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FRISCO — It was almost paradise for the Panthers, but it was the Malakoff Tigers who showed the heart of a champion on Thursday at The Star.

The Tigers rallied in the fourth quarter to score a 27-19 win over the Paradise Panthers in a Class 3A Division I semifinal football playoff game on Thursday at the Ford Center.

As a result, the Tigers have their own ticket to paradise — AT&T Stadium in Arlington, where Malakoff gets to defend their 3A DI state championship. The title game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 against Columbus, a 49-6 winner over Edna in the other semifinal on Thursday. The Cardinals are 12-1, while the Tigers are 15-0.

Paradise ends its season at 12-3.

After trailing 19-7 when Paradise scored with 2:24 left in the third quarter, the Tigers got going.

The Panthers had controlled the clock some 22 minutes in the contest up to that point.

Malakoff got in gear going 74 yards in seven plays, topped off by the first of two Jason Tennyson’s TD runs. Tennyson scored on an 11-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Jacob Padron added the PAT and the Tigers were within 19-14 at 11:54.

After the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers applied pressure to the Panthers. After a 1-yard gain and an incompletion by QB Ayden Winters, the front four closed in on Winters, forcing an errant throw over the middle which Jack Hustead picked off and returned 32-yards to the end zone. Malakoff QB Mike Jones was ruled down before the goal line, the Tigers still led 20-19 with 10:38 showing in the fourth.

Malakoff had all the momentum, plus Winters had to leave the game with an injury. He did not return.

After a three-and-out, the Tigers took over at their own 27, driving 73 yards in 11 plays for a little breathing room. Tennyson went to the right side for a 3-yard TD and Padron’s PAT gave Malakoff a 27-19 advantage with 2:20 showing.

The Panthers had one last chance, eventually reaching the Malakoff 37 on a 35-yard pass from backup QB Ayden Olade to Logan Lampley, but the Tiger defense stood strong. Evan Loper and Michael Elliott had consecutive tackles for loss on running back Elijah Jennings and Olade, followed by an incompletion.

On fourth-and-15, Olade managed seven yards and the Tigers took over with 59 seconds remaining and ran out the clock.

Malakoff took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter as Parker Poteet hauled in a 13-yard TD pass from QB Mike Jones. Padron added the PAT at 9:43.

Then Paradise controlled play, Winters added a 5-yard run at 3:44 of the first period, but a bobbled snap forced the Panthers to try for two. The pass was completed but it was caught by an ineligible receiver. Thus, the try was no good and the penalty was a loss of down.

After the Tigers were stopped, Luke Brown scored on a 59-yard run. Cooper Woodard’s PAT put the Panthers up 13-7 with 11:41 showing before halftime.

That was it until the third quarter when Brown scored from the 6 after a 16-play 83-yard drive. The Tigers’ blocked the extra-point attempt.

Rushing leaders for the Tigers were Tennyson (14 carries, 85 yards), Jones (12-45) and Jerrion Hall (5-27).

Jones hit on 8 of 9 passing attempts for 95 yards. James Studley had three catches for 38 yards, followed by Poteet (2-25), Hall (2-21) and Loper (1-6).

Brown led the Panthers in rushing with eight totes for 76 yards, followed by Winters (18-70), Elijah Jennings (6-17) and Olalde (3-7).

Winters was 4 of 8 for 54 yards and an interception. Olade was 1 of 4 for 35 yards.

Cash Landers had three catches for 28 yards, followed by Lampley (1-35) and Brown (1-26).