Quick boost from backup QB helps keep Arlington Bowie unbeaten in district — PHOTOS
Arlington Bowie provided a much-needed defensive stand late in the first quarter.
The offense responded, albeit with a new face under center, to break a tie and start a scoring barrage that led to a 30-20 victory over Haltom on Thursday night at Choctaw Stadium.
Haltom scored twice in the fourth quarter to make the final score look a little bit closer, but Bowie (6-2, 5-0 District 8-6A) dominated the contest, which was pushed up a day earlier than planned because of concerns about the weather.
The turning point was a pair of drives, the first late in the first quarter and the other early in the second.
The Volunteers were driving just outside of Haltom’s red zone late in the second when quarterback Jayden Bibbs ran and was hit near the sidelines.
He fumbled, and Damien Wayne picked it up for the Buffalos (3-5, 3-2) and ran it back to the 30-yard line.
Haltom ultimately had to punt, and the Vols ran out backup quarterback Mason Nichols with Bibbs still on the trainer’s table.
The first pass for the junior was a 71-yard touchdown to Keidric Osunde-Brown.
“We have confidence in our guys,” Bowie coach Joseph Sam said. “I know Bibbs is one of the leading passers in the DFW area, but it is what it is. We have Mason. ... Hell, he’s a starter on most teams. He came in and did his thing. You know, we’re proud of him because he stepped up to the plate by being thrown into the fire. He’s going to be a really good one.”
On his second drive, Nichols led the Vols to a 25-yard field goal by Leo Espindola.
Bowie took a 17-7 lead into the break.
The soft-spoken Nichols said, “I’m glad I was able to help the team.”
Then, with Bibbs back at quarterback in the second half, the Vols scored on two straight possessions to take a 30-7 lead.
On the second play of the third quarter, Bibbs threw a 40-yard pass to Osunde-Brown, a three-star recruit. With the ball at midfield, Bibbs threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Maxwell Nichols.
Bibbs commended Mason Nichols for filling in for him.
“Obviously, it hurt being out, but it helped the team,” Bibbs said. “At that time, I was off [the field], he had the hot hand, so that’s what helped the team and that’s what we needed. It’s a big thing for the program. I mean, it happened to me a couple of times last year [when I came in] and next year, this is his team to lead.”
The Volunteers’ defense came up big early in the third quarter, stopping the Buffalos on a fourth-and-2 from the 8-yard line. A personal foul after the play on Haltom moved the ball to the 23-yard line.
Two plays later, Bibbs hit Maxwell Nichols for a 71-yard touchdown with 4:11 left in the third.
The 23-point outburst gave the Vols a 30-7 lead.
Haltom got on the board with a 1-yard touchdown score from quarterback Dominique Mounivong on a tush push and then a touchdown run by Elijah Lewis on a double handoff play with 4:06 to play.
That pulled the Buffalos within 30-20, and they got the ball once more. However, Galatians Paogofie had an interception at the 44-yard line to seal the win.
Haltom, winner of three in a row heading into this contest, is tied for third in the district with a 3-2 mark. The top four teams move on to either the Division I or Division II bracket.
Bowie won its fifth straight and is tied for first with South Grand Prairie in the district, with a Nov. 6 matchup looming.
Two wins away from a repeat district title.
“Last year, we were the hero surprise team,” Sam said. “I said this year we’re more like the villain, because everybody’s coming to get us now, we’re everybody’s Super Bowl, and Haltom gave us their best shot. And, you know, sometimes you’ve got to be Bane on Batman and embrace the darkness.”
