Friday, Dec. 05, 2008

Tigers go down fighting

By BRIAN HERNALSTEEN

News-Mirror Writer

The effort was there, the heart was there, the chances were there, if only the points were there at the end.

Mansfield’s 41-35 loss to Cedar Hill ends the football season for the Tigers, a rollercoaster ride throughout the playoffs that was highlighted with two big upsets.

Mansfield got behind early in the contest, 14-0, after a fumble on a kickoff after a Cedar Hill touchdown.

But Mansfield didn’t give up, and after some gutsy calls (including a perfect three-for-three on fourth-down conversions in the game) the Tigers were on the board and back in the fight.

Stepfan Taylor led Mansfield all afternoon, playing his heart out in what would be his final high school game. He finished with 200 yards rushing and five touchdowns.

Mansfield’s downfall wasn’t something that has plagued the Tigers all year, but more or less something it has suffered from as of late: big plays.

When the Tiger defense held Cedar Hill and forced them into a third-down possession, the Longhorns would find a way with the big play and consistently stay a step ahead.

Mansfield never gave up for a moment, battling back and eventually taking the lead in the fourth quarter. With a little more than 11 minutes remaining, Mansfield took a 28-27 lead and seemingly had the Cedar Hill defense on the ropes.

But the Longhorn offense needed only three plays from Ben Malena to regain the lead. On the next Tiger possession, an interception that bounced off a couple players found its way into the hands of Randall Smith, who returned it inside the Mansfield 10-yard line. A couple plays later, Malena would score again and take a 41-28 lead with two minutes left to play.

Mansfield’s guts were on full display in what would turn out to be its final drive of the season.

And what a drive it was.

With 2:14 left on the game clock, Mansfield’s first two offensive plays from its own 19-yard line were incomplete passes. Taylor’s 12-yard gain on third and 10 gave Mansfield a first down on the 31-yard line.

Out of timeouts, quarterback Daniel Green spiked the ball, stopping the clock. On the next play, he went deep and connected with Chris Fletcher for a 39-yard gain. The play after that, Green found Taylor for a 31-yard score. Taylor’s romp was impressive, as he cut back and forth across the field for an incredibly gutsy score.

The Tigers had a final shot on the onside kick, but failed to recover.

It was the end of the season for the Tigers, but one that will not be forgotten for years to come.

"They stepped up to the plate all year, and I couldn’t be more proud of them," said Mansfield coach Jeff Hulme, who led the Tigers to the playoffs in his first year. "They are going to be able to walk around with their heads held high and their chests out. Going three rounds deep and playing at Texas Stadium, that is what dreams are made of. I feel bad we can’t continue our journey, but we had a great season and I’m proud of them."

It was Hulme’s first season as coach, but it will arguably go down as the most memorable season in school history.

An upset in the first round of the playoffs (a win over No. 3 Abilene) and an impressive win in round two (El Paso Montwood) would highlight a season that didn’t start too well for Mansfield.

Going 2-2 in the first month of the season had people and opponents doubting Mansfield throughout the season.

But a win in the final week against Arlington would set the tone for the playoffs, and set the tone for Taylor, who finished the playoffs (three games) with 668 yards rushing, 88 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, arguably the most impressive performance from any player in the state.

"I’m really proud of this team, especially the underclassmen. They stepped up, and filled spots that were open after we lost seniors last year," Taylor said. "Everyone bought into Coach Hulme’s system. I’m really proud of the team, the coaches and the community."