WAXAHACHIE – The Waxahachie Indians survived a second-half comeback bid by the Duncanville Panthers at Lumpkins Stadium to win, 35-28.
The game was tied 14-all when Waxahachie quarterback Jerry Meyer III found Jashawn Crayton on a 24-yard strike to put the Indians in front, 21-14. Following a stop, Waxahachie then finally created some space, taking a 28-14 lead on a 14-yard Meyer-to-Jordan Thompson-Woods connection.
With less than two minutes to play in the half, the Panthers made a mistake that would prove to be costly when they attempted a pass near the right sideline. Waxahachie’s Cayden Starr jumped the route and returned it for a touchdown that would eventually prove to be the difference.
Waxahachie led 35-14 at halftime, but Duncanville mostly dominated the second half, pulling to within 35-28 after the Indians went for a short fourth down at its own 42, setting the Panthers up with a short field. Duncanville then got one more chance late after forcing a Waxahachie field goal that was missed wide right, but the Indians’ defense was able to outlast the clock from there.
Meyer was injured on a hard hit early in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. He had a sling on his right arm on the sideline and was replaced by junior Micah Lewis, who didn’t throw a pass.
With Meyer out, Waxahachie relied heavily on the running of Taylen Strange, who rushed for 25 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown.
The win gives the Indians (7-1, 4-1) sole possession of second place in District 11-6A, one game behind nationally ranked North Crowley. North Crowley has already beaten both Duncanville and Waxahachie.
On Friday, Oct. 30, Waxahachie travels to Crowley to play the Eagles, while Duncanville takes on Mansfield Lake Ridge at home.
Duncanville 7 7 7 7 28
Waxahachie 14 21 0 0 35
WX – Vyncent Cooper 39 pass from Jerry Meyer III (Kohen Manis kick).
DV – Trenton Yancey 24 pass from Maximus Denson (Emiliano Sandoval kick).
WX – Taylen Strange 3 run (Kohen Manis kick).
DV – Jairus Ingram 80 pass from Maximus Denson (Emiliano Sandoval kick).
WX – Jashawn Crayton 25 pass from Jerry Meyer III (Kohen Manis kick).
WX – Jordan Thompson-Woods 14 pass from Jerry Meyer III (Kohen Manis kick).
WX – Cayden Starr interception return (Kohen Manis kick).
DV – Jairus Ingram 19 pass from Maximus Denson (Emiliano Sandoval kick).
DV – Trenton Yancey 24 pass from Maximus Denson (Emiliano Sandoval kick).
First Downs DV: 13 WX:14
Rushing Yards DV: 23-4 WX:34-111
Passing Yards DV: 259 WX:262
Passing DV: 15-24-1 WX:13-16-0
Punts-Avg DV: 2-35 WX:2-38.5
Penalties DV: 9-55 WX:14-108
Fumbles-Lost DV: 2-0 WX:0-0
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: DV – Maximus Denson 9-18, Brayden Arnold 2-8, Santana Roberson 1-1, Trenton Yancey 2-11, Joe Mckinney II 9-18. WX – Jordan Smith 1-1, Jerry Meyer III 5-22, Taylen Strange 25-84, Micah Lewis 3-4.
Passing: DV – Maximus Denson 15-24-1-259. WX – Jerry Meyer III 13-16-0-262
Receiving: DV – Jairus Ingram 4-122, Trenton Yancey 7-93, Jakius McCluskey 1-9, Robert Singleton 1-9, Isaiah Beal 2-26. WX – Jordan Smith 2-18, Taylen Strange 1-15, Jordan Thompson-Woods 6-134, Jashawn Crayton 3-56, Vyncent Cooper 1-39.