LUFKIN — The East Chambers football team borrowed a page from last year's Buccaneer basketball team — the one that eliminated Troup in Area play last winter.

Friday night, there was no late buzzer-beater but it took two overtime periods before East Chambers outlasted the Tigers, 24-17, in double overtime at Abe Martin Stadium in Lufkin on Thursday night in a Class 2A bi-district win.

The first of two Tiger first half interceptions set up the Tigers on the Bucs 40-yardline after the Richard Lacy theft.

Quarterback Blake Lynch added a 8-yard run, before Seth Gibson punched it down to the Bucs one. Lynch dove in from there and the Gabriel Leon Pat kick spotted the Tigers a 7-0 led after one quarter.

East Chambers answered back midway through the second period as running back Glenn Roberts capped off a 51-yard drive with the final three yards. Victor Lopez added the conversion kick to knot the game at 7-7 with 6:04 before intermission.

The Tigers were not done however in the half when linebacker Bradly Stewart made an interception and set the Tigers up near midfield.

Lynch and Quinten Green hooked up on a 25-yard completion, and three plays later Leon booted a 29-yard field goal with two-seconds remaining for a 10-7, Troup lead at the break.  

The Tigers held a 129-108 edge in total yards at the break, taking advantage of the only two turnovers of the opening half.

The Tigers took the opening kickoff and marched down the field in nine plays, covering 60-yards when Lynch ran in from six-yards out around left end to up the lead to 17-7.

East Chambers put together a drive two possessions later as quarterback, Brandon Jackson capped off with a one-yard plunge and the PAT kick made it a 17-14 affair.

Buccaneer kicker, Lopez hit on a 20-yard field goal at the 4:50 mark to tie the game, 17-17.

An exchange of a Buc fumble, followed by A Troup interception set the Bucs up with a final shot as the clock wound down deep in Tiger territory.

An’Fernee Ross however made the third Tiger interception to thwart the possible game-winning drive and force overtime.

Troup’s first possession was picked off by Coby Collins and the win in the Bucs hands.

However, a big sack by Wesley Thompson pushed the Bucs into a 41-yard field goal attempt that fell short to force the second extra period.

The Bucs took their first lead on the second play of the second OT as quarterback, Johnson hit tight end, Nick King for a 25-yard scoring strike, and the Lopez kick made it 24-17.

The Tigers final play came down to a fourth down and one yard needed for the first down.

Michael Davis got the call and bulled ahead for what appeared to be enough for a first down.

The officials however marked the ball short and called the game without a measurement to leave the Tigers team and players in a quandary.

The Bucs season puts their season mark to 9-2 and will move on to play Franklin in the Area round.

Troup ends the year at 9-2, and co-champions of District 9-2A.





Class 2A Division I Playoff Football

At Abe Martin Stadium, Lufkin, TX

East Chambers 24, Troup 17 (2 OT)



Score by Quarters

Troup                     7     3     7    0     0  -   17       

East Chambers       0     7     7    3     7  -   24



Scoring Summary

First Quarter

T: Blake Lynch 1 run, (Gabriel Leon kick good), 6:08

Second Quarter

EC: Glenn Roberts 3 run, (Victor Lopez kick good), 6:04

T: Gabriel Leon 29 field goal, :02.

Third Quarter

T: Lynch 6 run, (Leon kick good), 6:43

EC: Brandon Johnson 1 run, (Lopez kick good), 1:34.

Fourth Quarter

EC: Victor Lopez 20 field goal, 7:04

Second Overtime

EC: Nick King 25 pass from Johnson, (Lopez kick good).



Game Statistics

                                  TRO       EC

First Downs                17          15

Rushes/Yds.             47-233    35-118

Passing Yds                30         197

Total Yds.                 263         315

Comp-Att-Int          2-5-2      16-24-3

Penalties/Yds           7-50         6-55         

Punts/Yds                4-33.2     2-30.5

Fumbles/Lost            1/0          4/1  



Individual Statistics

RUSHING –  Troup: Blake Lynch 16-77; Seth Gibson 16-80; Michael Davis 6-23; Marcus Kincade 9-53. East Chambers: Glenn Roberts 17-61; Blake Johnson 8-6; Jase Vanya 8-40; Jarrod Guillory 1-11.

PASSING – Troup: Blake Lynch 2-5-30-2-0. East Chambers: Blake Johnson 16-24-197-1-2.

RECEIVING –  Troup:  Quincy Green 1-25; Hitachi Lydia 1-5. East Chambers: Lane Simon 3-37; Vanya 3-18; Dominique Marshall 3-26; Brennan Beckett 1-7; Nick King 3-41; Cody Martin 1-18; Roberts 2-24.