Mansfield Summit continues historic playoff run, clinches first trip to state semis
Midnight has yet to strike on the Mansfield Summit parade during its playoff run.
On Friday, the Cinderella shoe fit for another week and the Jaguars kicked off 2021 the right way.
Summit quarterback David Hopkins scored the go-ahead 3-yard touchdown with 38 seconds left and the Jaguars took down Red Oak, 41-38, in the Class 5A Division 1 state quarterfinals at Globe Life Park.
The Jaguars (8-4) are headed to the state semifinals for the first time in program history. They will face No. 1 Denton Ryan (13-0), which beat Highland Park, at 7 p.m. Friday at AT&T Stadium.
Red Oak (9-3) had its largest lead at 38-28 following a 20-yard field goal from Dakota Santos with 6:09 to play in the fourth quarter. Summit began the game-winning drive at its own 43 and picked up 24 yards on a Hopkins’ pass to Asa Aldridge to the Red Oak 39.
The drive extended when Red Oak was called for pass interference on a fourth-and-2 to put the ball at the 14. Four plays later, Hopkins kept the ball on a read-option and reached out for the score.
“We knew our defense was going to give us the ball back. We had to go into the last drive with a lot of confidence and swag,” said Hopkins, who completed 14 of 22 passes for 193 yards and two TDs. “It starts up front with our offensive line. They came through. We just had to finish the rest.”
The Hawks had one more chance, but Kamren Washington sacked Red Oak QB Josh Ervin on second down and recovered a fumble forced by Joseph Adedire on fourth down as time expired.
“We put it on our defense, we always do. We pride ourselves on playing good defense. We got that lead and kept it and the defense did a good job stepping up,” Summit coach Channon Hall said. “Our kids are fighters. We have that underdog mentality. Nobody expected us to be here. Nobody expected us to win. All the kids and my coaching staff do is go to work and play their tails off.”
Tied 14-14 at intermission, Jalon Rock returned the second-half kickoff 76 yards for the touchdown and 21-14 lead for Summit. It would be the first of five TDs in the third quarter.
“Jalon is a dog for us. He’s been a dog for us and he’s a captain. He’s the fastest dude in the state,” Hall said. “I love that kid. He loves to make plays and he’ll do whatever it takes to win.”
Ervin hit Jace Wyatt for a 27-yard TD, but Red Oak missed the extra point to make it 21-20 with 9:39 left in the period. Auburn commit Hal Presley caught his own 27-yard TD pass from Hopkins to give Summit a 28-20 edge less than a minute later.
Red Oak turned the 28-20 deficit into a 35-28 lead, its first lead of the game.
Ervin hit Triston Edwards for a 35-yard gain to the Summit 1 and Iverson Young scored on the next play. Ervin hit Raymond Gay Jr. on the 2-point try to tie it at 28.
Summit had a first-and-goal, but Carter Lincoln came around the corner to cause a fumble and Brock Lincks recovered. Ervin hit La’Kelsey Johnson Jr. on a 5-yard TD pass to give the Hawks the lead with 2:02 left in the third.
Rock returned his second kickoff for a 72-yard TD to pull the Jaguars within 38-34 midway through the fourth.
Summit got out to a 14-0 lead thanks to a pair of Red Oak miscues.
Red Oak appeared on its way for the game’s first lead when Hawks’ defensive back Cris Donaldson blocked a Summit punt, putting the ball at the Summit 23.
The Hawks got a first-and-goal at the 1, but two plays later Summit registered the first of two interceptions in the first half. Rock deflected an attempt in the end zone and the tip was corralled by Ahmaad Moses.
“I knew all week that I would be following their number one receiver. It was a big test,” Rock said. “I watched film all week and worked on my technique so I’d be ready for the game.”
Summit responded with a 14-play, 94-yard drive, capped off by Hopkins’ 6-yard TD pass to D’szarion Brown on fourth-and-goal to push the Jaguars to a 7-0 lead just before the end of the opening quarter.
On the next Red Oak drive, Rock broke up another pass attempt and came away with Summit’s second interception. No damage was done as Summit punted.
However, on Red Oak’s ensuing possession, the Hawks were forced to punt and the snap sailed over Chris Martinez Jr.’s head. Martinez kicked it out of the end zone, which resulted in an illegal kick penalty, putting the ball at the 3.
Two plays later, Jaydon Lott crossed the goal line to extend the Summit lead to 14-0 midway through the second quarter.
But Red Oak quickly pushed its mistakes away to tie the game.
Ervin hit Wyatt on a 6-yard TD pass with 4:38 left in the second quarter. The Hawks recovered a Summit fumble on the ensuing play and one minute later, Young scored on a 20-yard TD run to knot the contest at 14.
Keon Hobbs had 14 rushes for a team-high 106 yards. Presley had 90 yards on five catches.
Ervin threw for 250 yards and three TDs and Young rushed for a game-high 136 yards and two TDs on 26 attempts.
Red Oak beat Summit in district, 37-16, behind Ervin’s four TD passes. Summit committed five turnovers in the November matchup. The Jaguars also beat district champ Colleyville Heritage in the previous round.
“First game they kept kicking to me, but I didn’t make anything happen. I had to come back and show them,” Rock said. “We’re leaving a legacy and putting on for our city and school.”
Added Hall, “We preach being ready and it’s a testament to our kids. New Year’s eve was yesterday and the kids woke up ready to play. That’s a good football team as well and we knew they would punch back. We just had to keep fighting until it was over.”
This story was originally published January 1, 2021 at 2:57 PM.
