Sports
Quinlan Ford falls to Pittsburg, 53-13
ROYSE CITY — The Cinderella Story ended for the Quinlan Ford Panthers (4-7) on Friday night when they fell to the Pittsburg Pirates (10-1), 53-13 in a Class 3A Division II area playoff game at Royse City ISD Stadium.
However, for the first two minutes and 16 seconds, it looked like the Panthers had déjà vu all over again as Al Balliette broke free for an 80-yard run that set up a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Kyle Stone. The extra point kick by Manuel Castilleja was good and the Panthers held a 7-0 lead over the heavily-favored Pirates.
But the celebration was short-lived and so was the one touchdown lead as Pittsburg quarterback Mitch Manley tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Chris Brown. The extra point by Saul Martinez was good for a 7-7 tie at the 5:17 mark of the first quarter.
Pittsburg then went on a run, or we should say senior tailback Ted Burns went on a run for the Pirates. Burns capped off drives of 35 and seven yards with touchdown runs and Martinez threw in a 32-yard field goal to finish off the first quarter. Burns then took off on a 72-yard touchdown jaunt midway through the second quarter to give the Pirates a 32-7 halftime lead.
A steady drizzling rain kept the bands in the stands at halftime and the beginning of the third period was slowed down somewhat by the weather, but with 4:20 remaining in the quarter Manley capped off an 88-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Chris Brown. All of the extra point kicks were good by Martinez.
The first of two muffed kickoff returns by Quinlan gave the Pirates some unneeded help. Throw in a personal foul or two and Burns was scoring his fourth touchdown of the night from nine yards out with 4:09 to play in the third quarter.
The Panthers responded by driving 67 yards in just seven plays to score on a 1-yard touchdown run by Kyle Stone. The two-point conversion failed and with 2:26 to play in the third quarter Quinlan Ford trailed 46-13.
Midway through the final quarter, Maurice Green scored on a 45-yard touchdown run as the reserves took over for Pittsburg. With 6:53 remaining to be played the final score of 53-13 was already posted on the Royse City jumbotron.
Pittsburg dominate the stat box with 265 yards rushing and 215 yards passing. Burns carried the ball 20 times for 195 yards and four touchdowns. Quinlan Ford lost three fumbles in the contest.
This was the 19th championship victory for the Pittsburg Pirates in their 97-year football playing history.
The Pittsburg Pirates and the Kennedale Wildcats will pair up for the regional round at 6 p.m. on Friday at Mesquite’s E.H. Hanby Stadium.
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