Racers stun Mac with late two-play scoring drive

In Friday night’s nail-biter at Cameron Stadium, MacArthur suffered its first district loss to Newcastle in a game that wound up seeing several lead changes before the Racers earned a 35-31 victory.

Going into Friday’s matchup, both teams were 3-0 in district play and fighting for the district title and a chance to host two playoff games. After the loss, MacArthur head coach Brett Manning said the team will continue looking forward for a chance to secure one of those top spots in the standings.

“Depending on how these next games play out anyone of those top spots are still available for us,” Manning said. “Unfortunately, it’s not totally under our control anymore but we’ll get back to work and try to have a better game next week.”

At halftime the score was 21-21 but things quieted down in the second half offensively for both sides. Manning wasn’t pleased with the team’s second-half offense but even more disappointed in how they lost their lead at the end.

“We did not have a good second half offensively, but we were able to make that field goal with a little over two minutes left to get the lead,” said Manning. “We just couldn’t keep it once we had it and allowed them to score in two plays.”

Throughout the first half the score moved back and forth and the 21-21 score at halftime showed just how close the teams are talent-wise.

Big defensive plays got both teams in scoring positions early, starting with MacArthur’s Adam Auston who made an interception with eight minutes to go in the first quarter. This interception would start the drive that led Mac to its first touchdown and the early lead at 7-0.

On the following kickoff, Newcastle’s Kaden Longman made a big return and almost reached the end zone when he fumbled the ball. Mac recovered and on the very first play of the drive attempted a pass, and it was intercepted by Newcastle’s Jackson Schanuel who ran to the end zone resulting in a pick-six. In less than thirty seconds of game time, Newcastle had evened the score.

MacArthur didn’t start the second half how it wanted, throwing an interception on the first drive from its own 20-yard line. Luckily, the defense was able to hold the Racers on fourth down at the eight-yard line, where they would miss the field goal to keep the score even.

Newcastle was able to take the lead with 1:30 remaining in the third quarter thanks to some key runs from running back Taylor Bradford and the quarterback Schaneur helping the Racers keep a 28-21 lead.

On 2nd-and-16 and following a holding penalty on Newcastle, MacArthur’s Auston again made a big play and snagged a pass out of the air with one hand. That interception gave Mac the field position it needed to score. It took four plays to set Mac up at its own 47-yard line. Joziah Thomas took matters into his hands at that point, bursting through the offensive line and into the end zone with a 53-yard touchdown run to knot the score at 28-all.

MacArthur’s defense held Newcastle at its 18-yard line on the ensuing possession and forced the Racers to punt. Starting at its own 48-yard line, Mac began to move downfield with some crucial carries by Marquise Harris and Thomas, as well as an important completion on third down from quarterback Aivan Locklin to receiver Josh Rushing for a gain of 21 yards. The Highlanders couldn’t find the end zone, but kicker Miguel Martinez hit a field goal with 2:30 remaining to give Mac a 31-28 lead.

But that’s when Newcastle was able to respond with a touchdown in less than a minute and required just two plays.

Next week, the Highlanders will be traveling to Oklahoma City to face Southeast High School and in the regular-season finale Mac will host Bishop McGuinness in a game that will help clear up the district standings.

“We go back to work and do what we do. There’s still a lot to play for and playoffs are just ahead,” said Manning.