By ERIC VICCARO

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The Forestburg football team found itself down 28-20 at intermission to Montague County rival Saint Jo.

The Longhorns flipped fortunes in the third quarter with the help of an onside kick recovery from Matthew Wallace and later in the third quarter Bryan McDowell recovered a Saint Jo fumble.

Forestburg exploded for 30 third-quarter points en route to a 69-54 victory in 6-man football at Longhorn Field.

“They were able to score quickly off that onside kick and fumble,” Saint Jo head coach Chad Tallon said.

Forestburg head coach Wayne Tuckwell, who served as a coordinator for Tallon with the Panthers for five seasons, agreed the onside kick was a pivotal part of the contest.

“In the second half, that set the tone for us,” the coach commented. “We were able to get the ball and score, and then we got the ball right back and brought it down for another score.”

Tuckwell said the lightning-like scoring elevated the Longhorns’ morale.

Forestburg improved to 4-2 heading into its Oct. 10 game at Harrold. Saint Jo (3-2) returns to action on Oct. 10 as well, playing host to Denton Calvary at Harley Sewell Field. Forestburg beat Denton Calvary earlier this season for some comparison shopping.

This game served as Matthew Wallace’s breakout performance as the quarterback threw five touchdown passes and he rushed for three more scores.

Wallace threw TD strikes twice to Bryan McDowell and the following players once – Malaci Moore, Bear Osteen and Taten Vann.

Moore was a game time decision, and he was healthy enough to contribute. Meanwhile, Vann’s 68-yard TD reception during the fourth quarter proved to be the final dagger to the Panthers’ heart.

Saint Jo received solid contributions on offense from Wyatt West, Anthony Gutierrez and Laramie Brawner, but it wasn’t enough the counter Forestburg’s firepower on this night.

Friday’s Result

Forestburg 69, Saint Jo 54

At Forestburg

Score By Quarters

Saint Jo                 12           16           14           12           –             54

Forestburg          6              14           30           19           ­–             69

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

SJ – Wyatt West 25 pass from Laramie Brawner (kick failed)

F – Daniel Sharon 14 run (kick failed)

SJ – Blake Pledger 41 kickoff return (kick failed)

Second Quarter

F – Bryan McDowell 24 pass from Matthew Wallace (Malaci Moore kick)

SJ – Anthony Gutierrez 3 run (Daimeon Lawler kick)

SJ – West 55 pass from Garrett Parker (Lawler kick)

F – Wallace 2 run (kick failed)

Third Quarter  

F – Malaci Moore 52 pass from Wallace (Moore kick)

F – McDowell 6 pass from Wallace (Moore kick)

SJ – Gutierrez 26 run (Lawler kick)

F – Wallace 27 run (kick failed)

F – Sharon 3 run (Moore kick)

SJ – Brawner 10 run (Lawler kick)

Fourth Quarter

F – Bear Osteen 12 pass from Wallace (Sharon run)

SJ –Baltazar Lozano 4 run (kick failed)

F – Taten Vann 68 pass from Wallace (kick failed)

SJ – West 9 run (pass failed)

F – Wallace 27 run (kick failed)

OTHER GAMES

Covenant Classical 56, Gold-Burg 6

Josh Belt scampered 30 yards for a touchdown, but that was the only offense Gold-Burg had to show for in a non-district 6-man loss to Covenant Classical Academy of Fort Worth.

Gold-Burg is now 2-3 overall.

The Bears play at Joe Corpening Field in Stoneburg next Friday versus Tioga. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Holliday 45, Nocona 0

Holliday won this District 2-3A-II game without much trouble. The Eagles staked themselves to a 14-0 lead at the end one quarter and 31-0 at intermission.

Nocona has the unenviable task of playing defending state champion Cisco at Jack Crain Stadium next Friday (7:30 p.m. kickoff). The Indians remain winless at 0-5.

Bowie was idle

The Bowie High School football team got healthier during its bye week as the Jackrabbits prepare for next Friday’s District 4-3A-I opener at Boyd. The game will take place at Boyd ISD Stadium (7:30 p.m. kickoff). The Rabbits are 1-4.

VOLLEYBALL

District 3A-9

Nocona def. Holliday, 25-16, 13-25, 15-25, 25-19, 20-18. Nocona improved to 16-15 overall, 5-2 in the district. The Lady Indians are now locked in a probable postseason spot.

Bowie def. Paradise, 25-21, 21-16, 17-25, 25-12. Bowie improved to 18-15 overall, 3-4 in the district. The Lady Rabbits are tied with Holliday.

District 2A-10

Forestburg def. Saint Jo, 23-25, 17-25, 235-16, 25-23, 15-9. The Lady Horns are now 18-11, 4-3. Lady Panthers drop to 9-17, 3-4. Tioga is also 3-4 in this district. Forestburg forges ahead for a possible playoff berth.

Tioga def. Gold-Burg 25-7, 25-4, 25-7. Gold-Burg is now 0-20, 0-7.

Lindsay def. Prairie Valley 25-11, 25-8, 25-6. Prairie Valley is now 4-22, 1-6. Lindsay is currently ranked third in 2A by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.

Forestburg’s Daniel Sharon (left) attempts to stop Saint Jo’s Laramie Brawner during the second half of Friday’s non-district 6-man football game at Longhorn Field in Forestburg. The Longhorns defeated the Panthers, 69-54, erasing a halftime deficit for the victory. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)