The Lindale captains are shown before Friday’s game with Henderson. (Scott Starkey/Contributed)

LINDALE — The Lindale Eagles shut out the Henderson Lions 45-0, knocking the latter out of the playoffs on Friday in their final District 9-4A game of the season.

A scoreless first quarter made it look like it’d be an evenly matched affair on a rainy night in Eagle Stadium, but the home team turned things around with a vengeance in the second quarter. Lindale QB David Lindig hit Aiden Warnell for a 35-yard pass, getting the Eagles out of a tricky third down situation near their end zone. Three plays later, including a Lindig lateral pass to Kaden Fowler who immediately threw it to Warnell to get inside the five, and a handoff to A’million Johnson for a three-yard touchdown carry, and Lindale had taken the lead.

Momentum was Lindale’s as they brought about three turnovers against Henderson in a row, a fumble recovery and two interceptions, the latter catches made by Jackson Parker and Warnell. Lindale would score after each turnover on two 11-yard TD receptions and a 67-yard TD reception, two of which were caught by Fowler, and by halftime it was 28-0 Eagles.

Henderson made some movement in the third quarter thanks to a deep pass from Vince Howard to Amauri Murphy to get them into Lindale territory. But the Eagles defense shored up and the Lions suffered a turnover on downs. They subsequently slowed down the Eagles’ next drive, helped by Logan White breaking up one of Lindig’s passes, but they’d gotten close enough for Seth Baggett’s successful 39-yard field goal to add to their lead. Baggett was also 7-for-7 in extra point kicks for the night.

Caleb Hart added another touchdown for Lindale early in the fourth on a three-yard carry, making it 38-0 with just over 10 minutes remaining. Carries by Henderson’s Jesstin Starling and Howard got them inside the Lindale 30 on their next drive, but once more they were stopped on downs. Hart added his second touchdown of the night for Lindale with a 47-yard carry for the final score of 45-0.

Henderson closes their season 6-4 overall an 3-3 in the district, fifth place and just out of the playoffs they’d be determined to reach this season after a long drought.

Winning six games, including a memorable rival victory over Kilgore, marks a big turn around for this team, who went 2-8 last year and 1-9 the previous season.

Lindale wraps up their district season 5-5 overall and 3-3 in 9-4A for fourth place. The Eagles will face Little Cypress-Mauriceville (8-2, 6-0) in the bi-district round of the postseason.