Mooreland Bearcats came up short of a win last Friday evening losing to the Texhoma Red Devils 13-6. Both teams had their share of fumbles, interceptions and penalties throughout the game.

The Red Devils scored first on the third down of the first quarter after Tryan Grice (3) stripped the ball from a Bearcat carrier and ran 52 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was good and the score read 7-0 Red Devils with 11:07 left in the first.

The Bearcats got the ball and kept it on the ground. The Bearcats navigated slowly and steadily down the field advancing three to four yards at a time. After getting past mid-field, the Red Devils were able to hold back the offensive on third down and forced Mooreland to punt with over 7 minutes left.

The Red Devils moved the ball down the field until Bearcat player Lance Bolar from Freedom (76) sacked the QB, Trent Mitchell, and forced a fourth down punt with over 5 minutes left in the first.

Mooreland took the ball and marched to the Red Devil 18 yard line. The first quarter will ended, and three plays into the second quarter, Mooreland quarterback Carter Sampson (7) faked a handoff to Keeton Bowers (44) and tossed the ball to Landyn Crawford (80), who ran the ball 15 yards and scored 6. Mooreland missed the two-point conversion and trailed by one 7-6.

Texhoma took the kick and started on their 37. Two plays later the Red Devils were penalized for holding. Having to go 10-plus yards for a first down, the Red Devils QB Mitchell (12) passed the ball downfield, and Mooreland player John Sturgill (53) intercepted, running down to the Devil's 6 yard line.

The Bearcats had the ball on the six, and Bowers (44) got the call, carrying the ball to the two. The Bearcats went for it on fourth down, and Crawford (80) tried an end-around on the right side but Red Devil player Kylar Quintana (6) made the stop, and the Red Devil's defense prevailed.

The Red Devils took over, starting on the Mooreland 5. The ball never got past the 7, and Texhoma was forced to punt from the Mooreland end zone.

Mooreland took over at mid-field. Crawford (80) took a handoff and ran the ball to the Mooreland 13. On the next play Bearcat player Conner Scarborough (27) fumbled, and the Red Devils recovered on their 8 yard line. The Red Devils' QB handed the ball to Grice (3) who raced past defenders for 91 yards and scored 6. The extra point was no good, and the score was 6-13 with 2:28 left.

Mooreland received the kick and took over on their 43. A few plays later and a timely penalty against Texhoma put the Bearcats on their 10 yard line with less than a minute in the half. Scarborough (27) was given the ball and made it to the 5. Texhoma was flagged for facemask which moves the ball to the 2.5 yard line. The Bearcats called their last time-out for the half with 33 seconds on the clock. The ball was handed off to Scarborough (27) who gained one yard. Though they tried to hurry, the half ended with the Red Devils leading 13-6.

The third and fourth quarters were defensive battles with no scoring, and the final tally remained 13-6.

After seven games, Mooreland is 5-2. In conference play the Bearcats are 1-2

The Bearcats will travel to Fairview to play the Yellow Jackets who are 2-5 overall and 2-1 in district play. The district game is on Thursday, October 17, and begins at 7 p.m.

Ashley Strehl

Lance Bolar (76) struggles arm and arm with a Texhoma Red Devil as he works hard on defense.

(To see more photos of the game, go to our photo gallery. Click the Photos tab at the top of the page.)