Summit’s playoff run halted in narrow defeat

Summit’s playoff run halted in narrow defeat

By Bob Kowalski

Mansfield Record

Summit held a two-touchdown lead until late in the first half, but was unable to score again in a 17-14 Class 5A Division II playoff loss to Texarkana Texas High on Friday night at Prim Stadium in Sulphur Springs.

Summit (8-4) took an early advantage with its controlling offensive line, scoring on its first possession when quarterback Demarus Bird swept around the left end from three yards out for a 7-0 lead with a little over 5 minutes gone.

Texas High (11-1) started its next drive at midfield and drove to the Summit 20-yard line, but the Jags defense broke up a screen pass on fourth-and-three to get the ball back. Summit was able to gain only 20 yards before punting.

Texas High got only one snap on its next possession when Summit’s Ian Turey made a scintillating interception at the one-yard line, tipping the ball to himself with one hand and catching it on the way down. The Jaguars – again behind a powerful offensive line – drove the length of the field, scoring on Amare Burgess’ eight-yard run less than a minute into the second quarter for a 14-0 lead.

In addition to the scoring run, Burgess had gains of 7, 12, 22, 6 and 3 yards on the drive.

The teams traded possessions until Summit marched deep into Texas High territory late in the half, propelled by back-to-back carries from Braylon Moore for 13 and 12 yards, but a fumble recovery by the Tigers at their own 27-yard line with just under 1 ½ minutes left in the half gave them new life.

A 27-yard pass from David Potter to Shavante Montgomery, followed by a 25-yard run by Javari Johnson (stopped on a touchdown-saving tackle by Summit’s Kyland Reed) put the Tigers at Summit’s 15-yard line. Four plays later, Tradarian Bell rushed two yards to pull Texas High within seven, at 14-7, with only 22 seconds left before halftime.

On Texas High’s first second-half possession, the Jaguars defense forced the Tigers into third-and-long with a tackle for a 10-yard loss and a sack by William Billings, but on third-and-22, Potter again connected with Montgomery, this time for 49 yards down the sideline for a touchdown and a 14-14 tie with 5 minutes gone in the second half.

Summit was unable to mount an offensive threat until Joseph Williams intercepted a Tigers pass at Summit’s 37-yard line.  The Jags drove to Texas High’s 26-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs.

Potter led his team on a 74-yard drive, capped by a 19-yard field goal by Franklin Delk, putting the Tigers up 17-14 with 5 ½ minutes to play in the game. Summit started its next drive on its own 16-yard line and reached midfield, but a bad snap on third down and an incompletion on fourth down gave the ball back to Texas High with 1:30 left.

The Tigers were able to run down the clock before punting, leaving Summit at its own nine-yard line with only 3 seconds left before the game ended on an incomplete pass.

This year marked the fifth consecutive season in the playoffs for the Jaguars, all but one extending past the first round.

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