2 weeks Ago By A.J. Crisp
LONGVIEW — Pine Tree continued its stellar start to the 2024 season with a hard-fought 30-27 homecoming victory Friday over Hallsville as the Pirates moved to 4-0 in front of a jam-packed Pirate Stadium. Pine Tree started strong, jumping out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter before Hallsville even recorded its initial first down of the contest. The Bobcats (1-3) battled back to take a 21-20 lead in the third quarter before Pine Tree made just enough plays down the stretch to come away victorious.
After Pine Tree turned the ball over on downs at the Hallsville 14-yard line, the Bobcats had the ball down 3 with 2:29 left and a chance to tie or win, but Hallsville quarterback Josh Seal suffered what appeared to be a serious injury and had to be taken off the field via stretcher. Hallsville turned the ball over on downs a few plays later as the Pirates held on for the win. It was the third straight game between these two teams decided by 3 points or fewer.
After Hallsville scored on a 30-yard run by Seal to take a 21-20 lead and erase a 20-0 deficit, the Pirates quickly responded as Pine Tree’s Jordan Taylor — who had a huge performance with five receptions for 169 yards and two touchdowns — hauled in a 45-yard touchdown pass from Matt Cates for a 27-21 lead with 31 seconds left in the third quarter. Following a 52-yard kickoff return by Hallsville’s Blanton Hale, the Bobcats quickly moved and Seal scored on a one-yard touchdown run to tie it. After a Hallsville penalty, the 35-yard PAT attempt was blocked and the score remained deadlocked at 27-27.
Pine Tree’s Kalil Deckard returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards to set the Pirates up at the Bobcat 48. A 29-yard reception by Taylor set Pine Tree up in the red zone, but the Pirates couldn’t punch it in and settled for a 21-yard field goal by Julian Ibarra for a 30-27 lead with 6:46 to go. Cates finished 9 of 17 passing for 240 yards and two scores.
L’Marion Hunter rushed for 66 yards and two scores on 14 carries. Seal spearheaded Hallsville’s effort with 92 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries to go along with 116 passing yards and a touchdown. Ja’Cayden Bolden added 70 rushing yards and a score on 14 carries for Hallsville.
Pine Tree will kick off district action vs. Kilgore next week, while Hallsville is set to visit Texas High to begin league play. The Pirates opened the scoring three plays into the game when Cates hit Taylor for a 50-yard touchdown pass.
Following a Hallsville three-and-out, Pine Tree made it 13-0 after a 26-yard run by Hunter set up a three-yard touchdown run by Hunter. The Bobcats, after picking up eight yards on the first two plays of the ensuing possession, were held for no gain on third down. On fourth-and-2 from its own 35-yard line, Hallsville went for it but the Pirate defense held strong for a turnover on downs.
A 26-yard pass from Cates to Taylor on third-and-13 set up Hunter for a one-yard touchdown and 20-0 lead with 1:06 left in the opening quarter. Hallsville got things going offensively on its third possession of the night. The Bobcats marched 70 yards on 13 plays, capped off by a 15-yard scoring run by Bolden to make it a two-score game at 20-6.
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