Mansfield Summit’s rushing attack leads Jaguars past Timberview

In a rivalry game between Mansfield Summit and Timberview, it was the Jaguars’ running attack that totaled more than 400 yards and made the difference.

Summit won the home game 39-29 against the Wolves, using its three-headed rushing attack to gain big yards on the ground all night.

Summit head coach Channon Hall was proud of how his team performed.

“I felt like we were ready for the moment,” Hall said. “Coach (Jacody) Coleman got those guys going over there. They’ve been having some big games, playing with a lot of energy, and turned that thing around. We knew it was going to be a test, with it being a rivalry game and all the things. Our guys were ready to answer the call. It wasn’t easy, but that’s all you can ask for in a game like this.”

Timberview entered the game with a 4-2 record, 3-1 in district play, and riding a three-game win streak after beating Colleyville Heritage, Everman and Arlington Seguin.

Summit was 4-1 overall and 3-0 in district play and had won four straight, defeating Mansfield, Burleson, Grapevine and The Colony heading into the game.

The first quarter saw both offenses score on their first two possessions. The Wolves’ Cedric Portley scored on a short run, but Jaguars quarterback Ian Gebhardt answered with a 54-yard touchdown run up the middle untouched on Summit’s first play.

Timberview marched down the field before Steven Hall found Trysten Shaw in the corner of the end zone to put the Wolves back in front. The Jaguars responded quickly, with Omagbolahan Daudu punching it in from short range. The touchdown was set up by a 41-yard run from Gebhardt the play before.

With the score tied at 14-14 after only five minutes of play, it looked like a shootout was brewing, but the defenses adjusted.

Timberview had to punt, and its defense struggled to slow down Summit’s three-headed rushing attack. The Wolves’ defense made a play, though, when Geraci Martin intercepted a deep pass.

At the start of the second quarter, Timberview attempted a 32-yard field goal. The kick was short, but the Wolves caught a break on a running-into-the-kicker penalty. Timberview decided to go for it on fourth-and-five but was stopped at the Jaguars’ 10-yard line.

Summit then drove down the field with its ground game and a few key passes, taking up 9:34, but the Wolves’ defense forced a turnover on downs at its own 17-yard line.

Both teams had one more possession in the final two minutes, but neither scored. Timberview’s Jarvis Smith intercepted a pass in the end zone on the final play to preserve the 14-14 tie heading into halftime.

The third quarter saw Summit take control of the game. Daudu broke loose for a 41-yard touchdown run. Later in the quarter, Gebhardt went down with a leg injury, and backup Demarcus Bird threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Domonique Young. Even with the Wolves’ Davin Hill intercepting a pass at the end of the quarter, the Jaguars led 26-16.

Summit kept up the strong play as its defense forced and recovered a fumble from Dallas Simmons. Bird hit Young on another long pass, this one going for 72 yards, setting up Adarion Nettles’ short touchdown run.

Timberview’s offense had struggled since the second quarter, with pressure leading to several sacks and off-target throws that stalled drives. The Wolves went back to basics, and thanks to a couple of big runs, had the ball in the red zone. Portley scored his second touchdown of the night on a short run.

Timberview had cut the lead to 32-22 but couldn’t stop the Jaguars’ rushing attack.

Gebhardt returned and iced the game with an electrifying 53-yard run, breaking several tackles as Summit pushed its lead to 39-22.

The Wolves didn’t give up and drove inside the Jaguars’ 20-yard line. Things almost got worse when an interception was returned 89 yards for a touchdown, but Timberview caught a break with a roughing-the-passer penalty.

Portley scored from the 1-yard line — his third touchdown on his third carry — cutting the lead to 39-29.

Summit’s ground game was able to run out the clock to secure the win.

The Jaguars’ three-headed rushing attack of Gebhardt, Nettles, and Daudu combined for 407 yards. Gebhardt led the team with 212 yards and two touchdowns, Nettles added 109 yards and one score, and Daudu finished with 86 yards and two touchdowns.

Bird finished with 142 passing yards and one touchdown, while Young caught four passes for 131 yards and a score.

The Jaguars improved their record to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in district, but will face one of their biggest tests of the season next week, traveling to play at reigning district champion Argyle’s field at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17.

For Timberview, Hall threw for 241 yards and one touchdown. His top receiver, Braylin Barnett, caught eight passes for 93 yards. Jacoby Easter led the team with 47 rushing yards, while Portley finished with three touchdowns on just three carries covering nine yards.

The Wolves fell to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in district play. Timberview is scheduled to host a 3-3 Burleson team at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17.