Pine Tree Pirates. (Michel Alfaro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

NEW CHAPEL HILL — A 73-yard touchdown reception by Jordan Taylor late in the fourth quarter lifted the Pine Tree Pirates to a monumental 20-14 victory Friday over Chapel Hill at Bulldog Stadium.

No. 9-ranked Pine Tree (7-1 overall) improved to 3-1 in district play as the victory kept the Pirates in contention for a top spot in District 9-4A Division I standings while Chapel Hill (7-2 overall), a state finalist from last season, dropped to 3-2 in league action.

After a four-yard touchdown run by quarterback Malik Gee – and the ensuing PAT by Emmanuel Valencia – gave Chapel Hill a 14-13 lead with just 5:43 remaining, the Pirates needed a big play in a pivotal spot.

The following kickoff didn’t go well for the Pirates as a penalty backed Pine Tree up at its own six-yard line. But three plays later, on third-and-1, quarterback Matt Cates hit Taylor in stride in the middle of the Chapel Hill defense, and Taylor was shot out of a cannon to beat the Bulldog defense 73 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with only 3:56 left.

Pine Tree’s defense had two more stops in it down the stretch to seal the victory as the Pirates continue one of their most successful seasons in recent program memory.

The Pirate defensive unit registered four sacks on Gee in the second half alone, including two by Tydaryn Peters, one of which was a forced fumble recovered by Seth McFarland. Peters’ first sack came on the previous drive, which was a fourth-down sack and turnover on downs.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Chapel Hill’s Ke’rion Green recorded the first of two interceptions on the night as he thwarted a Pine Tree goal-to-go situation with an interception on third down. Two plays later, the Bulldogs received an explosive play to open the scoring with a 74-yard touchdown pass from Gee to Maliek Brown for a 7-0 Bulldog lead early in the second quarter.

The Pirates responded on their next drive as they marched 52 yards, including a fourth-down conversion, that culminated with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Cates to Khalil Deckard. The PAT, however, was no good as the Bulldogs remained in front at 7-6 with 6 minutes left in the first half.

With Chapel Hill looking for a response of its own, McFarland came up with a huge sack to force the Bulldogs into third and 15, and an eventual punt.

The Pirate offense took advantage of a short field and quickly covered 47 yards, with Cates scoring on a quarterback draw from seven yards out for a 13-7 lead with 1:01 left until halftime.

Pine Tree will host Lindale on Nov. 1 while Chapel Hill is scheduled to visit Henderson.