats scored using a 64 yard drive. The score was set up by a long completion from Young to receiver Chase Haney that went to the five yard line. Facing fourth down and goal from the ten yard line, Young threw a perfect strike to receiver Bryce McQueen for a touchdown. The Wildcats trailed 35-28 with just 1:22 left. Corsicana recovered an onside kick attempt by the Wildcats. Hoffman removed all hope of a further Wildcat comeback as he ran 54 yards for a touchdown. The Tigers led 42-28 with just 1:02 left. That’s the way it ended.
The Tigers remain in first place with 6-0 district record. They are 7-1 for the season. The Wildcats slip to 4-1 in district play. They are tied for second place in district with Kaufman. The Wildcats season record is now 5-1. The Wildcats continue district play next Friday night as they play at Greenville. The Lions are tied for seventh place in the district standings with a 1-4 record after their Friday night loss at Royse City.
District 8-5A Standings
Corsicana 6-0
Kaufman 4-1
Sulphur Springs 4-1
Ennis 3-3
Forney 2-3
Royse City 2-3
Greenville 1-4
North Forney 1-4
Terrell 1-5
