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By Tommy Mann, special to The Orange Leader

WEST ORANGE – A 1-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the fourth quarter, and the ensuing extra point kick, gave the Nederland Bulldogs a 14-13 victory over the West Orange-Stark Mustangs on Friday night.

The game featured two hard-hitting defenses that held two high-powered offenses in check for the majority of the game, but it was the Bulldogs who managed to snag the victory over the Mustangs with a drive for the ages on its final possession of the game.

Quarterback Ayden Sunday and the Bulldogs started its final possession at its own three-yard line after a great punt by the Mustangs pinned them near the end zone with 4:50 remaining in the game. The first play saw running back Hubert Thomas barely escape the end zone and a game sealing safety as he was tackled at the one-yard line for a loss, but Sunday connected with receiver KJ Tezeno for a 6-yard pass completion and first down at the 16-yard line a couple of plays later to extend the drive.

With 1:11 remaining on the clock and the Bulldogs facing fourth and seven at the 19-yard line, Sunday rolled to his right and hit Tezeno on the sideline for a 24-yard gain and another Nederland first down with the ball at 43-yard line.

A draw play to running back Hubert Thomas moved the ball into Mustangs territory to the 41-yard line and gave Nederland another first down with 41 seconds left in the game.

Sunday once again found Tezeno as he was cutting left across the middle for a 23-yard catch and run to the West Orange-Stark 18 yard line. Two plays later Thomas sprinted up the middle before being tackled at the one-yard line. Sunday and the Bulldogs offense quickly got to the line of scrimmage and spiked the ball.

With 3 seconds left on the clock, Nederland let Sunday shine, as he took the snap, rolled to his right as Mustangs defenders were in hot pursuit and found Jabneel Serrano at the back of the end zone, in heavy traffic, for the game-tying touchdown as time expired. Kicker Lance Resch sealed the Bulldogs 14-13 victory with the extra-point.

The Mustangs struck first with an eight play, 80-yard drive that chewed up 4:41 of the clock at the end of the first quarter. WO-S quarterback Marcus Turner Jr. found receiver Ja’mikael Davis for a 15-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Both teams traded possessions throughout the first-half, but WO-S was poised to strike again and extend its lead late in the second quarter. It was third and goal from the Bulldogs 21-yard line as Turner dropped back and launched the ball toward the end zone, but Nederland defender Jaedon Ned intercepted the ball at the 1-yard line and returned it to the 35-yard line with 43-seconds left in the half.

The Mustangs took the opening kickoff of the third quarter and only needed three plays to find the end zone. Running back Khelvy Jefferson roared through the Bulldogs defense for a 50-yard jaunt to the Nederland 22-yard line. Two plays later Turner ran to his left and found the end zone giving WO-S a 13-0 lead after the failed extra point.

Nederland responded on the next possession with a solid 12-play, 58-yard drive that consumed 6:36 off the clock in the third quarter and had two fourth down conversions by the Bulldogs to keep the drive alive. 

The key play of the drive was when Sunday on fourth down and 10 at the Mustangs 33-yard line, connected with Thomas in the right flat. Thomas then zipped down the sideline to the 10-yard line. Two plays later Sunday rolled left and found paydirt on a 3-yard touchdown run to make the score 13-7.

Bulldogs running back Thomas rushed for 93 yards on 22 totes for the game. Nederland quarterback Sunday threw for 164 yards, while completing 12 of 19 passes and one touchdown, along with one rushing score, as the Bulldogs gained 226 total yards of offense on the night.

The Mustangs offense had 300 total yards of offense on the night against a stingy Nederland defense. WO-S running back Jefferson rushed for 116 yards on 13 carries, while Turner passed for 128 yards on nine completions in 16 attempts with one touchdown and one interception. He had one rushing touchdown as well.

Nederland (2-0) returns home next Friday and will face the Silsbee Tigers (2-0), which beat LC-M 27-14 on Friday night.

The Mustangs (1-1) travel to Madisonville next Friday for a neutral site game against the Class 4-A Div. II No. 8 state-ranked Waco La Vega Pirates. La Vega (1-1) lost to the Class 4-A Div. I No. 4 state-ranked Celina Bobcats 49-27 in Week 2 action.