Friday, April 19, 2024
84-YARDER: Tariq Bitson opened the action with an 84-yard reception to the Cowboys' 1-yard line.
100-YARDS: The field is only 100 yards long but Dray Roberson had to cover 102 yards to score on this kick return.
ROUGH NIGHT: Steve Duncan had 234 passing yards and was 13-of-21 passing without an interception.
STEPHENVILLE—Tarleton State exploded for 23 first-quarter points, and the Texans ran their way to a comfortable 40-21 win nonconference football win against New Mexico Highlands at Memorial Stadium Saturday.
Four plays in the Texans (2-2, 0-1 WAC) had 155 yards of offense, a 14-0 lead, and Tarleton's defense ran herd on Highlands (1-3, 1-2 RMAC) as freshman Greg Eggleston Jr. picked off a pair of Cowboy quarterback Ramone Atkins' passes.
It was a big play night for the Texans.
On Tarleton's first play from scrimmage, Tariq Bitson put them a step away from the end zone after catching Steven Duncan's pass at the 40-yard line and juking his way past two defenders for an 84-yard gain.
Daniel Wright punched the ball into the end zone from a yard out and then highlighted the next series with a 63-yard run, a 7-yard score on the next carry, and a 14-0 Texan lead.
The Texans' ground game paced Tarleton's offensive attack with Wright gaining 142 yards on 15 attempts and Ryheem Skinner running for 127 yards on 16 totes.
The first of Eggleston's interceptions set up Adrian Gusman's field goal of 27 yards. Devon Hafford's fumble recovery (two total) gave the Texans' a chance for a sustained drive of 69 yards on six plays, with Duncan sneaking the ball in from the one.
New Mexico Highlands' Quavon Beckford caught a 21-yard touchdown to open the second quarter, but the Cowboys' hopes of a quick comeback were doused by a 100-yard kickoff return by Dray Roberson.
Duncan had 234 passing yards and was 13-of-21 passing without an interception, but also without a touchdown. It was a tough night for both quarterbacks as Atkins threw for 237 yards on 17-of-44 passing, two touchdowns, and two picks.
Atkins rushed for 105 yards on 21 carries. Ronald Jamison caught the other touchdown from Atkins, leading the Cowboys with 67 yards receiving on three catches.
Derrel Kelley III had a six-yard touchdown run for the Texans in the second half, and Highlands added a Malik Brown forced fumble and fumble recovery returned for a touchdown of 44 yards.
The Texans ground out the clock to finish things off as Tarleton burned off more than six minutes with a 69-yard, 11-play drive capped by Guzman's second field goal of the evening on a 29-yard boot.
The Texans will head out of state for the first time this season, playing in Richmond, Kentucky, at the Eastern Kentucky Colonels's Roy Kidd Stadium on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT.
Russell@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066 Ext. 231
