‘A really special season’: Haltom’s run ends with loss to Richardson in bi-district round

Richardson changed up its game plan, opting to run the ball—it paid off after in the Eagles’ 28-13 win over Haltom to secure a bi-district championship.

“Going into the game, we knew we could throw the ball pretty well, but we wanted to lean on the run game to set the tone in this one,” said Richardson head coach Kendrick Holloway.

That run game was in large part of two Eagles players.

Wide receiver Dameon Crowe caught one touchdown, but also ran in a couple, one on a carry and another on a sideways pass. He ended with three touchdowns and 190 total yards.

“[Crowe] is a special talent—a playmaker,” said Holloway. “I tell the guys on the coaching staff just get it to him and get out of the way.”

Running back Kevin Willingham Jr. missed out on a touchdown because of an illegal formation penalty, but he was charged with icing the game when the Eagles came into the second half with a 15-point lead. He finished the night with 120 yards rushing.

“Around midseason, we started leaning on [Willingham],” said Holloway. “He answered the bell and accepted the challenge.”

Holloway tells his team that anyone could be the guy that makes a big play. He said Willingham has been that guy throughout the season.

The Eagles put up all 28 points in the first half. They didn’t score in the second half, but they didn’t need to.

After the Buffalos recovered an onside kick in the fourth quarter, Eagles defensive back Seyram Tamakloe sealed the deal with an interception.

“Our defense performed great,” said Holloway. “We lean on the defensive line a lot and we knew it was going to be a challenge trying to stop the run, [Haltom] has a great rushing offense with two great running backs.”

Those two running backs, junior Vudrico Roberson and senior Keenan Jackson, carried the bulk of the offense for Haltom. Not just tonight, but for most of the season.

Bittersweet for the Buffs

Haltom quarterback Dominique Mounivong was hurt in a week three game against Boswell, forcing the Buffalos to shift their game plan.

“When [Mounivong] went down early, we knew we were going to be relying on [Roberson] and [Jackson] more all year,” said Haltom head coach Jason Tucker. “They were good about it, the whole team was good about it.”

That meant everyone else’s job was simple: block.

“These two guys are going to get the rock and we’re all going to block—quarterbacks, receivers, lineman, tight ends—everyone,” said Tucker. “The team bought in to that style of ball.”

Tonight, Jackson scored all three of Haltom’s touchdowns.

Despite the setbacks, the Buffalos snuck into the top-10 of the Star-Telegram’s 6A rankings and found more of a silver lining to the end of the season.

Tucker talked about the special moments his team would remember about the season: getting to play at Choctaw Stadium, a shootout against Arlington Martin, a “TV game against South Grand Prairie and an epic homecoming game comeback.”

“It was a really special season,” said Tucker. “So I tried to tell these guys that, as much as it hurts right now, it’s going to be a fun season to talk about and is full of good memories.”

Something that made this team so special for Tucker was the seniors. One of them, his own.

His son, tight end Grady Tucker, played his last high school game tonight after battling through three knee surgeries. Another bittersweet moment for the head coach.

“I’m super proud of him,” said Tucker. “For him to be able to play varsity football at a high level and be a great leader, I’m blessed to be his dad and the team’s going to miss him. I’m going to miss coaching him next season.”

Tucker gave credit to Richardson and Holloway, saying “if you’re going to get beat, get beat by a good team.”

Up next

That good Eagles team will go on to face another good Eagles team in the area championship: powerhouse Allen, who beat Lewisville 17-3 in their bi-district game.

Holloway said that preparation starts tonight and early tomorrow morning.