TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – The Pine Tree Pirates overcame two turnovers and scored late to defeat the Chapel Hill Bulldogs 20-14 on Friday night.

The Pirates improved to 3-1 in district play, while the Bulldogs fell to 3-2.

Pine Tree started the game with football. They managed to reach the Chapel Hill 25-yard line before the Bulldog defense forced a turnover on downs. Chapel Hill’s first drive was also initially promising. The Bulldogs entered Buccaneer territory but were forced to clear the ball.

Pine Tree’s second drive began at its own 30-yard line. The Buccaneers moved the ball to Chapel Hill’s 4-yard line. The Pirates took 3rd-and-10 from the 8-yard line when quarterback Matt Cates’ pass was intercepted by Chapel Hill’s Ke’rion Green in the end zone and returned to the Bulldogs 10-yard line.

The Bulldogs turned this win into points. On 3rd-and-9 from his own 26-yard line, quarterback Malik Gee connected with Maliek Brown for a 74-yard touchdown pass, giving Chapel Hill a 7-0 lead with 10:33 left in the first half.

The pirates would respond. A good comeback brought the Pirates attack closer to midfield. Cates connected with Kalil Deckard for a 29-yard field goal to get the Pirates on the board. The extra point attempt did not work and Chapel Hill took the lead 7-6 with 6:00 left in the half.

The Bulldogs’ next drive ended with a punt, giving the ball back to Pine Tree with just over three minutes left in the first half. The Buccaneers started the drive at Chapel Hill’s 47-yard line and needed just six plays to find ground. Cates ran from eight yards out to give the Pirates a 13-7 lead with 1:01 left in the first half. Pirates entered the first half with a 13-7 lead.

Chapel Hill took the ball at halftime, leading by six points. Trevor Brooks kept the drive alive for the Bulldogs with a 38-yard run on 4th-and-7 to move the Bulldogs into Buccaneer territory. Gee would later be sacked on the fourth play to give the ball back to Pine Tree.

The Pirates offense couldn’t get anything done in their own half and punted the ball back to Chapel Hill. A fumble gave the ball back to the Buccaneers as the Bulldogs advanced deep into Pine Tree territory. Pine Tree would not benefit from the capital. Cates was intercepted a second time by Green late in the third quarter.

Chapel Hill was able to get inside Pine Tree’s 5-yard line in the fourth quarter. A holding call and illegal forward pass forced the Bulldogs to go back and they eventually turned the ball over on downs at the 15-yard line. The Chapel Hill defense once again stood strong and forced a three-and-out to give the ball back to the offense.

This time the Bulldogs took advantage. Gee’s 40-yard run and Cazden Holton’s 16-yard run put the Bulldogs at Pine Tree’s 4-yard line. Gee was able to score a third down to give Chapel Hill a 14-13 lead with 5:43 left in the game.

The pirates responded. Cates found Jordan Taylor on a slant route on 3rd-and-2 from his own 27-yard line, and Taylor went 73 yards to the end zone for the touchdown, giving the Pirates a 20-14 lead with 3:58 left in the game. .

The Bulldogs managed to get the ball back on a final drive with less than a minute left in the game, but the Buccaneers held on to take the 20-14 district victory.

For Pine Tree, L’Marion Hunter led the way on the field with 15 carries for 74 yards. Cates was 11-of-19 through the air for 196 yards and two touchdowns to Deckard (2 catches, 40 yards) and Taylor (4 catches, 102 yards).

For Chapel Hill, Gee was 12-of-17 passing for 151 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball 20 times for 103 yards and a touchdown.

Michael Coleman and Kyle Owens broke up the match in Red Zone Overtime.

“Tremendous effort from both teams,” Owens said. “A big win for Pine Tree. “They have proven that this season has not been a fluke for them and at the same time they are not happy with where they are.”

Chapel Hill played without its starting quarterback and its running backs were shut out in the second half.

“You played a really good Pine Tree team without having two big horses in the backfield and you played them very close,” Owens said. “I think there are a lot of positives to look at.”

Chapel Hill is now 6-3 overall and 3-2 in district play. The Bulldogs will wrap up their regular season next week on the road against the Henderson Lions. Pine Tree improved to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in district play. The Pirates will host the Lindale Eagles this Friday night.

Copyright 2024 KLTV. All rights reserved.