Penalties, turnovers lead to Polytechnic loss

By Chris Roark

Special to the Star-Telegram

DALLAS -- Running back Jacob Balderas rushed for 161 yards and a touchdown to help Dallas Pinkston (2-0) beat Fort Worth Polytechnic (0-2) 28-14 on Thursday night at John Kincaide Stadium.

Balderas helped solidify Pinkston's lead with a 4-yard touchdown run with 1:54 left in the first half.

Before that, Trevon Roy was Pinkston's big playmaker. He began the scoring with a 27-yard touchdown catch from Deion Higgins. He also ran back a kickoff 50 yards early in the second quarter to break a tie and give Pinkston a 16-8 lead.

Polytechnic took a lead in the first quarter when quarterback Malik Jones scored on a 7-yard run.

But in the first half, fumbles plagued Polytechnic. The Parrots fumbled four times before halftime, losing two of them.

Polytechnic's most costly fumble came early in the second quarter when, at its own 6-yard-line, a fumble on a rushing attempt sent the ball out of the end zone for a safety, tying the game at 8.

Pinkston immediately followed that with Roy's kickoff return touchdown on the ensuing kickoff.

But Pinkston hurt itself with fumbles as well. Midway through the first quarter, Polytechnic's Deion Amerson recovered a fumble at the Pinkston 11-yard line, setting up Jones' score.

In the second half, Pinkston stretched its lead to 28-8 on Damon Stearne's 35-yard touchdown catch.

Polytechnic pulled to within two scores with a 9-yard touchdown run from DeThaniel Jones, but the team could get no closer. Two of its final three possessions ended in interceptions.

Polytechnic was also hurt by penalties as it had 10 for 80 yards.

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