Tigers Fall to Eagles: Belton Closes Gap Before Ellison Pulls Away for 38-19 Victory in District Tilt

KILLEEN — Belton hoped the momentum it built from a near-win in its non-district finale almost two weeks ago would carry over into Thursday’s league opener, but the Tigers faced one primary obstacle — Killeen Ellison’s prolific offense. The Tigers limited the Eagles to less than their usual output, but Sidney Holland still threw for 154 yards and three touchdowns and Daryl Cannie and Trevon Jones-Lockhart combined for three rushing scores to help Ellison turn away Belton’s second-half comeback effort to record a 38-19 victory in both teams’ District 10-5A-II opener at Searles Stadium. Ellison (4-2) won its second straight game by building a 19-0 halftime edge then holding on in the final stages after the Tigers (0-6) pulled within six points at 19-13 following Will Shepard’s 7-yard scoring toss to Josiah Martinez. Shepard finished 23-of-38 passing for 252 yards and led Belton on a 13-play scoring drive to start the second half that Kegan Sherwood punctuated with a 3-yard touchdown run. Ellison responded with TDs on two of its next three possessions to stay in control. The Tigers, who also got a fourth-quarter 17-yard TD throw from Shepard to Gino Zecca, looked to keep their offense in lockstep after they posted a season-high 38 points in a two-point setback to Cuero on Sept. 27 to conclude non-district, but they were shut out across the first half Thursday for the fifth time this season. The Eagles scored on the initial play of each of the first two quarters. Cannie went in motion and took a reverse 60 yards around the left side on the game’s first play from scrimmage to provide Ellison with the lead for good with just 13 seconds elapsed from the clock. Holland later found a wide-open Juan Ramirez in the right corner of the end zone for a 14-yard TD toss to start the second frame to push the gap to 19-0. Holland also hooked up with Prince Hall on a 25-yard score late in the first quarter. KILLEEN ELLISON 38, BELTON 19 Belton 0 0 13 6 — 19 Ellison 13 6 7 12 — 38 Ell — Daryl Cannie 60 run (kick failed) Ell — Prince Hall 25 pass from Sidney Holland (Frank Yapez kick) Ell — Juan Ramirez 14 pass from Holland (kick failed) Bel — Kegan Sherwood 3 run (pass failed) Bel — Josiah Martinez 7 pass from Will Shepard (Cole Angell kick) Ell — Trevon Jones-Lockhart 5 run (Yapez kick) Bel — Gino Zecca 17 pass from Shepard (pass failed) Ell — Jones-Lockhart 4 run (kick blocked) Ell — Hall 28 pass from Holland (kick failed) TEAM STATISTICS Bel Ell First downs 15 16 Rushes-yards 23-31 36-236 Passing yards 252 154 Comp.-Att.-Int. 23-38-1 14-28-0 Punts-average 2-36.5 2-31.5 Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1 Penalties-yards 5-45 12-76 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING — Belton: Zecca 11-14, Shepard 8-12, Sherwood 2-3, Achilles Palomares 1-1, Damien Tiumalu 1-1; Ellison: Cannie 9-111, Jones-Lockhart 11-65, Maurice Mitchell 3-24, Evan Dowling 1-20, Phillip Bass 1-14, Ramirez 2-8, Kendrick Byrd 1-5, Holland 8-(-11). PASSING — Belton: Shepard 23-38-1-252; Ellison: Holland 14-28-0-154. RECEIVING — Belton: Gavin Ross 11-112, Martinez 3-68, Palomares 4-23, Zecca 2-23, Collin Taylor 2-14, Evan Echipare 1-12; Ellison: Hall 8-112, Ramirez 5-44, Byrd 1-(-2). Photo Caption: Belton’s Will Shepard (10) tries to escape the grasp of Killeen Ellison’s Juan Cavello in the Tigers’ 38-19 loss Thursday night.

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TIGERS FALL TO EAGLES: BELTON CLOSES GAP BEFORE ELLISON PULLS AWAY FOR 38-19 VICTORY IN DISTRICT TILT

JON BROOKS | TELEGRAM STAFF

Temple Daily Telegram | 10/11/2024

PHOTO CREDIT: Andy Zavoina/FME News Service