JUSTIN -- Already hindered by seven turnovers and with three starters, including its quarterback, injured on the sideline, Pottsboro still found itself down by only seven points that were 85 yards away.

Considering the events that had transpired in the previous 45 minutes, it was actually amazing that the Cardinals would have a chance at forcing overtime.

But Kevin Garcia stepped behind center and led a drive that reached the Cisco 19-yard line and was full of hope until a fourth-down pass was caught out of bounds with 1:03 left to preserve Cisco's 33-26 victory in a Class 2A Division II state semifinal game at Northwest ISD Stadium Saturday night.

"He did a super job," Pottsboro head coach Matt Poe said of his junior back-up. "They still gave us a chance to win. That's one thing our kids have done and it's been all year long; they're going to fight to the end."

Cisco (14-1) will face Daingerfield, a 43-7 winner over Blanco, in the state hampionship game later this week.

Although it was the best season ever by the program, Pottsboro (13-2) still lamented the opportunity it had in its first state semifinal appearance.

"I'm just proud of my kids," Poe said. "They have nothing to be ashamed about. They got to make history."

After Pottsboro fell behind by two touchdowns midway through the third quarter, Terry Land caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Garcia with 4:56 remaining after starter Blake Towery was knocked out of the game for a second time with a separated left shoulder. Land finished with 125 yards on six catches.

The Cardinal defense forced Cisco to punt and Pottsboro had the ball at its own 15-yard-line with 3:05 left. Garcia marched them down the field but after Adrian Dabrio gained two yards on first down, Garcia lost yardage on two straight plays before the final pass was incomplete.

"They were the better team tonight. That's a great football team," Poe said. "We didn't play our best football."

The Loboes built on a one-point half-time lead with a pair of short touchdown runs by quarterback Josh Bridges, the last of which came with 6:55 left in the third quarter. Bridges finished with 116 yards on 23 carries as Cisco ran the ball on 46 of 52 plays.

"They operate real well," Poe said. "That's the best blocking team I've played against."

Pottsboro had several chances throughout the game but the Loboes forced turnovers at critical times. The Cardinals' first play of the third quarter -- following a Cisco touchdown -- was an interception by Tanner Garcia off a deflection and returned to the Pottsboro 12-yard line to set up the Loboes final score.

A pair of failed extra points kept Pottsboro from being down three scores but Cisco picked off Towery, who was 14-of-31 for 204 yards and five interceptions, in the end zone on consecutive possessions to maintain the 13-point lead.

"We came up with a way to force some," Cisco head coach Brent West said. "If it hadn't been for the forced turnovers, we wouldn't have won this one. I definitely feel fortunate to do that to a team as good as Pottsboro."

Things started just as badly for Pottsboro at the outset. The Cardinals got the ball to start the game and Towery fumbled on the

first play. Cisco took over and scored four plays later when Robert Medina caught a 32-yard touchdown from Bridges on fourth down.

Towery fumbled away the ball on Pottsboro's next possession with the Cardinals facing third down at the Loboes' 15-yard line.

Pottsboro held on defense and Lowell Hennen caught a nine-yard pass with 3:28 left in the first quarter to tie the game at seven.

Both teams started to trade touchdowns and turnovers at that point. Medina scored from eight yards out on Cisco's ensuing possession and Dabrio answered with a three-yard run on the Cardinals' next series.

Tyler Pruitt recovered a Medina fumble near midfield but three plays Cory Pippen intercepted Towery's pass, which was tipped by a receiver, and returned it 54 yards down the right sideline for the touchdown.

Not only did Cisco take a 21-14 lead with 5:43 left in the first half, that's when Towery separated his shoulder trying to run Pippen down at the goal line. He aggravated the injury on the first play of the ensuing series and was replaced by Garcia, who took snaps for three plays and picked up a first down before Towery returned to finish leading the touchdown drive.

"Not a lot of kids would have come back into the game," Poe said. "He gave it his all out there."

The senior connected with Drew Bates on back-to-back passes for a total of 37 yards and then Dabrio ended the drive with another three-yard touchdown run.

But Pippen ended up in the middle of another pivotal play, rushing untouched off the left side to block Cody Parton's extra point attempt and keep the Loboes in front by a point, 21-20, heading into halftime.