FOOTBALL: West Scores Late to Down GHS 20-17

West used a last-minute scoring march to down Gatesville 20-17 Friday night in non-district play. In a game that saw the lead change hands most of the night, the Trojans' score with less than a minute to play capped a night of wild plays and excitement played before an overflow crowd at Trojan Field. Gatesville, which had picked up its first win of the season a week earlier against then-unbeaten Waco Connally, falls to 1-3. The Hornets close out non-district play next week at home against Salado. West, which remained unbeaten with the win, took a 3-0 lead midway through the opening quarter. The Trojans took advantage of a high snap on a punt attempt and set up shop deep in Hornet territory. The GHS defense stiffened and forced a 22-yard field goal. Gatesville wasted little time erasing the deficit, assembling a nifty 92-yard scoring march that consumed nine plays. Jeff Speer (167 yards passing) connected with Andraque Jones (101 yards receiving, 38 rushing) on a 57-yard pass to set up the Hornets' first trip to the end zone, which ended with Jones scoring on a 1-yard run. Abate Hennessy's PAT made it 7-3 with 1:15 left in the period. Gatesville's defense would flex its muscles again during the second quarter. West took the ensuing kickoff and drove to the GHS 18 yard line, but the Hornets held and West missed a field goal try. A key stop on that threat was an Alex Pittman sack on third down. GHS fumbled at its own 13 yard line two plays after the missed field goal, giving West a great opportunity on its next possession. After three plays the Trojans had it 1st-and-goal at the one, but the Hornet defense again rose to the occasion and Matthew Bell thwarted the Trojans with an interception on fourth down. The score remained 7-3 at the half, but Gatesville upped its lead with another impressive drive in the third quarter that ended with Hennessy's 32-yard field goal that made it 10-3 with 3:03 remaining in the third. West would tie the game before the period expired, then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff that led to a Trojan field goal and 13-10 lead just two plays into the final stanza. Gatesville was forced to punt on its next series, but the Hornets got the ball back when Cooper Edmiston recovered a West fumble at the Trojan 37 yard line. The Hornets moved quickly on foot, with Speer, Jones and Payden Smalley toting the pigskin behind an offensive line that was opening gaping holes. Jones' 2-yard run with 1:52 to play capped the short march and gave GHS a 17-13 lead with 1:52 left in the game. However, West took the next possession and moved 89 yards, getting the go-ahead touchdown with 0:46 to play. Defensive standouts for the Hornets included Cooper Edmiston (14 tackles, 1 fumble), Addison Santulan (8 tackles, 2 for loss), Sam Jackson (7 tackles), Jones (6 tackles, 1 interception, 1 blocked punt), Bryce Cole (6 tackles, 1 for loss) and Pittman (6 tackles, 2 sacks).