In the district opener, the Texas Tigers made their presentation of why they deserve their place as the seventh-ranked team in the state of Texas for Class 5A Division II. Fighting to the end, great defense, and an unstoppable run game proved only the Tiger team could prevail, lighting the orange tower after a 42-24 win.

The Tigers started the game off slow letting Mount pleasant drive down the field and kick a field goal on their opening possession. After an interception by Mount Pleasant, the Tiger defense held their ground and forced a punt. Both teams then score on their following drives, creating a score of 10-7 at the end of the first quarter.

After the Tigers scored two touchdowns unanswered, Mount Pleasant answered back with a 24-yard touchdown pass. The Tigers end the half with a 46-yard touchdown run by Stewart putting the Tigers on top 28-17.

By the end of the first half, Stewart had averaged 10.5 yards per carrying, racking up three touchdowns.

“It’s a good feeling knowing I can come out here and do the things that I do,” Stewart said. “And I know for a fact that I would not be where I am right now if it wasn’t for my [offensive] line.”

Opening the second quarter the Tigers successfully scored two touchdowns, while Mount Pleasant had no response, until a short 24-yard touchdown. Extending their lead even further, Braylon Stewart continued the Tiger’s success with a 46-yard touchdown run, ending the quarter with a 28-17.

The third quarter started with a kill-the-clock drive taking five minutes and 39 seconds, which ended with a 4-yard touchdown by running back Vontrey Anderson. With Mount Pleasant not being able to convert on fourth down, the Tigers ate away at the clock for the rest of the quarter making the score 35-17 leading into the final quarter.

“We came into this district opener knowing that this was going to be one of our toughest games all year,” Stanford said. “We felt a little sloppy off the start but we continued to fight.”

With the Tigers owning a 35-17 lead, they decided to eat away at the clock. In the final minutes of the game, both teams traded scores leaving the final score 42-24 Tigers.

Next Friday, the Tigers will face off against Hallsville at Grim Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

“We plan on working on working towards the consistency of the game and settling down inside a game,” Stanford said. “We’ll take a win any day we can get it, and we’re ready to fight next week.”