Mansfield displays depth in topping Killeen

By Josh Bowe

Special to the Star-Telegram

WAXAHACHIE -- There was no panic on the Mansfield sidelines during Friday's Class 5A Division I Region I bi-district matchup against Killeen.

Sophomore running back Julius Lewis came out of the game in the first quarter and didn't play the entire second half. Mansfield relied on junior Nick Hall and senior Bryan Shanklin to power the Tigers to a 41-21 win against the Kangaroos at Lumpkin Stadium.

Mansfield (7-4) plays the winner of today's game between Euless Trinity and Flower Mound Marcus in the area round.

"I knew Julius couldn't do it all tonight, so I had to step up," Shanklin said. "When he went out, we all knew everyone had to step up their play."

Shanklin was responsible for three touchdowns, two on the ground and one through the air. Hall didn't find the end zone, but he racked up 117 rushing yards in Lewis' absence.

Shanklin's first touchdown was a 3-yard run that gave Mansfield a 20-7 lead in the second quarter. His last was a 35-yard touchdown reception that pushed the Tigers' lead to 41-14 in the fourth quarter, putting the game out of reach for Killeen (7-4).

"They did what good players do," Mansfield coach Jeff Hulme said of Hall and Shanklin. "They're ready, they're prepared, and when their time is called they do a great job."

Mansfield's defense bent but never broke. Killeen managed just 254 yards as the Tigers' secondary kept the Kangaroos' passing attack in check. The Tigers forced the Kangaroos into three turnovers, one fumble and two interceptions.

Senior safety George Baltimore had the final interception with Mansfield up 41-21 with less than five minutes to play.

Mansfield's offense finished with 461 total yards and 21 first downs. Senior quarterback Lane Meyer accounted for Mansfield's three other touchdowns, running for two and throwing a 27-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Amandas Pearsall that gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead a minute into the first quarter.

Lewis was injured on that first drive. He returned in the second quarter but did not play in the second half. Hulme said Lewis will be fine and "just had his bell rung."

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