Late field goal lifts Denton Ryan past Hurst L.D. Bell

By Gary Skrehart

Special to the Star-Telegram

ARLINGTON -- Denton Ryan's Marc Orozco kicked a 43-yard field goal with 2:24 left for a 31-28 victory over Hurst L.D. Bell in a Class 5A Division II bi-district playoff game Saturday at Cowboys Stadium.

Denton Ryan (7-4) took advantage of two L.D. Bell fumbles to stay close and set up the game-winner and advance to meet Cedar Hill on Saturday in Southlake.

Orozco's kick did not come without some suspense.

The snap skipped in front of the holder, but he was able to get it down in time for the game-winning kick.

"I was just glad to get the opportunity and felt good going into it," Orozco said. "The difficulty with the snap was my fault really. I set up 9 yards back instead of 7 and that made it harder on the snap, but it worked out that is all that matters now."

Denton Ryan linebacker Desmond Oliver recovered a fumble on fourth-and-9 at the Blue Raiders 26 to virtually seal the win. Ryan then ran out the clock.

Ryan quarterback Mitchell Bridges put the Raiders ahead 28-21 with just over six minutes left in the game when he hit Trent Willis on a 30-yard scoring strike.

Bell came back and Ryan Newsome broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown run to tie the game 28-28 with 5:19 left.

Ryan moved the ball from its own 24 to the Blue Raiders 24 before the drive stalled and set up the game-winning kick.

The Blue Raiders came out on their opening drive and looked as if they would overpower Ryan.

J.T. Vines capped off a 42-yard, eight-play drive with a 1-yard run to put Bell up 7-0 early in the first quarter.

Bridges and Willis hooked up on a 4-yard scoring pass to tie the game 7-7 in the first quarter.

The Ryan defense recovered a fumble at the Bell 35 to set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Tyrone Williams.

Bell was able to get back on track on its last offensive series of the first half. Vines scored on a 4-yard run with 2:23 to get the score tied at the half 14-14.

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