The Tascosa Rebels took care of business in the second half Friday night, ending the warm-up portion of their district schedule.
Tascosa was tied with Lubbock Monterey at halftime of their District 2-5A Division I game at Lubbock’s Lowrey Field in a crucial district game for both teams. The Rebels turned things on in the second half though, scoring the first 21 points of the half to roll to a 35-21 victory and stay unbeaten in district play.
Halfway through district play Tascosa (5-2, 3-0 in district) is in solid position to clinch a playoff spot with three games remaining. The Rebels are a half-game behind district leader Abilene High, whom they’ll host next Friday night at Dick Bivins Stadium in a game which could go a long way toward determining a district championship.
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“I feel real good about it,” said Tascosa coach Ken Plunk of the win. “It’s hard to go on the road and win because I think Monterey’s probably a playoff team. We did play well the second half. I do think we have to figure out a way to start with more energy on the road.”
With win, Monterey (4-4, 2-2) would have been alone in second place in the district. Instead, the Plainsmen are in fourth place.
Monterey got on the board first after a scoreless first quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run by Deuce Moore for a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. Tascosa tied the game on a 53-yard run by quarterback Coltyn Fulton only 23 seconds later, and at halftime the game was tied 14-14.
The Rebels took the lead for good early in the second quarter on a 15-yard scoring run by Reese Cabe. Traeson Elliott and Tendrick Sargent scored on short runs to make it 35-14 in the fourth quarter and clinch the win.
Tascosa got it done on the ground with 389 yards. Fulton, a three-year starter at quarterback, led the way with 224 yards rushing on only 15 carries.
“He has a lot of experience and traditionally when we’ve had that guy whjo can operate at a high level at that position I feel we can play with anybody,” said Plunk of Fulton.
Monterey’s Jonah Reed threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns, including one to Quarren Boyd, who had six catches for 128 yards.
On the flip side, though, Tascosa held the Plainsmen to only 30 yards rushing.
Abilene High (6-2, 4-0) maintained a half-game lead in the district by routing Lubbock High 73-0. The winner of next week’s game with Tascosa will have sole possession of the district lead with two games remaining.
“Obviously they’re playing good football,” Plunk said of Abilene High. “We need to execute on offense and not put the football on the ground.”