Belcher fights through injury, leads Jacksboro past Millsap for district title

MILLSAP – Jacksboro dodged several bullets here Thursday night, including three turnovers and an injury to quarterback Lando Belcher.

Good teams find a way through adversity and the Tigers did just that, holding on for a thrilling 24-17 win over the Bulldogs.

Jacksboro clinched the District 5-3A Division II title and remained perfect at 4-0 in the loop and 9-0 overall in the process. Millsap slips to 3-1 and 5-3.

Belcher, who suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter, continued to play. The gritty senior throwing for 330 yards on 11-19 passing, including an 83-yard strike to Tyler Mitchell which broke a 17-all tie with 8:48 remaining.

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The Tiger defense held its own late, getting sacks from Jackson McComis and Pacus Wilbur to help force a three-and-out on the ensuing drive and then a Hunter Moffit fumble recovery with 4:11 left.

Millsap opened the scoring with a six-yard Reid Green run The Tigers came back on their next possession, Luis Balderrama ending a nine-play, 65-yard drive with a one-yard run.

A Belcher miscue was returned 44 yards by Tres Bagley to give Millsap a 14-7 lead on the first play of the second quarter. Jacksboro cut the deficit to 14-10 on Josh Salazar's 30-yard field goal.

After a Mitchell stop on fourth down forced a turnover, Jacksboro went 63 yards in three plays. Cannon Valenzuela and Belcher combining on a 42-yard touchdown to put the Tigers up 17-14. Millsap tied the score at 17 on a 27-yard Noah Perricone field goal just before the half.

The Bulldogs were unable to take advantage of a pair of fumble recoveries on the first two Tiger drives of the second half, as Kasey Ray Swan's interception and a three-and-out kept the game tied.

JACKSBORO 24, MILLSAP 17

Jacksboro 7 10 0 7 -24

Millsap 7 10 0 0 -17

FIRST QUARTER

M – Reid Green 6 run (Noah Perricone kick), 5:27

J – Luis Balderama 1 run (Josh Salazar kick), 2:15

SECOND QUARTER

M – Tres Bagley 44 interception return (Perricone kick), 11:45

J – FG, Salazar 30, 8:32

M – FG, Perricone 27, :25

FOURTH QUARTER

Tyler Mitchell 83 pass from Belcher (Salazar kick), 8:48

TEAM STATS

First downs: (J) 18; (M) 11

Rushing: (J) 33-84; (M) 35-132

Passing: (J) 12-21-1—395; (M) 7-18-1—159

Punts: (J) 3-33; (M) 4-36

Fumbles: (J) 3-2; (M) 1-1

Penalties: (J) 5-60; (M) 4-30

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: (J) Luke Sams 19-63, Luis Balderama 9-28; (M) Green 20-83, Hanog 11-45.

PASSING: (J) Lando Belcher 12-20-1—395; (M) Hibbie 7-17-1—159.

RECEIVING: (J) Cannon Valenzuela 6-177, Tyler Mitchell 3-109; (M) Brandon Savage 3-62.

RECORDS: Jacksboro 9-0, 4-0; Millsap 5-3, 3-1.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Jacksboro Tigers at Millsap Bulldogs 2023 high school football score