Mansfield edges Legacy with late TD

By Bob Kowalski

Mansfield Record

Mansfield withstood a second-half surge by Legacy and scored late for a 24-21 victory on Friday at Vernon Newsom Stadium.

Running back Teddy Clark scored on a breath-taking 31-yard run with 59 seconds left in the game to put the final touches on the victory for the Tigers (7-1, 4-1 District 3-6A). It was one of six carries for Clark on the drive, which was bolstered by a 14-yard gain by receiver Jacobe Hayes on an end-around to put the Tigers near midfield.

But even with Mansfield’s score and a dwindling clock, the Broncos (2-6, 2-2 3-6A) weren’t finished yet.

Legacy quarterback Nathan Wilson rushed for 11 yards to put the Broncos at their own 40-yard line, then two plays later passed to Jackson Carr for a 19-yard gain to the Mansfield 41. Wilson’s 18-yard pass to D’Andre Thomas moved Legacy to the 23-yard line with 8 seconds left to play.

On the next snap, Wilson scrambled out of the pocket and out of bounds at the 5-yard line as time expired.

Legacy took its first lead of the game with less than a minute left in the first quarter. An interception by Broncos linebacker Trenton Hamann gave Legacy the ball near midfield. Running back Jaden Manning carried seven times on the 13-play, 6 ½-minute drive. Wilson had a key 10-yard run on the drive, and J-Uan Harrison Jr. tacked on 12- and five-yard runs to set up Manning’s one-yard scoring plunge for a 7-0 lead.

Mansfield got on the board early in the second quarter with a 37-yard field goal from Jonah Hand, and the Tigers took their first lead with just over 5 minutes left in the first half when Cook pushed toward the line then bolted to the outside for a 35-yard scoring run and a 10-7 Mansfield lead.

The Broncos drove to Mansfield’s 26-yard line to open the second half, but turned the ball over on downs. The Tigers leaned heavily on Cook again and he carried on a sweep to the outside for 42 yards, putting Mansfield in Legacy territory. Four plays later, quarterback Braxton Van Cleave passed to Hayes for 29 yards and a score, giving the Tigers a 17-7 edge with 3:43 to play in the third quarter.

Legacy answered on its next drive, aided by two key penalties. A defensive holding call on third-and-six helped keep the drive alive, putting the Broncos at the Mansfield 27-yard line. Later, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on fourth-and-six put Legacy at Mansfield’s 12-yard line. Three plays after that, Manning scored from two yards out to cut the Tigers’ lead to 17-14.

After Legacy forced a Mansfield punt, Wilson led the Broncos 63 yards, capping the drive with an 8-yard run to put Legacy in front again, 21-17, with 4 ½ minutes to play.

That’s when Van Cleave, Cook and Hayes went back to work, combining to carry the Tigers on their game-winning drive.

In other Mansfield ISD action, Lake Ridge (1-6, 0-3 3-6A) fell to Crowley, 27-7, on Thursday night; Summit (4-3, 4-1 3-5A DII) lost to Argyle, 31-6, on Friday; and Timberview (4-4, 3-3 3-5A DII) topped Burleson, 14-10, on Friday.

Next week, Lake Ridge visits Weatherford at 7 p.m. Friday; Legacy meets Crowley at 7 p.m. Friday at Crowley ISD Stadium; Summit faces Colleyville Heritage at 7 p.m. Friday at Mustang-Panther Stadium; and Timberview hosts Grapevine at 7 p.m. Friday at Vernon Newsom Stadium. Mansfield has a bye.

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