Indians Fall To Foxes, 48-20

GRAND SALINE — Caddo Mills running back Nathan Jeffrey rolled up 368 yards rushing and four touchdowns to lead the Foxes to a 48-20 victory over Grand Saline in a District 13-2A battle Friday night.

Aside from that, the other notable total was number of turnovers between the two teams — nine. Grand Saline’s defense force three fumbles from Jeffrey and five overall, while Caddo Mills picked off three pass attempts by the Indians.

Both teams took fumbles on the bounce into the end zone for touchdowns in the second half. Caddo Mills’ Ryan Tumey collected one on a botched punt by the Indians and went 53 yards for a TD in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Saulo Galvan returned the favor for Grand Saline, going 8 yards into the end zone off a fumble by Caddo Mills backup running back Austin Davidson.

Hoping to impress its homecoming crowd with a second consecutive win, the Indians instead got off on the wrong foot early. A fumble on a pitchback pushed Grand Saline back to its 9-yard line and forced a punt.

After a false start penalty, Jeffrey scored on a 55-yard run and Keegan Block added the extra point to make it 7-0 inside the first two minutes of the contest.

The Foxes’ Ryan Locke snagged an interception to set up his team’s second scoring drive, capped on the third play on a 9-yard run by Jeffrey. Block was again good on the PAT.

In the second quarter, Tre Couvillion ran an intercepted pass back to the Indian 17. Three plays later, Hunter Greene scored on a reverse from 6 yards out and Block added the extra point for a 21-0 lead.

Couvillion’s pick came right after the Foxes had coughed up the ball on a running play. The loose football was recovered for Grand Saline by Emilio Solis.

Collin Curtis covered another fumble to end a Caddo Mills threat inside the Indian 20 late in the second quarter.

Grand Saline did not have many bright spots on offense for the night, but Michael Martin provided a highlight clip on the Indians first play in the third quarter.

With good blocking in the center of the line, Martin broke free for a 55-yard touchdown, putting Grand Saline on the scoreboard and back in the game at 21-6 after a missed extra-point attempt.

Grand Saline’s defense really came alive in the third quarter, Martin and Ryan Larpenteur coming up with fumble recoveries. Adam Amaya, Greg Evans, Blake Strickland and Hunter Hobbs also gave standout efforts.

However, the Indians were unable to convert those Caddo Mills turnovers into points, and the break of the game came on Tumey’s stunning fumble return to restore a three-TD lead.

Jeffrey eluded Indian defenders for a 46-yard touchdown late in the third quarter and Caddo Mills took a 35-6 lead into the fourth.

Martin had done an excellent job punting for most of the night, averaging more than 40 yards. However, after one of his punts left the Foxes on their own 10 to start their first series in the fourth quarter, Jeffrey turned on the afterburners for a 90-yard touchdown run.

Block’s extra point made it 42-6 with 11 minutes remaining.

Galvan’s heads-up play for a touchdown game at the 7:04 mark. That was followed by a two-point conversion pass from Thomas Miller to Austin Bolin.

Davidson made up for his fumble with a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:52 to go. Miller and Grand Saline closed out the scoring on the next possession as he connected with Martin on a 52-yard pass play TD.

Evans set up that final scoring drive with a nice 26-yard kickoff return.

Martin finished the night with 95 yards rushing on 17 carries.

Grand Saline will go to Quitman this Friday to face the Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m.