Malakoff’s Jaxson Jedlicka attempts to make a tackle against Tatum Thursday night at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. (Jonathan Guzman/For The Tyler Morning Telelgraph)

No. 1 Malakoff showed early and often why it hasn’t lost since Dec. 8, 2022.

The Tigers built a 41-0 halftime lead on the way to a 62-13 victory over Tatum in the bi-district round of the Class 3A Division I football playoffs Thursday night at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. It was the 27th consecutive victory for Malakoff.

After a Tatum punt, the Tigers needed just 2:39 to score as Mike Jones connected with Parker Poteete on third and 10 for a 42-yard touchdown to make the score 7-0 with 7:10 on the clock.

Following another Tatum punt, The Tigers needed just two plays to go 68 yards as Jones broke free for a 61-yard scoring run to put the score at 14-0.

Malakoff then forced one of three Tatum lost fumbles in the first half, and the Tigers turned that into a 2-yard touchdown run for Jerrion Hall to push the score to 21-0 with 2:23 left in the first quarter.

Another Tatum fumble, which was recovered by Malakoff’s Daniel Norrell, set up a 12-yard Hall touchdown carry, making it 27-0 Tigers with 10:25 left in the first half following a failed two-point conversion attempt after a Tatum penalty.

The Eagles then put together a 12-play drive that lasted nearly six minutes and got down to the goal line before the ball was fumbled into the end zone for a touchback. The Tigers needed just six plays to go 80 yards as Jones connected with Jason Tennyson for a 16-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-0 with 2:22 on the clock.

Jones then found Kayland Davis for a 57-yard scoring strike to get the score to 41-0 at halftime.

The Tigers added to their lead with 10:24 on the clock in the third quarter on a 5-yard run by Tennyson to make the score 48-0.

Tatum got on the board as JaCorie Bradley found Cayden Tatum for a 40-yard touchdown with 8:11 to play in the third quarter. Malakoff answered with a 1-yard Tennyson touchdown run. The Eagles had their second consecutive four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive as Bradley and Tatum hooked up again, this time for a 51-yarder to cut the score to 55-13 with 1:14 left in the third quarter.

Malakoff added a 1-yard Hall touchdown run in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.

Jones ran for 109 yards and a touchdown on five carries. Tennyson carried the ball 16 times for 108 yards and two scores. Hall had 58 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries. Jones was 15 of 16 for 223 yards and three touchdowns. Davis had seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown, and Poteete had two grabs for 67 yards and a score.

Jamarri Gipson ran for 61 yards on 12 carries for Tatum. Cayden Tatum had 45 yards on 11 carries, and Bradley had 10 carries for 39 yards. Bradley was 7 of 11 for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Cayden Tatum had two receptions for 91 yards, both touchdowns, for the Eagles (6-5).

Malakoff (11-0) advances to face Maypearl (7-4) in the area round of the playoffs. The Panthers defeated Maypearl 45-37.