Tascosa’s Major Everhart (16) scores the eventual game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter during the Rebels 28-27 come-from-behind win against rival Amarillo High on Friday at Dick Bivins Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
The 64th meeting in the Amarillo High-Tascosa rivalry will be a matchup that’s not soon forgotten.
For any fan who’d be clamoring for this District 2-5A Division I matchup, they sure got what they paid for Friday night at Dick Bivins Stadium.
The always electric crosstown showdown saw a true tale of two halves with Tascosa battling back from a 27-point deficit for an epic 28-27 victory.
The Sandies came out firing on all cylinders in the first two quarters. Quarterback Brock Wade hit sophomore Jameson Garcia on a 27-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead. Wade found Cayden Phillips for a 5-yard score and it was all AHS 20-0 at half. Even to open the third quarter, Sandies returner Davin Lemmons took the opening kick and blazed 96-yards giving AHS a commanding 27-0 advantage.
Tascosa didn’t flinch. The Rebels defense started creating turnovers and junior Major Everhart left his mark among greats in this rivalry.
After the kickoff return Tascosa answered on 20-yard touchdown run from Everhart, cutting the lead 27-7. Everhart was just getting started as Rebels head coach Ken Plunk put the explosive junior under center the majority of the second half.
Early in the fourth, and the lead now 27-14, and Tascosa oozing with momentum off a Brock Wade interception the comeback started to get real when Everhart punched in his second touchdown of the half on a 5-yard, making it 27-21 AHS with 9:32 to play.
AHS mistakes continued once again with another fumble, giving Tascosa the ball. Guess who would make them pay. Shortly after the turnover Everhart from under center ran a counter option keeper, found plenty of running room and turned on the jets for a 47-yard score and the Tascosa lead at 28-27 with 6:31 left.
The Sandies had one last chance. AHS drove the ball down to the Tascosa 15-yard line and looked to be setting up for a game-winning goal before another miscue reared its ugly head. Wade was stripped while going back to pass, the fumble was recovered by Everhart. From there Tascosa was able to run out the clock for to make the comeback complete.
Everhart was by far the MVP of this contest rushing for a season-high 237 yards on 21 carries. Tascosa stays perfect in district at 2-0, and 5-1 overall. AHS falls to 4-2, 2-1.
— Compiled by Kooper Holman
Tascosa 28, Amarillo High 27
Tascosa 14 14 — 28
Amarillo High 7 13 7 — 27
First Quarter
AHS – Jameson Garcia 27 pass from Brock Wade (Luke Laminack kick), 6:47
Second Quarter
AHS – Levi Slaydon 2 run (kick blocked), 5:03
AHS – Cayden Phillips 5 pass from Wade (Laminack kick), 1:43
Third Quarter
AHS – Davin Lemmons 96 kickoff return (Laminack kick), 11:46
T – Major Everhart 20 run (David Aguayo kick), 10:25
T – Darius Sanders 35 pass from BT Daniel (Aguayo kick), 8:10
Fourth Quarter
T – Everhart 5 run (Aguayo kick), 9:32
T – Everhart 47 run (Aguayo kick), 6:31
Tascosa AHS
First Downs 19 14
Rushing 368 112
Passing 40 156
Total yards 408 274
C-A-I 2-7-0 11-19-1
Punt-Avg. 5-46.5 5-31.6
Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-2
Penalties-Yards 7-78 5-44
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Tascosa: Everhart 21-237, Joshua Splawn 3-13, Jayden Whiteside 4-15, Daniel 13-14, Ryan Barnett 7-10, Logan Nance 1-4, Sanders 4-63, L’Travion Brown 1-0, Tayden Barnes 1-3, Christian Sargent 1-9. Amarillo High: Taevon Hood 9-81, Slaydon 15-75, Wade 3-(-44).
PASSING – Tascosa: Barnett 1-4-0-5, Daniel 1-3-0-35. Amarillo High: Wade 11-19-1-156.
RECEIVING – Tascosa: Michael Ayalew 1-5, Sanders 1-35. Amarillo High: Hood 1-(-6), Bryson Slaughter 1-12, Garcia 2-66, Phillips 5-64, Cohen Berry 1-9. Tyreese Molden 1-11..