Tale Of Two Halves Has Happy Ending For Tigers

KAUFMAN—In a contest that saw several changes in momentum throughout the evening, the Wills Point Tigers rallied with 18 fourth quarter points to outlast the Kaufman Lions 39-28 in the final non-district game for both squads Friday night in Kaufman.

Coach Kevin Garvin’s Tigers are now 4-1 for the season and will begin District 14-3A competition Friday at 7:30 p.m. when they host the Canton Eagles in a huge matchup involving two Van Zandt County rivals.

Canton, also 4-1 overall, enjoyed an open date Friday night.

Against Kaufman, the Tigers had to overcome five turnovers (three fumbles and two interceptions) as they trailed three different times before coming back from a 28-21 deficit early in the fourth quarter to score the final 18 points of the contest.

"It was the tale of two halves," said head coach Kevin Garvin. "Our defense played well in the secondhalf. We made adjustments, and knew what was coming. Our kids just kept battling hard. We got back to assignment football and answered the calls from Kaufman."

The Tigers and the Lions opened the game with a combined four touchdowns, two by each team, in the first quarter.

Wills Point received the opening kickoff and moved 75 yards in 10 plays to take the early lead.

Tiger fullback Cyle Henderson ended the initial march with a 3-yard TD run. Evann Padilla added the extra point to give Wills Point a 7-0 lead with 7:40 to play in the first quarter.

Key plays in the Tiger scoring drive included pass completions from quarterback Trent Jurica (16 completions, 26 attempts, 169 yards) to wide receiver Steven Cunigan (six receptions, 45 yards) for 11 yards and WR Marquis Burch (four receptions, 33 yards) for 17 yards in addition to a 14-yard run by tailback Brandon Morris.

Kaufman responded with a 55-yard march in three plays.

Lion running back Kailion Hughey ended the drive with a 38-yard TD run. Austin McDaniel added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:13 remaining in the first quarter.

Wills Point gave the ball right back to the Lions on the ensuing kickoff as a fumble by Tyler Byrd of the Tigers was recovered by Trevor Kurbo of the Lions at the Tiger 24.

Three plays later, TB Joe Posigian ended the short drive with a 12-yard TD run. McDaniel added the extra point to give Kaufman a 14-7 lead with 4:17 remaining in the first quarter.

The Tigers responded by moving 66 yards in eight plays to deadlock the contest once again.

Jurica ended the march with a 1-yard TD run. Padilla added the extra point to tie the game at 14-14 with 1:13 to play in the first quarter.

Key plays in the Wills Point scoring drive included pass completions from Jurica covering 28 yards to WR Brett Bradshaw (three receptions, 45 yards) and 15 yards to Cunigan.

Following a Kaufman punt deep in the Lions’ end of the field, the Tigers got excellent field position to begin their next series at the Lion 37.

"Our special teams play was huge," Garvin said. "Our returns and coverage were better, we blocked a field goal and an extra point, as well as kicking a field goal. We did a good job of pinning them back."

Two plays after the punt, the turnover bug struck the Tigers again as a pass completion from Jurica to Burch was fumbled by Burch after a six-yard gain.

The Lions recovered the fumble at the Kaufman 28.

The two teams then exchanged punts before the Tigers took over possession at their own 31.

Two plays later, a pass play from Jurica to Burch resulted in an interception by Lion CB Hughey at the Tiger 43.

Wills Point’s defense stiffened and later forced a Lion punt giving the Tigers possession at their own 15 with 1:42 to play before halftime.

A 16-yard run by Morris on second down and three gave the Tigers a first down at the Wills Point 34 as the Tigers were attempting to run out the first half clock.

Three plays later, the handoff from Jurica to Morris was mishandled and fumbled resulting in a recovery by Kaufman at the Tiger 28 with 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Four plays later, the Lions lined up for a 33 yard field goal with two seconds to play before intermission but the kick by McDaniel was blocked by the Tigers keeping the score tied at 14-14 at halftime.

Following a Kaufman punt early in the third quarter, the Tigers again had good field position at the Wills Point 44.

Three plays later, Jurica’s pass was intercepted by Kaufman CB Justin Larsen at the Lion 38.

The Lions then moved 62 yards in eight plays to break the tie as QB McDaniel connected with split end Chad Walker on a 32-yard TD pass play giving Kaufman a 20-14 lead with 5:27 remaining in the third quarter. The extra point attempt was blocked by Wills Point’s J. K. Wilson.

Wills Point opened its next offensive series with a 20-yard pass completion from Jurica to WR Junior Hamilton giving the Tigers a first down at the Kaufman 43 but the drive stalled forcing a punt by the Tigers.

The Tiger defense forced a turnover on the next offensive possession by Kaufman as a fumble by RB Posigian was recovered by Wills Point defensive lineman Wilson at the Lion 15.

On the next play, Jurica (12 carries, 58 yards) took full advantage of the turnover as he ran 15 yards for a TD. Padilla added the extra point to give the Tigers a 21-20 lead with 2:46 to play in the third quarter.

Kaufman came right back as they moved 68 yards in nine plays to re-gain the advantage.

McDaniel ended the drive with a 2-yard TD run and then passed to SE Blake Hardin for the two-point conversion to give the Lions a 28-21 lead with 11:06 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Key plays in the Kaufman scoring drive included running gains of 16 yards by McDaniel, 22 yards by TB Tra Anderson and 11 yards by Posigian.

Wills Point wasted little time in putting together what would ultimately be the winning TD drive as they moved 60 yards in six plays.

Morris (14 carries, 71 yards) ended the march with an 11-yard TD run.

The Tigers then decided to go for the two-point conversion instead of attempting to tie the contest with the extra point and it was successful as Jurica passed to Hamilton to give Wills Point a 29-28 lead with 9:04 to play.

Key plays in the Tiger scoring drive included a 35-yard run by Jurica and a 13-yard pass completion from Jurica to Cunigan.

Wills Point’s defense forced a Kaufman punt on the next series which was returned by Bradshaw for 46 yards giving the Tigers possession at the Lion 14.

Four plays later, including an 11-yard pass completion from Jurica to Cunigan, the Tigers faced fourth down and five at the Kaufman 9-yard line.

The Tigers decided to go for the field goal and Padilla responded by drilling a 26-yard kick to extend Wills Point’s lead to 32-28 with 4:37 remaining.

Kaufman moved from its own 24 to the Lion 43 in five plays including a 12-yard pass completion from McDaniel to Posigian.

Facing fourth down and four at the Lion 43, the Tiger defense stopped Kaufman as McDaniel’s pass completion to Walker gained only one yard giving Wills Point possession with 2:38 to play.

Six plays later, Henderson ended the 44-yard drive by putting the game out of reach with a 17-yard TD run. Padilla added the extra point giving Wills Point a 39-28 lead with 1:16 remaining.

A 13-yard pass completion from Jurica to Hamilton was a key play in the final scoring drive for the Tigers.

Kaufman’s final offensive series ended on fourth down and 14 at the Lion 44 when McDaniel’s pass to tight end Corey Cox was incomplete allowing Wills Point to run out the clock.