THREE STRAIGHT FOR TATUM! | Eagles soar to 47-14 beatdown of Crockett; host Troup next Friday, though

TATUM – These 2026 Tatum High School Eagles – they might just have this winning thing figured out.

Tatum hosted Crockett here at Eagle Stadium Friday night, and almost dropped half a hundred on the Bulldogs, a 47-14 Tatum win, Tatum’s third straight.

That gives coach Whitney Keeling’s Eagles a 3-1 record this season, the only blemish being an opening-night loss to West Rusk by just three points.

Tatum has a hefty challenge next Friday, though: they’ll face the No. 1 team in all the land, Troup, the top-ranked team in the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football poll in Class 3A, Division II.

That game, though, is a home game for the Eagles.

Troup will need to defend the run better than Crockett, if the Tigers are going to get out of Tatum with a win. Friday night against Crockett, DD Brooks, Dane Moore, Alijah Williams, Kayson George and Ty Moore – they ran all over the Bulldogs, who simply had no answer for stopping, or even slowing, the Eagles’ running game.

It was Tatum’s defense that shined early, forcing a three-and-out to begin the game. And Tatum’s first possession? It began at Crockett’s 33-yard-line.

Moore on back-to-back runs moved Tatum’s offense to the Bulldog 21, then took it the remaining 21 yards for the scoret. The kick by Louie Chavez would be no good, but still a 6-0 Eagles lead with 8:38 in the first quarter.

A fumble on a Crockett fourth down recovered by Tatum’s Huntington Pintor would set the Eagles up in Bulldogs’ territory again, at the Crockett 34. Brooks got free for 20 yards, to the 14, then Moore would secure his second TD of the night, this one with 6:14 left in the opening quarter, from 14 yards out. Rogers Taylor got the two-point conversion, and Tatum was impressive early.

Actually, they were impressive all night.

The Bulldogs’ offense was in the giving business again on its next possession, as  Ja’Corrion Griffin fumbled it back to the Eagles at Crockett’s 25, just a snakebitten-type night for Crockett.

Ater a good Taylor run to the 10, a penalty flag brought the Eagles right back to the 25, and a second flag back to the Bulldogs’ 31.

Brooks cut that in half with a run for 15 yards, but this time, it was Tatum who fumbled on the snap and the Bulldogs finally got a break, recovering at their own 19.

Griffin would bust a big run for the Bulldogs to the Eagles’ 45, and a tacked-on flag moved it to Tatum’s 30.

The drive stalled out, though, at the 18, when Jacques McKnight came up short of the yards needed for the first down, a turnover on downs that gave the Eagles the ball at their own 16.

A 10-yard run by Moore ended the first quarter, with Tatum up 14-0.

Tatum’s Moore Connection – Dane and Ty – got to work, with both getting carries and setting Tatum up at midfield.

Ty Moore got free on a run to the Bulldog’s 42 and a first down.

Quarterback Moore found Brooks for a pass play that gave Tatum the ball at the Bulldog’s 10, but another fumble on a snap exchange gave the ball back to Crockett once more.

A run by CJ Bell was blown up by Tatum’s defense all the way back at the Bulldogs’ 1. Griffin gave the Bulldogs some room, with a run to Crockett’s own 21.

Runs by Griffin and White, and a penalty, kept the drive alive to the Bulldogs’ 31 until – well, if you said a fumble, you win.

Another Crockett miscue turned out really badly for the Bulldogs this time. The ball came out and Tatum’s  Alijah Williams scooped it up and scored. The extra point by Chavez was good, and Tatum had doubled its lead, a 21-0 advantage that the guys in green took to halftime.

Tatum added to its lead just 19 seconds into the second half. Williams scored for the Eagles on a 27-yard run, and Keeling’s club was up by four touchdowns (28-0) with almost the entire second half still to play.

Crockett’s next drive was one of its best of the night, with runs by Griffin and Bell pushing the Bulldogs all the way deep into Tatum territory.

Crockett kept it on the ground, and Anthony Epps eventually scored what would be the first of just two touchdowns for CHS in the game.

After an extra point kick that missed the mark, with 6:23 left in the third quarter, Tatum was up 28-6.

Ty Moore reeled off a 20-yard run on first down to put Tatum at midfield, at the Bulldogs’ 47.

Three plays later and Williams was standing in the end zone after a 16-yard scoring run for the Eagles. With 3:12 left in the third quarter and after a missed extra point, Tatum had upped its lead to 34-6.

A 2-yard touchdown run by Crockett’s Griffin opened the fourth quarter (34-14, after a successful two-point conversion).

A great kick return back to Crockett’s 18 put Tatum in business yet again. A 15-yard run by Brooks set Tatum at the Bulldogs 3, where Kayson George pushed it in for the Eagles. Chavez got the point after, and that 41-17 point came with 10:59 left.

Crockett was good for one more fumble, which gave the Eagles the ball (literally) at the Bulldogs’ 49. George gained a quick 5 yards, but then Brooks ended whatever threat was left with a 40-yard touchdown run, with 7:16 left, the game’s final score.