Mansfield seals quick win over Summit

By Bob Kowalski

Mansfield Record

Mansfield moved quickly to take control in their annual rivalry game against Summit, cruising to a 57-7 victory Friday at Vernon Newsom Stadium.

The Tigers (2-0) opened the game by forcing a 3-and-out for Summit, then scored on their first play from scrimmage when James Johnson took a simple handoff up the middle and raced 62 yards for a touchdown, making it 7-0 with only 4:50 gone in the game.

The Tigers had a chance to pad the lead on their second possession, driving to Summit’s 6-yard line, but the Jaguars (0-2) forced a fumble.

Mansfield scored on its first possession of the second quarter when Jacob Hayes rushed 14 yards to give the Tigers a 14-0 lead.

On Summit’s third play after the touchdown, Mansfield’s A.J. McCullough intercepted a pass and returned it to the Summit 13-yard line. Sergio Kennedy passed to Hayes for the score, and Mansfield converted a 2-point attempt to make it 22-0.

The Jaguars got on the board midway through the second quarter with a 9-yard run by John Williams to pull within 22-7. That score was set up by instinctive plays from quarterback Joseph Williams on the previous two snaps.

First, Joseph Williams froze the defense, then passed to Jeremiah Barriner underneath for an 8-yard gain for a first down at the 22. On the next play, the quarterback kept the ball and rushed 13 yards to set up the TD run.

Mansfield’s Kaleb James recovered a fumble on Summit’s next possession, and the Tigers converted 5 plays later when Kennedy bolted up the middle on a 7-yard scoring run to give Mansfield a 36-7 halftime lead.

The Tigers started the second half with another quick electrifying touchdown play. Johnson took a pitch and raced up the sideline 65 yards for a touchdown, putting Mansfield up 43-7.

A short punt on the next possession gave Mansfield a start on Summit’s 38-yard line, just close enough for another quick strike. Kennedy’s pass to Hayes covered the distance, making the score 50-7 and bringing on Mansfield’s second-teamers.

Quarterback Walker Moulton wrapped up the scoring for the Tigers with an exhilarating 28-yard run, sidestepping defenders at the line and displaying vision to find open space on the way to the end zone. He rushed for 45 yards in limited duty to close the game.

Summit, which reached the Class 5A state semifinals in each of the past two seasons, won last year’s meeting with Mansfield, but the Tigers earned the win in 2020.

Among Mansfield ISD’s other teams, on Thursday, Timberview (2-0) defeated Arlington Sam Houston, 69-14. Legacy (1-1) beat Crowley, 34-22, at R.L. Anderson Stadium on Friday night, and Lake Ridge (1-1) fell to Boswell, 41-20, on Friday.

Next week, Legacy meets Dallas Wilson at Vernon Newsom Stadium on Thursday. On Friday, Mansfield plays host to South Grand Prairie at Vernon Newsom Stadium, Summit is at Crowley, Lake Ridge travels to Rockwall Heath, and Timberview faces W.T. White at R.L. Anderson Stadium.

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