WR GIVES MALAKOFF A BATTLE | Sixth-ranked Tigers escape with big second half
NEW LONDON – A state finalist a year ago, the Malakoff Tigers started the 2025 season state-ranked (No. 6, specifically) and behind, trailing West Rusk 14-7 after a half.
But just when it looked like they were in trouble, Malakoff kicked it into a different gear, racing past the Raiders, 33-14, here Friday night.
West Rusk (0-1) will play at Diboll next Friday, while Malakoff (1-0) will host Lorena.
West Rusk’s halftime lead had to have been a wake-up call for the Raiders. The Raiders would get the kick to open the game, and Gunner Harp would take little time to put the raiders on the board as he would take the kick 90 yards to the house.
The extra point by Luis Abelardo would be good and the Raiders went up 7-0 with 11:40 left in the first quarter.
The Tigers would answer back, using the passing game to move the ball as Canyon Marsh hooked up with Hunter Rush for a short-yard pass, and then Marsh found Davion Johnson to move to the ball to the Raider 20-yard-line.
Marsh connected with Johnson again to the 12, where the Tigers would give it to Jerrion Hall, who smashed it through for a 3-yard touchdown. Jacob Padron booted the extra point to tie the game at 7-all with 7:52 left in the first.
West Rusk got a good run from Hunter McCandless to start the second quarter, but on the next play Dotson would be picked off by Hall, giving the Tigers the ball at their own 11.
The Raiders’ running game, led by McCandless was having effect, and he scored from 13 out. Abelard’s kick was good and made it 14-7 West Rusk, with 10:46 left in the half.
After back-to-back punts, Malakoff would have it at their own 49, and Marsh would step back and find a man. The only problem: he had on a West Rusk jersey, as Harp would get the interception and give the Raiders the ball back at their own 43.
The Raiders couldn’t capitalize on the miscue, though, but did lead 14-7 at halftime.
Unfortunately, though, it was mostly Malakoff in the second half.
The Tigers would get the first possession of the second half, and the big play was Marsh finding Nasir Ross with the long ball to the Raiders’ 24.
Elexon Jones, earing No. 24, fittingly took it in from there, and with Padron’s kick, Malakoff had tied the game at 14 with 7:50 left in the third.
The Raiders would find disaster on their next drive as after a three and out, a bad snap-on fourth down would give the Tigers a safety and a 16-14 lead, with 6:11 left in the third.
The Tigers would keep the hot hand and keep it on the ground on their next possession, until Marsh found Weston Jedlicka to move it the Raiders’ 3. Jones scored, the extra point was good, and Malakoff had a 23-14 lead with 1:29 left in the third.
Malakoff’s Jordan Coleman got another interception and gave the Tigers the ball back. After feeding Hall on three runs, the Tigers settled for a field goal (the ball was on the WR 13) by Pardon, adding to the lead (26-14) with eight minutes left in the game.
A fourth-down conversion by West Rusk failed, and the Tigers took possession again with 5:46 left. Malakoff would eat the clock and run the ball repeatedly. Jones scored from 3 yards out to make it 33-14, the eventual final score.