By Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
MILLSAP— In 2024, the Tolar Rattlers(2-1) and the Millsap Bulldogs(1-2) met on the gridiron on two separate occasions. The first was a week three non-district match in Tolar that the Rattlers won. The second was in the Bi-District round of the playoffs, which Tolar again took the victory.
This time around, the game was on the turf of Bulldog Stadium in west Parker County where Millsap looked to defend its home turf and avenge its two losses behind a mostly underclassman squad.
After a low scoring slugfest of a first half, the Rattler offense found its spark and went off for 28 points, resulting in a 42-18 victory.
The Bulldog defense made an early stop on the opening drive of the game. Sophomore running back Braun Johnson, son of head coach Jacob Johnson, took advantage and found paydirt on a 13-yard run to the pylon, but the extra point was missed. Tolar responded quickly by scoring three plays later on a pass from Briton Rice to Degan Rodriguez to take a 7-6 lead to end the first quarter. Rice finished his day completing 12 of 20 passes for 195 yards and four touchdowns, and ran for 23 yards and another score.
Both defenses stood tall in the second quarter and even forced a few turnovers on both sides. Finally with 45 seconds left in the half, Rice threw to the end zone from 14 yards out and Noah Boulanger beat the coverage for the touchdown to make it 14-6 at the break.
Millsap delivered a quick blow to open the second half but it came at a price as Johnson left the game with an injury after rushing for 110 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. Adrian Porter came into the game and scored from six yards out to cut the deficit to 14-12 after a missed two point conversion.
It only took two offensive plays for the Rattlers to punch right back when Kelvin Murray punched it in from four yards out. From there, Tolar took complete control. After a defensive stop, Rice was able to find Anson Laminack on a screen pass from 15 yards out to make the score 28-12 after three quarters.
The Bulldogs managed one more score to open the fourth quarter to give themselves a fighting shot but again missed the two-point conversion to leave it as a two possession game. The Rattlers then put it out of hand as Rice scored once on the ground and again on a pass to Dacen Cochran to bring the score to 42-18.
Millsap tried to stage a comeback but two more turnovers dashed those hopes and the clock ran out.
Tolar now improves to 2-1 and will be back on the road next Friday against Comanche. Meanwhile, Millsap falls to 1-2 on the young season and will play host to state ranked Paradise next Friday for their homecoming.
