TROUP — The Troup Tigers and Tatum Eagles squared off in what may be an early look at the District 9-2A championship game.

When all was said and done, long scoring plays and a second half flurry by the Eagles kept them undefeated at 2-0 in league play with a 35-21 win at Tiger Stadium.

After Troup ruled the story of the statistics with 206 yards to Tatum’s 94, a long punt return by Chaston Brooks and a field goal by Dusty Richardson with the first half clock expiring gave the Eagles a 10-7 halftime lead.

The Tigers tied the game 7-7 with 40 seconds left before half when Tiger quarterback Blake Lynch uncorked a 48-yard pass hauled in by Hitachi Lydia in the Eagles end zone. Max Salinas nailed the PAT. However, a defensive letdown gave Tatum the chance to quickly move down the field for the game leading field goal.

The second half was a different story, however, as the Eagles used six ball carriers and scored on runs of 47 and 62-yards, a 13-yard TD pass from J.D. Taylor to Deyanta Robertson and two field goals by Richardson to make the 35-21 final.

Trailing 28-14, Troup closed the gap to 28-21 when Brandon Hearon got behind the Tatum secondary and Lynch was on the money with the throw for a 73-yard, catch-and-run TD.

One offensive play later Brooks made his presence felt again on a 62-yard blast up the middle for the final TD.

The Eagles got the running game rolling in the second half, ending with 321 yards in 31 carries as a team.

Troup had 222 yards in 43 tries with Lynch running 21 times for 102 yards. He threw for another 139.

Troup (5-2, 1-1) will travel to play at White Oak next Friday night. Tatum (7-0, 2-0) will return home to play host to play at Sabine.

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Tatum 35, Troup 21

Tatum 0 10 10 15 – 35

Troup 0 7 7 7 – 21

Second Quarter

TAT — Chaston Brooks 58 punt return (Dusty Richardson kick), 7:04

TRO — Hitachi Lydia 48 pass from Blake Lynch, (Max Salinas kick), :40.

TAT — Dustin Richardson 37 field goal, (:00)

Third Quarter

TAT — Devan Boyd 47 run (Richardson kick), 8:00

TAT — Richardson 27 field goal, (5:18)

TRO — Marquez Davis 2 run, (Salinas kick), 2:02.

Fourth Quarter

TAT — Deyanta Robertson 13 pass from Taylor, (Taylor run), 10:52

TRO — Brandon Hearon 73 pass from Lynch (Salinas kick), 9:46

TAT — Brooks 62 run, (Richardson kick), 9:36

TATUM TROUP

First Downs 15 12

Rushes-Yds 31-321 43-222

Att-Comp-Int 7-13-0 6-17-0

Passing Yds 63 144

Total Yds 384 366

Punts- Avg 4-26.5 6-35.1

Fumbles-Lost 3-1 5-2

Penalties-Yds 8-80 2-20

RUSHING – TATUM: F.D. Taylor 13-98; Devan Boyd 3-55; Demetrius Hill 3-minus-7; Antonio Shaw 3-4; Chaston Brooks 6-73; Kyshaun Smith 4-91. 31-321. TROUP: Blake Lynch 21-102; D’Louis West 3-minus-1; Marquez Davis 1-3; Marcus Davis 3-14; Marcus Kincade 11-80; Brandon Hearon 2-11; Colton Petry 4-14.

PASSING – TATUM: Taylor 6-12-63-0-1. TROUP: Lynch 6-17-144-0-2.

RECEIVING – TATUM: Deyanta Roberson 5-83; Martin Williams 2-24. TROUP: Brandon Hearon 1-73; Hitachi Lydia 6-71.