2-0 Tigers Shock Lindale With 34-14 Win

LINDALE—For the second week in a row, an impressive team performance was turned in by the Wills Point Tigers as they raced to a 25-point halftime lead and never looked back as they dominated the Lindale Eagles 34-14 at Lindale Friday night.

Coach Kevin Garvin’s Tiger squad, now 2-0 after finishing last season at 1-9, will hope to keep their season record spotless as they take on the Farmersville Farmers in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday in Farmersville.

Against Lindale, the Tigers showed a balanced offensive attack as they finished with 422 yards of total offense including 260 rushing and 162 passing.

Tiger running back Brandon Morris led the Tigers with 176 yards rushing on 17 carries and three touchdowns.

Morris also caught two passes for 43 yards and one TD.

Quarterback Trent Jurica completed nine out of 16 passes for 162 yards and one TD.

Tiger wide receiver Steven Cunigan caught five passes for 93 yards.

Defensively, Wills Point forced four Lindale turnovers (two fumbles and two pass interceptions.)

Wills Point set the tone for game early as the Tigers moved 56 yards in two plays to get on the scoreboard first.

Morris raced 39 yards for a TD to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead with 9:35 to play in the first quarter. The extra point attempt by Evann Padilla was wide left. Prior to the TD, Jurica connected with WR Marquis Burch on a 17-yard pass reception.

After a 65-yard return of the ensuing kickoff by John Ryzman gave Lindale excellent field position at the Tiger 21, the next offensive series for the Eagles resulted in a turnover as Lindale reserve QB Matt Broussard fumbled with Wills Point defensive lineman J. K. Wilson recovering the ball at the Lindale 32.

Following a Tiger punt, the Eagles moved as deep as the Lindale 44 following a 15-yard pass completion from starting QB Clay Price to RB Keandre Ross.

Three plays later, the Tiger defense forced another turnover as Price’s pass was intercepted by LB Joseph Gray at the Eagle 47.

Three plays later, the Tigers took full advantage of the turnover as Morris outran the Lindale defense for a 29-yard TD run giving the Tigers a 12-0 advantage with 4:54 to play in the first quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed as Jurica’s pass to Cunigan was incomplete.

After an exchange of punts, the Tigers increased their lead as they moved 91 yards in eight plays.

Jurica ended the drive by connecting with Morris on a 34-yard TD pass play. Padilla kicked the extra point to give the Tigers a 19-0 lead with 9:08 to play in the second quarter. Key plays in the Wills Point scoring drive included a 14-yard run by Morris and pass completions from Jurica to Cunigan covering 29 and 13 yards.

Lindale moved as deep as the Eagle 49 on a 15-yard pass completion from Price to WR Broussard but the turnover bug bit the Eagles again on the next play.

A fumble by Kyle Owens of the Eagles after a 10-yard run was recovered by Wilson of the Tigers at the Wills Point 41.

Seven plays later, the Tigers extended their lead as Morris ran 33 yards for a TD to give the Tigers a stunning 25-0 lead with 4:38 remaining in the second quarter. The two-point conversion pass from Jurica to Cunigan was incomplete. Morris opened the 59-yard scoring drive with a 12-yard run.

Following another Lindale punt, Wills Point appeared to be on its way to another possible score as a 23-yard pass completion from Jurica to Cunigan gave the Tigers a first down at the Eagle 37.

On the next play, the scoring threat ended as a fumble by Jurica was recovered by Lindale at the Eagle 38 as the first half of play later came to a close.

Wills Point received the second half kickoff and was forced to punt in its first series of the third quarter.

The first offensive possession of the second half for Lindale resulted in a turnover as Price’s pass on second down and nine was intercepted by Tiger LB Zac Schaubroeck at the Eagle 32.

The contest then turned into an exchange of punts before the Tigers gained possession at their own 44.

Six plays later, including a 26-yard scramble by Jurica, the Tigers had a fourth down and eight at the Lindale 19.

The Tigers decided to go for the field goal and the 36-yard kick by Padilla was good to extend the Wills Point lead to 28-0 with 5:43 remaining in the third quarter.

The ensuing kickoff was muffed by the Eagles and Wills Point’s Will Girdley recovered the ball at the Lindale 39.

After a 19-yard pass completion from Jurica to Cunigan gave the Tigers a first down at the Eagle 20, the drive ended on the next play as Morris ran 20 yards for a TD giving Wills Point a 34-0 lead with 5:09 to play in the third quarter. The extra point attempt by Padilla failed.

Lindale moved from its own 29 to the Tiger 41 in five plays including running gains of 14 and 11 yards by reserve QB Ryzman.

Wills Point’s defense again stiffened as the Eagles faced fourth down and five at the Tiger 41 but Price was tackled for a five yard loss.

After a Tiger punt, the Eagles got on the scoreboard as they moved 84 yards in six plays.

Ryzman ended the drive with a 68-yard TD run. James Crews added the extra point to cut the Wills Point lead to 34-7 with 9:44 to play in the fourth quarter.

Following another Wills Point punt, the Eagles put together an 80-yard march in six plays to score again.

Ryzman connected with WR Zach McCoy on a 29-yard TD pass play to end the drive. Crews added the extra point to cut the Tiger lead to 34-14 with 2:39 remaining. A 21 yard run by D. J. Foster of the Eagles was a key play in the final scoring drive of the contest.

Wills Point drove from its own 48 to the Eagle 16 in three plays including a 21 yard run by reserve QB Clay Deen to run out the clock.