GARLAND, Texas — The Terrell High School Tigers (8-3, 4-3) upset the Hillcrest High School Cougars (9-2, 6-1) Friday night at Garland’s Homer B. Johnson Stadium.
GARLAND, Texas — The Terrell High School Tigers (8-3, 4-3) upset the Hillcrest High School Cougars (9-2, 6-1) Friday night at Garland’s Homer B. Johnson Stadium.
The Tigers, who went 3-7 overall last season, forced six fumbles, five for turnovers, in a 30-22 UIL Class 5A Division II bi-district win over the Cougars — snapping the Cougars’ five-game winning streak.
Despite being faced with a kickoff return for a touchdown in the first seconds of the game by Hillcrest and an interception on their first possession, Terrell fought back scoring on their next drive and forced two consecutive fumbles, one returned for a touchdown, to take a first quarter lead of 14-7 — a lead the Tigers wouldn’t relinquish the remainder of the game.
A new coaching staff, a newly renovated stadium, a changed culture at Terrell ISD, and a city looking to be reborn has seemingly changed the overall attitude in “Terrell, America,” as city leaders call it.
The Tigers would go on to complete 170 total yards and held Hillcrest to 155. In the first quarter, Hillcrest’s Makell Haley scored a 95-yard kickoff return and Terrell’s Damon Moss scored on an 8-yard run followed by Elijah McQueen’s 28-yard fumble return.
No points were had by either team in the second quarter. Terrell’s Dawonya Tucker scored on a 7-yard run early in the third quarter followed by a field goal by Luis Campos, and an 18-yard scamper by Devin Cobern. Hillcrest scored two of their own in the fourth on a Arico Evans 22-yard pass to Diego Cera and an Evans 27-yard quarterback keeper.
Terrell will move to the area-round playoffs against Frisco Heritage (9-2, 6-2) who defeated Wylie East (6-5, 5-2) tonight 77-63. The game location and time has yet to be determined.