The Palestine football team had come back again, this time in overtime, and were an extra point away from heading to a second extra period with eighth-ranked La Vega Friday at Wildcat Stadium.
Palestine’s Ben Luckett had just rumbled in from seven yards out, cutting the Pirates lead from 24-17 to 24-23, and the Wildcats seemed poised to extend the game once again.
Then, Palestine decided to go for the win, and couldn’t covert. The Wildcats’ upset bid fell a point short, 24-23.
Palestine lined up for the two-point conversion, and then sent quarterback Brian Gummelt out in motion to the right.
Former quarterback turned linebacker Caleb Cargill took the snap, but his pass was behind his intended receiver, falling helplessly to the turf.
Wildcat players fell to the field dejected, while La Vega celebrated its escape from Palestine with a victory.
The night was one of missed opportunities for Palestine, mostly opportunities to put them game away early.
With just over a quarter to play, it appeared as if Palestine had La Vega on its heels.
The Wildcats had just made a huge defensive stop, and behind a solid rushing attack were driving down the field with a 17-10 lead.
Then, as time in the third quarter was expiring, Darrius Stephens put the ball on the turf. La Vega recovered and drove down the field for the game-tying touchdown.
It was that kind of night for Palestine.
Later on in the fourth, a fantastic Palestine drive, capped by a pass from quarterback Gee Clark to Darrius Stephens for 44 yards, had the Wildcats inside the La Vega 10-yard-line.
Then, a personal foul penalty was called on the ’Cats pushing them back. They could never make up the distance, and Lucas Valencia’s field goal attempt two plays later was blocked.
Much as it did all night, however, Palestine’s defense held and got the Wildcats the ball back.
Again Palestine marched into La Vega territory, and again Valencia was poised to kick the go-ahead field goal. This time, there was less than a minute to play.
That attempt also was blocked, allowing La Vega to run out the clock and set up the fateful overtime period.
In the extra frame, the Pirates needed only one play to get on the board.
Randy Gober took a handoff from quarterback Marcus Evans and scampered all 25 yards to the endzone, putting La Vega up 24-17. It was the Pirates’ first lead since Palestine took the lead in the third quarter, 14-10.
Darrius Stephens ran for a team-high 120 yards for Palestine on only 10 carries, while Luckett finished with 76 yards and two touchdowns. Jarrell Owens had 56 yards of his own on the ground.
Gummelt and Clark combined to throw for 99 yards on 9-of-22 passing, with Gummelt finding Tony Butler for a first quarter touchdown.
Gober had 158 yards for La Vega on 19 carries, twice finding the end zone.
La Vega quarterback Marcus Evans was 9-of-22 for 81 yards in the victory for the Pirates (1-0).
Palestine (0-1) won’t see its schedule get any easier next week, when the Wildcats travel to Jacksonville to take on the Indians (1-0), who upset Carthage Friday.
Local Sports
H.S. Football: Last second game-winner falls short for Palestine
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H.S. Softball Playoffs: Grapeland, Joaquin split games Friday
It was a tale of two games during Friday's Regional Semifinal between the Grapeland Sandiettes and Joaquin Lady Rams. The Sandiettes and Lady Rams combined for 22 runs in the Sandiettes 12-10 win in Game 1.
Game 2 was a much different as the teams wouldn't combine for 20 hits, or even 10 runs as the Lady Rams picked up a 4-2 win.
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H.S. Football: Palestine's Owens leads strong class of area recruits
Palestine junior Jarrell Owens hasn’t ever played a significant down in a game for the Wildcats at linebacker in his football career.
Yet, the position is obviously where his future lies.
Owens is one of a handful of area juniors drawing significant college interest, and the Palestine running back/linebacker already holds an official offer from Texas Tech University. -
H.S. Baseball Playoffs: Harleton shuts down Cayuga in regional quarterfinal
In an as-expected pitcher’s duel, it took only one off inning to cost Cayuga and ace Chantz Holland.
Holland gave up four hits and hit a batter in the top of the third inning, and Harleton turned that into four runs — the only runs of the game — as Harleton topped Cayuga, 4-0, here at the Lindale ISD Baseball and Softball Complex in regional quarterfinal action. -
H.S. Baseball: Patchwork lineup still working for Cayuga
The Cayuga baseball team that will take the field tonight against Harleton in the regional quarterfinals doesn’t look a lot like the Cayuga team that rolled through district play earlier this season.
Injuries have hampered the look of the Wildcat lineup, but Cayuga still finds itself into the playoffs’ third round for yet another season. -
H.S. Softball: Grapeland going strong into regional semifinals
It’s been relatively easy-going so far in the state softball playoffs for the Grapeland softball team.
The Sandiettes have lost only once so far in the playoffs, and that came thanks a forfeit in the area round against Avery, when Grapeland decided not to play rather than play without missing members at the state golf tournament. -
Local Roundup: Cayuga's Hughes named 19-A MVP
After a stellar regular season that saw them capture a district title, then a solid playoff run that ended with a regional quarterfinal loss to Grapeland, the Cayuga softball team showed well on the District 19-A all-district teams.
Cayuga star freshman pitcher Kimberly Hughes capped her stellar year by earning the district’s Most Valuable Player award. Joining Hughes in earning superlative honors was her battery-mate Maci Poland, who was named the league’s Defensive MVP. -
H.S. Golf State Tournament: Grapeland looks to cap impressive season with title
It’s the course on which legendary PGA player Ben Crenshaw — winner of two Master’s Green Jackets — learned the game as a young man.
It’s where legendary Austin-based golf coach Harvey Penick molded players like Crenshaw and Tom Kite into stalwarts on the professional tours.
A year ago, Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin was the place where, despite improving by 20 strokes as a team on Day 2, the Grapeland girls’ golf team fell short of state title, instead finishing second — for the second-straight season. -
H.S. Baseball: Palestine, Elkhart open playoffs Thursday
After a seven-year absence from postseason play that ended last year, the Palestine baseball team opens up its second-straight playoff campaign Tuesday.
The Wildcats, who captured District 19-3A’s second seed with a defeat of Fairfield Friday, will open the postseason again Diboll in a best-of-three series. -
H.S. Softball Playoffs: Bruner's 2 HRs lead Grapeland past Cross Roads
Grapeland senior Shelby Bruner hadn’t hit a home run all season for the Sandiettes.
She picked a good time to find a power-boost.
Bruner hit not one but two home runs, Baylee Lumbreraz struck out 15 and the Grapeland softball team rolled to a 14-1 victory over Cross Roads to open the playoffs Monday at Palestine High School. -
H.S. Tennis: Neches' Wade ready for more state glory
The spring semester is a busy one for plenty of high school athletes in the area.
The spring has a higher concentration of sports going on, plus there are state tests, prom and other extra-curricular activities in the works.
That has been the case for Neches junior Kelsee Wade, who this semester alone has played basketball, softball and tennis, and thrown the discus, as well as taken tests and worked with her animals for the Anderson County Youth Livestock Show.
Oh, and she’s also the No. 1-ranked student in the Neches’ Class of 2014. - More Local Sports Headlines
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H.S. Softball Playoffs: Grapeland, Joaquin split games Friday
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