Arlington starts slowly, then rolls by Mansfield

Posted Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009 Comments   (0) Print Share Share Reprints
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By DARREN LAUBER

Special to the Star-Telegram

MANSFIELD —With a playoff spot wrapped up and a one-win Mansfield team left on the regular-season schedule, Arlington had every reason to let down Friday night.

While they did let down early in the game, it didn’t last long. The Colts spotted the Tigers a six-point lead, then awoke with a vengeance and beat Mansfield 45-14 at R.L. Anderson Stadium.

Arlington (8-2 overall, 5-1 District 4-5A) stumbled out of the gate when quarterback Matt Joeckel’s first pass attempt was intercepted at the Colts’ 45-yard line by Mansfield defensive back Darius Pipkins.

Mansfield (1-9, 0-6) scored five plays later on a 2-yard run by Nick Cheesman for a 6-0 lead three minutes into the game.

However, Joeckel was nearly perfect from that point.

The Colts reeled off five consecutive scoring drives with Joeckel accounting for four touchdowns to build a 31-6 lead at the half.

Joeckel hit Cory Broadnax with scoring passes of 22 and 18 yards before Taylor Nelson-Cook added a 26-yard field goal to give the Colts a 17-6 lead with 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Fumble recoveries by Arlington’s Tavarrean Dickerson and Juan Quintana set up Joeckel’s next two scores. Joeckel found Brandon Lewis from 14 yards and Dixon Kent from 36 yards.

Joeckel was pulled after three quarters and finished 11-of-15 for 145 yards. Dickerson added 163 yards on only six carries and his 17-yard TD run with 1:57 left in the third quarter gave Arlington a 38-14 lead.

Arlington meets Burleson (7-3) at 9 p.m. Friday at Cowboys Stadium in the first round of the playoffs.

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