03 Sep Cardinals Survive Season Opener, Defeat Gainesville 35-33

The Pottsboro Cardinals were headed to a typical Pottsboro victory in their season opener Friday night in Gainesville, then with seconds remaining in the first half lightning struck twice to make it a close game.  The Cardinals defeated the Gainesville Leopards 35-33 but with 30 seconds remaining in the 1st half Pottsboro was up 21-0.  That’s when the Leopards discovered their secret weapon.  Calion Baker who was the Gainesville RB lined up in the slot and hauled in a 77 yard TD pass straight up the middle of the field.  After a controversial onside kick recovery by Gainesville the Leopards did it again Baker got behind the Cardinal defense and grabbed a 49 yard TD pass to make the score 21-14 at half time.

In the 2nd half the teams traded touchdowns, Gainesville scored with 3:31 remaining to pull within 2 points.  Pottsboro held on for the victory but it was far from a normal Pottsboro game.  Gainesville scored all 5 touchdowns on passes that covered 40 yards or more including 89 & 77 yards to Baker.  The Cardinals pretty much controlled the line of scrimmage getting 147 rushing yards from Hunter Watson and 4 TD’s.  Pottsboro is 1-0 on the season and heads to Gunter Friday night.  The Tigers won at Howe 50-12.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
7-0       9:40     PHS       Hunter Watson 7 yard run(60 yards, 5 plays)
14-0     2:45     PHS       Hunter Watson 4 yard run(23 yards, 4 plays)

2nd Quarter
21-0     4:36     PHS        Will Cates 1 yard run(86 yards, 9 plays)
21-7       :28     GHS       Calion Baker 77 yard pass from Draylon Franklin(77 yards, 1 play)
21-14     :19     GHS       Calion Baker 49 yard pass from Draylon Franklin(49 yards, 1 play)

3rd Quarter
28-14    8:27    PHS        Hunter Watson 17 yard run(28 yards, 5 plays)
28-20    5:52    GHS       Calion Baker 89 yard pass from Draylon Franklin(80 yards, 2 plays)
28-26    3:15    GHS       Josh Kemp 41 yard pass from Draylon Franklin(45 yards, 3 plays)
35-26     :39     PHS        Hunter Watson 3 yard run(25 yards, 7 plays)

4th Quarter
35-33     3:31    GHS       Josh Kemp 47 yard pass from Draylon Frankling(82 yards, 4 plays)

Team Stats
.              PHS        GHS
rush         273           54
pass          72           447
total         345          501
to’s            3              2

Pottsboro passing
Hunter Watson 6-18-2(72)

Pottsboro rushing
Hunter Watson 19-147 4 TD’s, Will Cates 26-123 TD, Eric De la Cruz 1-3

Pottsboro receiving
Ross Hendrix 1-32, Will Cates 2-15, Drew Edwards 1-4, Jasek Hooker 1-8, Hunter Hines 1-13

Gainesville passing
Draylon Franklin 17-16-1(447) 5 TD

Gainesville rushing
Calion Baker 16-68, Draylon Franklin 8-(-19)

Gainesville receiving
Calion Baker 8-288 3 TD’s, Josh Kemp 4-104 2 TD’