John Tyler High School Homecoming Queen Zitlaly Vega and King Israel Hernandez. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

John Tyler football coach Ricklan Holmes said the tough preseason slate would prepare his team for district play.

The formula was right for the District 7-5A Division I football opener on Friday night as the Lions celebrated homecoming with a 16-0 victory over Texas High on Earl Campbell Field.

The Cujo defense pitched a shutout at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, limiting the Tigers to 210 totals yards of which 36 was passing. Texas High started backup quarterback Brayson McHenry in the place of regular starter Ryan Cellers, who Tigers coach Gerry Stanford said was not eligible for the game. McHenry connected on 4 of 10 passing attempts for 36 yards with two interceptions (Kitan Crawford, Travion Ates).

JT quarterback Cameron Ford looked comfortable in control of the Lions offense, hitting on 12 of 18 passing attempts for 171 yards. He connected with Frank Turner with two long passes of 53 and 41 to set up scores for the Lions.

The Lions improve to 1-4 overall and 1-0 in district and will have their first road game next Friday at Wylie East. JT had faced four preseason opponents with a combined record of 13-3.

Texas High falls to 3-2 and 0-1. The Tigers will play host to McKinney North next Friday.

It appeared no one would score in the first half until late in the second quarter after JT just missed an 18-yard TD pass to Isaiah Johnson, Victor Leon came on and booted a 35-yard field with 2:40 on the clock.

The two teams were scoreless in the third quarter.

Late in the third quarter, JT took over at its own 25 and proceeded to grind out a drive that resulted in a 14-yard TD dash up the middle by Ken’Yontae Pinkard with 9:10 remaining in the fourth quarter. Leon kicked the PAT for a 10-0 lead.

Crawford took a couple of forward pitches from Ford for 11 and 8 yards on the drive.

Texas High responded and drove to the JT 37, but the Lions came through twice. First on third-and-1, JT dropped running back Tyrell Miller for a 1-yard loss and then Daveon Cummings and Isaiah Johnson stopped workhorse running back Tracy Cooper for 1-yard on fourth-and-2. JT took over with 7:10 to go in the game at the Lions’ 37.

Cooper was a strong running back, rushing for 139 yards on 33 carries.

JT then marched down the field on a 15-play drive that concluded with a 3-yard TD dash by Crawford with 36 seconds remaining. The PAT was blocked.

Ford connected with Turner for 41 yards on third-and-22 for a first down and then for 11-yards to Austin Campbell on a third-and-6 to keep the drive going.

Crawford and Travion Ates picked off passes for the Lions.

Marquavius Fisher had an interception for Texas High.

Kameron Medlock led the Lions in rushing with 46 yards on eight carries.

LIONS TALES: Zitlaly Vega was crowned Homecoming Queen with Israel Hernandez named Homecoming King. Others on the court were Princess Fatima Andrade and Prince Cruz Lozano and Duchess Jackie Sanchez and Duke Isaiah Johnson. … In other 7-5A Division I games, McKinney North defeated Sherman, 49-28; and West Mesquite won over Wylie East, 37-14. Mesquite Poteet had an open date. 

———

John Tyler 16, Texas High 0

Texas High 0  0  0    0 —  0

John Tyler  0  3  0  13 — 13

Second Quarter

JT — FG Victor Leon 35, 2:40

Fourth Quarter

JT — Ken’Yontae Pinkard 14 run (Leon kick), 9:10

JT — Kitan Crawford 3 run (Kick blocked), :36

                                TH          JT

First Downs               16          16

Rushes-Yards            46-174    36-120

Passing Yards            36          171

Comp.-Att-Int.          4-10-2    12-18-1

Punts-Ave.                3-31.7     5-41.2

Fumbles-Lost            1-0          1-0

Penalties-Yards         4-34        10-85

Individual Statistics

RUSHING — Texas High, Tracy Cooper 33-139, Tyrell Miller 9-37, Brayson Henry 3-1, Team 1-(-3). John Tyler, Kameron Medlock 8-46, Kitan Crawford 7-26, Jakyron Lacy, 6-19, Ken’Yontae Pinkard 3-17, Cameron Ford 12-12.

PASSING — Texas High, Brayson McHenry 4-10-2 36. John Tyler, Cameron Ford 12-18-1 171.

RECEIVING — Texas High, Kobe Webster 2-27, Caden Allen 1-5, Jayden Kelly 1-4. John Tyler, Kitan Crawford 4-31, Austin Campbell 4-24, Frank Turner 2-94, Kameron Medlock 1-13, Robert Draper 1-9.