Slugging it out: Mason's defense, timely plays carry it past Wall

MASON, Texas — The No. 4 Wall Hawks fell to long-time rival Mason in the "Puncher Dome" after the home team forced four turnovers in a 14-7 defensive slugfest on Friday.

The Punchers (6-0) and Hawks (3-2) struggled offensively with both teams committing multiple turnovers and untimely penalties. The two stout defenses rarely gave up yardage to the opposing team's rushing attack, which ultimately forced a tight game where every possession mattered.

How it happened

The score sat at 0-0 at the end of the first quarter after defensive back Briggs Jones intercepted Mason's first pass attempt. On the ensuing possession, Wall quarterback Gunnar Dillard coughed up the ball after a big hit — his first of four total turnovers on the night.

Wall's offense was the first to reach the opposing red zone after the Punchers turned the ball over on downs and committed an unsportsmanlike penalty. After a couple of rushing attempts from inside the Mason 5-yard line, Dillard scored on a quarterback keeper up the middle to take the lead 7-0.

Mason responded with an 80-yard drive led by running back Sutton Silerio and quarterback Carlton Schmidt. Running back Matthew King capped off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run after two unsportsmanlike penalties from the Hawks kept the Punchers' drive alive and tied the game at 7-7 going into halftime.

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Wall started the second half with the ball and was driving down the field when a pass from Dillard bounced off the receiver's hands to Mason defensive back Frankie Bolley who returned the interception 80 yards to the Hawks 6-yard line. Schmidt — who did not start the game at quarterback — kept the ball for a 3-yard touchdown run on a read option play to go up 14-7.

The Hawks had another opportunity to score deep in the Punchers' territory, but a Mason strip-sack killed Wall's offensive momentum in the fourth quarter. Mason moved the sticks and kept the ball away from Wall's offense but eventually punted.

With less than two minutes remaining, the Punchers punted inside to the Wall 12-yard line. They got the ball to midfield when Dillard threw his second interception of the game to Silerio with less than a minute left. The Punchers kneeled out the rest of the clock for the 14-7 win.

They said it

Mason Coach Michael McLeod on how his team played: "That's a great win for our program and our community. Winning a rivalry game where there's a common respect for one another here in the Puncher Dome is just a cherry on top for our non-district schedule."

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This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: High school football: Mason edges out Wall in defensive battle