TATUM MAKES ITS POINT | Keeling has a powder keg in Tatum; Eagles open district with big win over Sabine
TATUM – District play began here at Eagle Stadium Friday night for Tatum and Sabine, but it could only end happily for one of those two teams.
And in this case, it wasn’t the Sabine Cardinals.
The Cardinals didn’t have a pleasant trip home, after a 63-0 loss in the first week of District 8-3A, Division I play.
Coach Cody Gilbert’s Cards, will try to reboot, as they’ll entertain the Gladewater Bears (2-3) on Friday.
Coach Whitney Keeling’s Tatum Eagles, winners of four of their first five games, travel to Liberty-Eylau.
On the game’s first drive, the Eagles used the appropriately-named Cayden Tatum to shoulder the load, with runs of 11 and 16 yards, and Luke Sigler adding another 14. The final 4 yards were ran by Tatum for the Eagles’ score. Quarterback Jacorie Bradley added the two-point conversion for an early 8-0 lead, and the first of many, unfortunately for Sabine.
The Cardinal offense would struggle Friday night. On the first play, quarterback Griffin Dehoyos’ pass was intercepted by the Eagles’ Grant Adcock. Sabine defenders stripped Tatum’s Carlos Hernandez and the Cards got the ball right back, with Rhyder Richardson recovering the fumble.
Cason Patterson had runs of 4 and 8 yards, but the Eagles’ defense held and forced a punt.
The Eagles were able to take time off the clock and run 15 plays. The drive was highlighted by Tatum’s 27-yard run and then he finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown. Dekarlo Garza added the extra point and turned it into a 15-0 lead.
Sabine’s woes continued, as Quincy Davis snagged another interception for Tatum. With a short field, Bradley found Kenneton Harrison for an 18-yard score. After the extra point, the Cardinals were down 22-0 ending the quarter.
A fumble to begin the second quarter by Sabine was recovered by Tatum’s Brandon Howard. After a nice 17-yard run by Myles Bradley, Tatum took the last 5 yards for his team, a hat trick of touchdowns and a 29-0 advantage.
The Eagles’ defense held the Cardinals to a three-and-out forcing a punt. This drive, Tatum found a seam and rumbled 26 yards. Then Bradley found Jordan Chambers open in the end zone for the score. Garza’s extra point put the Eagles up 36-0.
Sabine’s offense, playing without starting quarterback Colt Sparks (he was injured in the New Diana game, and is out for the season) found some life. as Patterson had consecutive runs of 25 and 39 yards putting them in scoring position. But, alas, another interception, this time by Tatum’s Grayson Lee, turned into another Tatum possession.
Jamarri Gipson plowed through for 29 yards. As time was running out on the half, Gipson took the final yard for the half time score of 42-0 Eagles.
Sabine received the second-half kickoff, but wasn’t able to do anything with the ball. Jovany Jaimes was called on to punt and pin the Eagles back.
Keeping to the ground they moved the ball and facing a third down, Bradley found a seam and sprinted 47 yards for the score. Garza’s extra point put up 49 on the board for Tatum.
Patterson took the kickoff and returned it 30 yards, but the Eagle defense again forced a punt. With a backup quarterback, Adcock, in for the Eagles, he was able to keep the ball and took it to the house for a 77-yard touchdown.
After another punt by the Cardinals, Howard to the handoff and went 82 yards for the score and Garza added the last point of the game.
Patterson led the team with 75 yards on the ground. For Tatum, Bradley had two passing touchdowns and the rush TD. Tatum led his team in rushing with 138 yards and three scores. Gipson ended the night with 92 and a score. Chambers hauled in one catch for 21 yards and a score.
