MIDLOTHIAN – Terrell coach Marvin Sedberry Jr. said Thursday night that this was a program defining win. His Tigers came to Midlothian ISD Stadium against the defending district champions and walked away with an impressive 21-14 victory over Midlothian Heritage.
The Tigers stayed perfect at 6-0 overall and 3-0 in District 6-5A Division 2 while the Jaguars dropped to 3-3 and 2-1. Last time Terrell started a season 6-0 – you have to go back 20 years to the 2005 season. The Tigers went 6-0 before ending the regular season 9-1, and ultimately 10-2 following a second round playoff appearance.
It’s the fourth consecutive season the Tigers posted 6 or more wins. They won a combined 10 games from 2018 to 2021.
Heritage came out hot in both halves.
After its defense forced a punt to open the game – Heritage started deep in its territory, but it didn’t matter as the Jags marched the field for the first touchdown. Dax Montelongo dumped it to running back Za’ko Davis from 12 yards for a 7-0 lead midway through the period.
Terrell’s third possession began at its own 12. QB Nolan Hall threw a dime to Elijah Weber for a 37-yard gain near midfield. Heritage’s Aaron Cowans picked off a pass in the end zone, but was called for pass interference which moved the ball up to the 15.
Julian Ashley looked like he was going to get stopped for no gain, but bounced off a defender and scored on a 15-yard touchdown to tie the game to end the first quarter.
The Jags forced a Terrell punt, but was called for roughing the punter which gave the Tigers a fresh set of downs. Then on fourth-and-3, Hall faked the hand off in a jumbo package and rolled out to open space for a 28-yard TD – giving Terrell a 14-7 edge with 5:12 left in the first half.
Ashley ran in his second TD – from 16 yards – and Terrell led 21-7 at the intermission.
Heritage took the opening kick in the third quarter and marched down for its second touchdown. Davis pulled off a big run and then Montelongo hit Camden Parker to pull the Jags within 21-14 less than two minutes in.
The Jags had all the momentum when the defense forced a three-and-out, but on their ensuing offensive drive, they missed a field goal with 5:58 left on the clock. Heritage got the ball again, but on the second play of the fourth quarter, the Jags threw an incomplete pass on fourth down to give the Tigers the ball back.
