Nacogdoches Wins Shootout over Corsicana
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Senior Analyst, TheOldCoach.com
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CORSICANA - The Nacogdoches Dragons (6-1, 2-0) continued their Cinderella run in 2013 with a hard fought and exciting 48-41 win over the Corsicana Tigers (1-5, 0-2) in a 16-4A contest at Tiger Stadium. Junior quarterback Bryce Matthews who is filling for injured NHS starter Hunter McClellan had a monster night accounting for seven total touchdowns, three through the air and four on the ground to lead the Nacogdoches attack which accounted for 446 total yards. Not to be outdone, Corsicana quarterback Devontay Bell led the Tigers attack with 356 yards of offense and two scores.
The Dragons jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead as after going three and out on their first drive, NHS recovered a fumble on the Corsicana punt return to set up the first score making it 7-0. Two straight three and outs by Corsicana set up two more scores and at the end of the first quarter Nacogdoches had the game in control at 21-0.
Corsicana would rally in the second quarter on the legs of Bell and running back Donovan Fields (106 yards rushing and four touchdowns) as the Tigers scored 21 straight points to tie the game at 21. Right before halftime Nacogdoches would take the lead back as Matthews would score with just eight seconds left in the half on a one yard run to put Nacogdoches up 27-21 at the half.
The Dragons would get a stop to open the second half on Corsicana and appeared to be ready to break the game open as Matthews broke loose for a 53 yard scoring jaunt to make it 34-21. Corsicana would start a back and forth battle scoring on a 12 yard run by Fields cutting the Nacogdoches lead to 34-27. Matthews would score on a ten yard run on the ensuing drive to extend the lead to 41-27, but Corsicana would rattle off consecutive scores as Bell and Fields would score to tie the game at 41 all with 8:24 remaining.
This would set the stage for a huge drive from Nacogdoches as facing a 3rd and 18 in their own territory, there was no way NHS would want to give the ball back to Corsicana who had all the momentum. Matthews would bail out his offense hooking up with Tae Thomas for a 25 yard gain on the third and long setting up Nacogdoches in CHS territory. A few plays later the combo of Matthews and Thomas would get back together for a ten yard scoring pass to put Nacogdoches up for good 48-41 with little more than five minutes left. Corsicana would have two more chances to tie the game back up but the NHS defense held firm and kept the Corsicana offense from getting the equalizing score.