SMITHVILLE — After last week’s painful 60-0 season opener, the Smithville Tigers put up a strong fight against the Wharton Tigers, but fell 42-41 on the last drive of the game.
Smithville (0-2) had an impressive first half, scoring three touchdowns and giving up no turnovers. However, it was a battle of the Tigers in the second.
Smithville took a 20-13 lead into the locker room after a 2-yard pass from Justin Teague found Ethan Paxon in the endzone with 2:34 left in the half.
In the third quarter, however, the game changed dramatically when Smithville turned the ball over twice in three minutes and Wharton’s running back Deshavian Williams scored back-to-back touchdowns.
Williams then made another touchdown with five seconds remaining in the third, bringing the score to 34-20 Wharton.
Smithville came back in the fourth quarter, starting with Teague’s touchdown on a 20-yard run (kick failed) with 10:23 remaining.
Smithville made a strong defensive stand and got the ball back. On their first play of the drive, Lincoln ran 52 yards for another touchdown, and the kick was good to put the Tigers back on top 41-34 with 2:37 remaining.
Wharton, however, drove the ball 80 yards downfield and scored on a two-yard run with 32 seconds remaining on the clock. They went for it all and converted the two-point attempt to go up 42-41 and escaping Smithville with a win.