Staff Writer
The John Tyler Lions ran out of lives with their ninth loss.
Despite a valiant effort, John Tyler fell just short of a playoff berth, getting a potential go-ahead field goal blocked with 1:35 left, then giving up the game-winning touchdown seconds later to fall to North Mesquite 35-28 in the regular season finale Friday night at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
North Mesquite’s Lanear Sampson scored on a 45-yard reception from Blair Johnson with 65 seconds remaining to help the Stallions secure the final postseason berth.
With Longview (9-1, 5-0) defeating Mesquite Horn (3-7, 1-4) Friday, the final playoff spot remained within reach for JT, which held the points advantage over Horn and would have had the head-to-head edge had the Lions beat the Stallions.
North Mesquite (4-6, 2-3 in 12-5A) moves on to the Class 5A Division II bi-district playoffs to face District 11-5A runner-up Dallas Carter.
JT ends its season at 1-9 and 0-5 in district. The loss marked JT’s eighth consecutive following a Week 1 victory over Carter, tying the school record for futility. The 1-9 record also matches the worst season in school history.
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Sampson finished with five receptions for 150 yards and three TDs while teammate Daymond Patterson hauled in five catches for 83 yards and another score.
After Darien McKinney blocked Carlos Manzano’s 33-yard field goal attempt, North Mesquite needed just two plays to capitalize, with Johnson hooking up with Sampson for a 24-yard gain, followed by the game-winning strike.
On the ensuing kickoff, North Mesquite stunned JT with an onsides kick, which North Mesquite defensive back Torrence Hunter recovered, much to the dismay of the Lions – two of whom unsnapped their helmets and slammed them to the ground in frustration.
After scoring once each in the second half, Hampton and Black traded impressive 29-yard TD runs to help JT tie the game at 28 after three quarters.
Following his second TD on a 29-yard pitch to the outside on the right side, Hampton tacked on a conversion run to tie the score at 21.
North Mesquite went right back in front on Sampson’s 55-yard TD reception before Black bulled his way through traffic for the equalizer. The sophomore back pulled in a pass from fellow 10th –grader, quarterback Jeremy Johnson, who subbed in over the final 2 ˝ quarters for an injured Billy Thompkins, then juked his way past one defender, spinned back inside and broke at least two more tackles en route to a 29-yard TD.
A shootout suddenly turned defensive, as JT stopped North Mesquite on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter.
JT missed a golden opportunity though early in the fourth, however, after reaching the North Mesquite 15, only to see Hampton get stopped short on fourth-and-1.
The Lions’ last drive also reached the 15, leading to the field goal try.
JT graduates 21 seniors and returns 23 juniors and five sophomores off its final roster.
North Mesquite 35, John Tyler 28
At Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium
North Mesquite 7 7 14 7 — 35
John Tyler 6 7 15 0 — 28
First Quarter
JT—Romonte’ Hampton 10 run (kick failed), 6:56 NM—Daymond Patterson 4 pass from Blair Johnson (Trey McLaughlin kick), 2:59 Second Quarter NM—Johnson 1 run (McLaughlin kick), 9:58 JT—Ky’Ordrick Black 25 run (Carlos Manzano kick), 1:41 Third Quarter NM—Patterson 2 pass from Johnson (McLaughlin kick),
7:48
JT—Hampton 29 run (Hampton run), 3:39
NM—Lanear Sampson 55 pass from Johnson (McLaughlin kick), 3:12 JT—Black 29 pass from Jeremy Johnson (Manzano kick),
0:26
Fourth Quarter
NM—Sampson 45 pass from Johnson (McLaughlin kick),
1:05
EST.ATT.—5500.
NM JT
First Downs 15 20
Rushes-Yards 22-37 51-253
Passing Yards 253 77
Com.-Att.-Int. 11-23-0 5-7-0
Punts-Avg. 5-36.6 2-37.5
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-1
Penalties-Yards 6-50 12-93
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—North Mesquite, Chris Spratt 1-19, Blair Johnson 15-14, Marquis Green 6-4. John Tyler, Romonte’
Hampton 36-179, Ky’Ordrick Black 9-62, Billy Thompkins 2-8, Jeremy Johnson 4-4.
PASSING—North Mesquite, Johnson 11-23-0—253. John Tyler, Johnson 4-6-0—59, Thompkins 1-1-0—18 RECEIVING—North Mesquite, Lanear Sampson 5-150, Daymond Patterson 5-83, Michael Wheeler 1-20. John Tyler, Black 2-46, Devan Dewberry 2-24, Derrick Choice 1-7.
