Lindale wide receiver Kaden Fowler finds room to run against the Pine Tree defense during Friday’s game at Pirate Stadium in Longview. (Courtney Case/News-Journal Photo)

LONGVIEW — The Pine Tree Pirates showed incredible resilience grinding out a 13-7 overtime win Friday over the Lindale Eagles to officially secure a playoff berth.

Pine Tree (8-1) improved to 4-1 in District 9-4A Division I while Lindale (4-5) dropped to 2-3.

The Pirate defense held strong in overtime, forcing Lindale into a 25-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked. Pine Tree’s offense then needed only three plays to finish it off as L’Marion Hunter walked it off with a 17-yard touchdown run for a postseason-clinching win.

After a scoreless first half dominated by both defenses, Lindale opened the scoring on the first possession of the second half as Caleb Hart scored on a one-yard touchdown run to cap off a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ate up 6:24 of the third quarter.

The Eagles appeared to be in a good position to close the game out with a 7-0 victory, especially after Pine Tree starting quarterback Matt Cates suffered an apparent leg injury and was unable to return.

But Pine Tree junior quarterback Parker Johnson filled in admirably to help lead the Pirates — who lost the turnover battle, 0-3 — to a seemingly improbable victory.

Johnson’s first pass attempt was a 32-yard completion to Kalil Deckard to give Pine Tree some life when all momentum appeared to be on the Eagles’ side. A few plays later, the Pirates faced fourth-and-12 from the Lindale 25 when Johnson, facing a heavy pass rush, connected with Jordan Taylor for a game-tying touchdown with 8:30 remaining.

Down the stretch, Lindale turned the ball over on downs at the Pine Tree 38 with under a minute remaining then the Pirates’ 50-yard field goal attempt with 8 seconds left was blocked, which set the stage for the overtime theatrics.

Hunter led the way for the Pirates with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

Lindale won the turnover battle, 3-0, as the Eagle defense recorded three interceptions but Pine Tree’s defense stood strong on seven of Lindale’s eight drives.

The first half featured seven total possessions: two of which ended in interceptions, two culminated in punts, two ended in turnovers on downs, and one was end-of-half. The two teams combined for only six first downs in the opening two quarters.

Neither offense was able to penetrate the red zone in the first half. The closest either team came was Pine Tree, which reached the Lindale 23-yard-line before turning it over on downs midway through the second quarter.

Pine Tree’s first two drives of the game each covered more than 40 yards but the drives ended on interceptions.

The Pirates will close out the regular season next week at Palestine while Lindale will host Henderson.