Hampton rallies Tigers past Marshall in opener
MARSHALL, Texas—Quan Hampton caught four passes from Texas High senior quarterback Cade Pearson Friday night.
However, it was the two passes he hauled in from Marshall quarterback Hunter Herrington that allowed the ninth-ranked Tigers to rally from an early 18-0 deficit to beat Marshall in their District 16-5A opener at Maverick Stadium, 36-18.
“We got behind early, which was the first time we had trailed this season,” THS coach Barry Norton said. “We made some adjustments and settled down, and I felt we would win the game if we did our job.
“Hampton is a tremendous football player, and he had another big game for us tonight. Marshall hadn't seen him play defense, which was a plus for us. Now we're in position to have a really good run if we take care of business.”
Marshall led 18-7 late in the second quarter and was driving when Hampton made a leaping interception and returned it 25 yards to the Mavs' 45 with less than a minute left in the half.
The Tigers would score, and then dominate the final half.
Senior running back Devuntay Walker sat out the first two quarters with an injury, but started the third quarter, needing only three quarters to score on a 39-yard run to put Texas High on top for good.
With Walker out, Markese Martin handled most of the workload, finishing the game with a career-high 113 yards and two touchdowns.
Marshall sacked Pearson three times in the first half. He finished with a season-low 131 yards via the airways, but threw touchdown passes to Hampton and Tevailance Hunt, giving him 15 TD passes on the season.
The Mavericks' star running back Cam Haller was the game's leading rushing with 126 yards on 23 carries. He was particularly productive from the Wildcat formation.
It was a Maverick stampede early in the game, with Marshall racing out to its three-touchdown advantage.
The Tigers couldn't move the ball on their first possession, and after a 13-yard punt it only took Marshall five plays to light up the scoreboard.
Herrington, who completed five of his first seven passes for 80 yards, connected with Corteze Hurd for a 25-yard score three minutes into the game. The PAT kick was no good.
Texas High fumbled on the next play from scrimmage and Hurd recovered for the Mavs at the Tigers' 42. On first down Herrington threw long to Tahj Washington for a first down at the THS 3. Two plays later Haller plowed over from the 5. A two-point attempt failed, leaving Marshall on top 12-0 with 7:36 remaining in the first quarter.
A 48-yard completion from Pearson to Tevailance Hunt had the Tigers threatening at the Mavs' 20, but two sacks and two dropped passes proved costly, and Marshall regained possession at the Mav 28-yard line with 5:02 left.
Marshall scored again in nine plays,
Demarcus Alexander dashing 17 yards for the TD.
The momentum turned Texas High’s direction in the second quarter when Martin climaxed a 70-yard scoring drive from the 3 with 10:20 left in the half.
Marshall didn’t appear fazed, driving to the Tigers’ 25 before running out of downs. THS had to punt, but was back on offense seconds later when Hampton came up with his first interception of the season, returning the ball 25 yards to the Mavs’ 45 with 51 seconds left before intermission.
Martin picked up 15 on a short pass, and two plays later Pearson scrambled for 15 for a first down at the 15. Pearson’s perfect pass found Hampton in the left corner of the end zone for six points with 21 seconds still left.
Marshall was flagged for having too many players on the field during the PAT, changing coach Norton’s strategy. Martin waltzed into the end zone for two extra points to make it 18-15.