The Texas High Tigers managed to have some success late in the game tonight, but it just wasn’t enough to knock off the Mt. Pleasant Tigers.

Texas High got behind early by as much as 21 points. Their luck seemed to get worse when junior quarterback Clete Norton came off the field holding the wrist on his throwing arm. On the next drive, Norton’s back-up, fellow junior Dakota Hunter, came onto the field. Hunter’s calming personality and ability to improvise gave Texas a fighting chance.

“You just got to do what you got to do,” Hunter said. “I feel like we should have won. We needed to play better early.”

Hunter did not do it alone. Sophomore running back Javon Thomas made some excellent plays in the running game, including a 35-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

“It’s about time,” Thomas said. “The past couple of games they haven’t called on me.”

On the receiving end, sophomore Jarion Anderson, who had been shaken up early in the game, had touchdown receptions of 33 and 30 yards.

“It’s just the glory of God,” Anderson said. “I just went out there and made big plays. But we could have pushed a little harder.”

On defense, senior linebacker Devaughn Wills led a fierce Texas pass rush. He had three sacks, two of which came in the fourth quarter.

“We have to play harder,” Wills said. “When they make first downs, we have to keep fighting.”

Despite Texas High’s late success, they couldn’t get themselves out of the hole. Mt. Pleasant’s All-American receiver, junior KD Cannon, caught three long touchdown passes and burnt the Texas secondary.

Even though Texas High lost, they did discover a new talent in their passing game in Hunter. If Texas utilizes his ability, he could be a big threat in future games. The Tigers just have to simply put the past behind them and continue with the season.

“We need to cut down on mistakes,” senior offensive guard Tristen Smith. “We have to try harder.”