Texas High won yet another game adding to their varsity record this season. The Tiger record is now 6-0 in district. The Tigers closed the game with a final score of 42-9.

Starting off slow, the Tigers struggled to make headway until senior running back Braylon Stewart barreled into the endzone with 5:42 remaining in the first quarter. The Tiger defense held strong for the majority of the first keeping a hold on the game. 

With the first quarter coming to a close, the Tigers continued leading the Indians 14-7.

At the start of the second quarter the Tigers again fought to keep their place in the game. A pass interference by the Indians gave the Tigers a second chance at life, Sophomore Wide Receiver TJ Gray tumbled into the endzone, making the game 21-7 with 8:48 left in the second. The Tigers defense kept a strong front as the time on the clock ran down. At the half, Texas led Jacksonville 21-7.

“I felt like we did good,” senior running back Braylon Stewart said. “We made some mistakes but we [are going to] come back next week and fix that up.”

Both sides of the field got off to a quiet start in the beginning of the third, with both defenses getting multiple stops.

Senior quarterback Brayson McHenry was called for intentional grounding while in the end zone, resulting in a safety. This puts 2 points on the board for Jacksonville, making the score 21-9 with 9:20 to go in the third.

No further plays were made on the turnover by McHenry. The third quarter remains dull, until the Indians come up with an interception in the Texas High endzone, with 3:55 remaining in the third.

Jacksonville’s punt is blocked with 2:48 remaining, and the Tigers take over on the 1 yard line. Upon this turnover, Braylon Stewart rushes into the endzone to extend the Tiger lead to 28-9, marking his second TD of the night.

The Tiger defense continued to hold strong, not allowing a Jacksonville touchdown since the 1st quarter.

“Going in everyday of the week, Monday-Thursday, having hour-long practices, watching a lot of film,” senior defensive back Michael Thomas said. “[The defense] came out ready to play, we knew we had to clench a playoff spot with this win so we just did what we had to do.”

Senior Linebacker Javarous Tyson secures an interception, resulting in the fifth touchdown of the game with 1:47 remaining in the third.

At the end of the  third, the Texas High Tigers continue leading the Indians 35-9.

The beginning of the fourth was penalty filled and slow. Brayson McHenry broke the silence when he rushed for a sixth Tiger touchdown into the north endzone, extending Texas High’s lead to 42-9.

“It’s always good to punch a playoff spot with two games to go, one of our goals has been [to be] in the playoffs,” head coach Gerry Stanford said. “And, you know, there’s definitely still some things to fix [so we can] get better.”

The Texas High Tigers successfully defended their undefeated district title running down the clock, beating Jacksonville with a final score of 42-9.

The Tigers will play at Tiger Stadium next week against Nacogdoches