Published: October 31, 2009 04:22 pm      

Lions fight but fall to Warriors

MINERAL WELLS – In a battle for second place and the right to host a first-round playoff game, the Weatherford Christian Lions were edged by Mineral Wells Community Christian, 35-28, in private school six-man action at Miller Stadium.

With the win, CCS finished the regular season at 9-1 overall, 3-1 in TCAF District 2 play and earned the right to host a playoff game for the first time in school history. The Warriors will play the Irving Faustina Academy Falcons in a game tentatively set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Miller Stadium.

Weatherford Christian is also playoff-bound and will travel this week to face Arlington St. Paul.

The Warriors scored all their points in the first half, with Daniel Hollingsworth scoring three times and Kade Cole adding two scores to take a 35-7 lead at the intermission.

After CCS went on top early, 6-0, Weatherford Christian answered quickly. Garret London had a 26-yard run for the Lions, followed by a 27-yard touchdown run by Sloan Baldwin to take an early 7-6 lead.

In the third quarter, CCS appeared ready to score with a first-and-goal at the 9, but penalties and tackles for losses sent the Warriors to the opposite end of the field.

They faced fourth-and-goal 50 yards from the goal line, only to get sacked and turn the ball over to the Lions on the Warriors' 14-yard line.

CCS almost held the Lions out of the end zone, but on fourth down WC quarterback Justin Hunn hit London for a 6-yard scoring toss to make it 35-14.

Weatherford added two more scores from there, pulling within 35-28.

Weatherford Christian had the ball and the goal line in its sights at CCS' 30-yard line with less than two minutes to play, but Cole, who missed two offensive series in the second half with injuries, picked off a Hunn pass at the 10.

The Warriors had to move the ball and pick up first downs to try and run out the clock, which they accomplished. On first down, Cole peeled off a 23-yard run. Then, facing fourth-and-eight with just under a minute at CCS' own 38, Cole hit Cole VanKirk on a 24-yard pass play to ice the win.