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NORTH RICHLAND HILLS — There were a few times when the Richland Rebels looked like they were going to go up big on Haltom, assuring themselves of a playoff bid in a comfortable manner.
But then there were the mistakes, mainly interceptions that Haltom turned into scores. Richland was bending, but still weathering most of the miscues.That is until the waning minutes of the game, when Haltom took its only, but most important, lead.Dexter Braziel rushed for 136 yards and five touchdowns as Haltom came back to beat Richland 34-30 at Birdville ISD Fine Arts/Athletic Complex on Friday night. The Buffalos (5-5, 4-2 District 3-5A) were already assured of a postseason berth before this one, but reveled in the rivalry victory.Braziel’s final touchdown, a 27-yard run, came with 1:40 left to give Haltom the margin of victory.Tyler Cotton threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns for Richland.But Haltom recorded four interceptions. The third led to Braziel’s fourth touchdown that cut Richland’s lead to 30-27, and the fourth sealed Haltom’s victory after the Buffalos took the lead.Richland had a 23-13 edge at the half, but Haltom’s DeAndre Holmes intercepted a Cotton pass and brought it back to Richland’s 9-yard line. Two plays later, Braziel punched it in to cut Richland’s lead to 23-20.The Rebels took a quick 10-0 lead, thanks in part to Isaac Umesi’s 43-yard touchdown on their first drive. But the Buffalos came back. They blocked a Richland punt and took over on Richland’s 8-yard line, with Braziel taking the 2-yard touchdown run.After a Nick Hodgson 36-yard field goal gave Richland a 13-6 lead, the Buffalos went into a hurry-up offense with more than eight minutes remaining in the half. It worked as Braziel capped it with a 4-yard scoring run.But Cotton and company started clicking. He hit Bryan Grant with a 22-yard touchdown pass late in the first half, and Hodgson’s 24-yard field goal gave Richland a 23-13 halftime lead.TRACEY MYERS, 817-390-7760
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