WACO, Texas- The Rockdale Tigers secured their berth into the State Semifinals with a slugfest victory over the Teague Lions 42-20 Friday night at Waco’s WISD Stadium. The last time Rockdale reached the Semifinals was in 1976, en route to the Tigers first and only football state championship.
Rockdale quarterback Torry Locklin found Tyler Lehmkuhl on a two yard pitch and catch, that put the Tigers up 21-7 over the Teague Lions with 9:20 in the second quarter, this was the largest deficit Teague had faced all postseason.
The Lions attempted a fourth and eight from the 31 yard line, but Jackson Perry blasted Teague quarterback Zack Satterwhite forcing a turnover on downs. The Tigers went for the homerun after forcing the turnover and Locklin connected with Lehmkuhl on a 61 yard bomb, that set up a 1 yard quarterback keeper for Locklin to put Rockdale up 7-0.
Rockdale QB Torry Locklin (James Ellis/TexasHSFootball)
The Tigers defense held strong once more and they sent the house and blocked a Teague punt, but Ryan Rodgers recovered the all for the Lions and ran 16 yards for a fresh set of downs. Teague marched inside the Rockdale five yard line and called on Trevor Cooper from three yards out to tie the game up at 7.
Tyrell Canady was able to pick off Tyler Locklin, but the Lions couldn’t take advantage of the turnover. Rockdale responded quickly, when Jaquayln Crawford ran past a Teague defender and hauled in a 52 yard touchdown pass, putting the Tigers up 14-7.
Tyler Locklin finished the first half 5-9 passing for 151 yards, two touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown. Jaquayln Crawford finished with 75 yards receiving and a score while Tyler Lehmkuhl had 76 yards receiving and a touchdown.
The Lions tried a little trickery coming out of halftime, as the opened up the third quarter with an onside kick, but the Tigers were able to recover. Teague found momentum at the 5:13 mark of the third quarter, when Tayvis Coleman ran for a two yard touchdown. The Teague drive was aided by two personal foul penalties against Rockdale.
“This crew did a really good job,” said Rockdale Head Coach Jeff Miller on the officials, “Uou know they called fouls, so often crews don’t call the fouls so you start getting used to it that you can always get away with that stuff. I’d rather penalties get called instead of letting it go and you know that’s really what we need to improve now, you get to this level you better play by the rules or you’ll get caught with a crew like that out there.”
James Ellis/TexasHSFootball
The Tigers scored the first two touchdowns of the second half and both were rushing touchdowns by Torrey Locklin from one and three yards out. Rockdale continued to onside kick, even with the lead 35-7.
“They weren’t all really that intentional to tell you the truth, we were supposed to kick it a little further,” Miller explained, “Special teams has been a roller coaster all year and it was again tonight, but I feel like we won the battle.”
Teague found new life after gaining momentum from the Rockdale penalties and that momentum allowed Gelico Green to rumble through the Rockdale defense for a 3 yard touchdown, that closed the gap 35-20. The Lions elected to try another onside kick after the score and this time they were successful.
The Lions would crumble behind an array of penalties that ended any hope of a comeback. Teague used there last timeout of the game on fourth and eight with 1:43 left in the third quarter, to call a fake punt that was negated by a holding penalty.
Teague would also have a pick six by Coleman called back because of a block in the back and they had a rushing touchdown called back for illegal formation.
Rockdale (11-3) will face the winner of Yoakum vs Goliad next Friday in Cypress at the Richard E. Berry Center.
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