Скачать или смотреть November 23, 1982: Pilot Point v Eastland

Eastland ends Pilot Point’s perfect streak
By Whit Canning – Star-Telegram Correspondent

Two of the state's top Class 2A teams clashed together in Maverick Stadium under a pair of overcast, threatening skies Friday night—when, in what proved to be a major Thanksgiving weekend surprise, the Pilot Point Bearcats had been beaten for the first time in 1982.

Beaten, and stunned. Just when it seemed G.A. Moore had conjured a comeback victory, the Eastland Mavericks ended it cold. With 1:15 to play, Bobby James intercepted his 11th pass of the season and returned it 58 yards to hand the Bearcats a 20–15 loss. This sent Eastland into the Class 2A finals with an 11–2 record for the season.

For the Bearcats, their playoff run was over. Pilot Point—into the fourth playoff round against the only other undefeated team left—was devastated. Quarterback Jay Hale and wide receiver James Owen had just teamed up for 187 yards and two touchdowns on six pass completions. More importantly, they had turned a poor opening into a comeback that gave Pilot Point a 20–13 lead with about 2:30 remaining.

Then everything fell apart.

Owen, forcing the ball into tight coverage, caught a 32-yard pass. The moment he hit the turf near the Bearcats’ 23-yard line, the momentum seemed to reach its zenith. On the next play, Owen looked inside for an option pass, then sprinted toward the left sideline. He was trapped and then suddenly lobbed the ball to a wide-open James.

The Mavericks stiffened, and everyone flooded the end zone where Pilot Point’s Wendell Sides scored on a two-yard dive. That was with 2:36 left. But soon after, Eastland’s David Brooks broke free over the middle, and James’ interception sealed the upset.

The Mavericks took the opening kickoff and immediately marched to a touchdown. Pilot Point answered with 1:59 left in the first quarter, when David Talley broke a 19-yard run to tie the score. Eastland regained the lead on Joe Gomez’s four-yard dive with 3:13 left.

But the Bearcats’ defense—normally superb—was losing a war of attrition as Eastland chewed the clock behind its powerful offensive line.

Hale was hampered by a two-play loss, and the Bearcats had to punt.

Eastland threatened again, however, but was unsuccessful as Owen knocked down a pass intended for Brooks. Pilot Point took over with 7:05 remaining before halftime on its own 10. Five plays later, Hale hit Owen for a 30-yard gain, and after another 15-yard strike to James, Owen was knocked out of bounds at the Eastland 35. Hale then found Sides with a 13-yarder, and at 3:07 the Bearcats attempted a 31-yard field goal. It was blocked.

Eastland recovered the ball on the 20 and marched quickly downfield. Brooks broke several tackles and raced 65 yards for the score with 1:03 to go in the half, giving Eastland a 14–6 halftime lead.