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By Bob Kowalski
Mansfield Record
The Legacy Broncos were bolstered by big defensive plays on the way to a season-opening 31-17 victory over Byron Nelson at Vernon Newsom Stadium on Friday.
The Broncos opened the scoring in a big way, with linebacker Camren Wilson intercepting a tipped screen pass on Byron Nelson’s opening possession and returning it 43 yards up the sideline for a touchdown barely 3 minutes into the game.
Another interception set up Legacy’s second score. Junior Max Harris stepped in front of a pass at the Legacy 21-yard line and returned it into Byron Nelson territory. After the Broncos’ drive stalled at the 3-yard line, Bryan Gomez kicked a 20-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead 4 minutes into the second quarter.
After a field goal brought the Bobcats to within a score, Legacy put together a quick 2-minute scoring drive, with Munshae Kennedy carrying in from the 1 to give the Broncos a 17-3 lead with 1:09 left in the first half. A 37-yard pass on fourth down from Beau Kilgore to Ky’Irin Heath put Legacy on the doorstep.
The Broncos weren’t done there, though. They forced a 4-and-out by Byron Nelson and Jaime Sanchez blocked a punt, setting up Legacy at the 17-yard line with 24 seconds left in the half. Operating out of an empty backfield, Kilgore again found Heath, this time in the end zone for a 24-3 halftime lead.
Byron Nelson’s first drive of the second half was vastly different than its opening drive. The Bobcats logged a 9-minute, 17-play drive to go 53 yards for a touchdown on a 1-yard run by Michael Giordano. That cut Legacy’s lead to 24-10 with a minute left in the third quarter.
The Broncos started the third quarter at their own 12-yard line. But a scramble by Kilgore, aided by a personal foul call against Byron Nelson, put Legacy at the 39. Later, Kilgore connected with Isaiah Williams on a 40-yard pass that Williams caught over his shoulder to put the Broncos at the 4-yard line. Two plays later, Kennedy punched in from the 1 to pad the lead to 31-10 with 8:20 left in the game.
Another big defensive play – an interception by Legacy’s Curtis Taylor – cut short Byron Nelson’s next drive. But when Legacy was forced to punt, Byron Nelson’s Mike Jones returned the kick to the Legacy 12-yard line. A penalty put the ball at the 6, and the Bobcats got a 2-yard TD run from Giordano to pull to within 2 scores at 31-17 with 3:12 left to play.
Byron Nelson tried an onside kick – three times, because of penalties – but Legacy was able to gain possession and run out the clock.
Legacy meets Northwest Eaton at 7 p.m. Thursday at Vernon Newsom Stadium, 3700 E. Broad St., in Mansfield.
Mansfield, Texas, is a booming city, nestled between Fort Worth and Dallas, but with a personality all its own. The city’s 76,247 citizens enjoy an award-winning school district, vibrant economy, historic downtown, prize-winning park system and community focus spread across 37 square miles. The Mansfield Record is dedicated to reporting city and school news, community happenings, police and fire news, business, food and restaurants, parks and recreation, library, historical archives and special events. The city’s only online newspaper launched in September 2020 and will offer introductory advertising rates for the first three months at three different rates.
The Mansfield Record is the only local newspaper serving Mansfield, Texas. Established in 2020, the Mansfield Record is bringing the focus back where it should be.
