ROCKWALL – John Tyler summoned up some Cujo magic Friday night, rallying for a thrilling 37-33 win over Rockwall-Heath at Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadium.

Tre Allison, who was a linebacker helping control the district’s leading rusher, scored on a 1-yard bull-dozing run with 54 seconds remaining to keep the Lions in the District 11-6A race.

JT improves to 5-2 on the season and 3-1 in league play, the Lions’ third straight district win. The Hawks fall to 5-2 and suffer their first district loss and now stand at 3-1.

After controlling much of the game, the Lions fell behind, 33-22, in the fourth quarter. Part of the problem was special teams after a poor snap set the Hawks up at the JT 10-yard line and another punt was blocked and recovered for a TD by Heath.

But Michael Givens-Washington turned the JT special teams back to being special.

He dropped a kickoff, picked up the ball and put on the jets, going 93 yards for a touchdown. Devlen Woods, seeing his first QB action since Sept. 29, hit Ke’Andre Street for the two-point conversion and JT was back in the game, trailing 33-30, with 11:35 showing.

With the defense holding Arkansas Razorback commit Tanner McCalister and the league’s leading rusher 71 yards on 19 carries, and controlling QB Garrett Cody, JT had a couple of chances for taking the lead again. The first one ended with Woods throwing an interception, but the JT defense was up for the task.

JT held the Hawks with a three-and-out.

The Lions took over at their own 45. They overcame a second-and-20 after a sack as Woods hit Givens-Washington for 22 yards to the Hawk 33. On the next play, Woods connected with Street, who was just short of the end zone.

After a timeout, JT used the Wildcat formation and Allison found the end zone. Frankie Sanchez’s kick made it 37-33.

The Hawks made one first down, but on fourth-and-3 at the Lions’ 42, the a host of JT defenders including DK Goodson and Ja’Bralen Yarber sack Cody with 16 seconds remaining.

Cameron Grant returned for the first time since Sept. 22, rushing for 70 yards on 15 carries.

K’Lon Warren tossed TD passes of 26 to Street, 28 to Woods and 64 to Givens-Washington.

Warren hit on 12 of 16 for 194 yards and an interception.

Givens-Washington, whose 64-yard TD included four dips and dashes, had five catches for 102 yards, while Street had four receptions for 94 yards.

Allison also recovered a fumble for the Lions.

LIONS TALES: The Lions finally get a home game for the first time since Sept. 30 when JT plays host to Longview on Oct. 27 at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. … Rockwall-Heath plays at Mesquite on Thursday with a 7 p.m. kickoff planned at E.H. Hanby Stadium. … Before the game Rockwall-Heath running back Tanner McCalister was crowned homecoming king. … JT’s blue brigade and cheerleaders had pink pom poms, while the Lion Guard wore pink T-shirts with some of the Lions football players wearing pink towels and socks for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

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JT 37,Rockwall-Heath 33

John Tyler 8 7 7 15 — 37

Rockwall-Heath 0 15 15 3 – 33

First Quarter

JT – Ke’Andre Street 26 pass from K’Lon Warren (Jaivon Williams pass to Tre Allison), 8:17

Second Quarter

RH – Desmon Williams 2 run (Bijan Nicholls kick), 11:18

JT – Devlen Woods 28 pass from Warren (Frankie Sanchez kick), 2:05

RH – Jackson Salley 8 pass from Garrett Cody (Cody pass to Salley), :21

Third Quarter

JT – Michael Givens-Washington 64 pass from Warren (Sanchez kick), 9:18

RH – Williams 1 run (Nicholls kick), 7:14

RH – Dawson Miller recovers blocked punt in end zone (Tyrus Fort run), 2:29

Fourth Quarter

RH – FG Nicholls 22, 11:50

JT – Givens-Washington 93 kickoff return (Woods pass to Street), 11:35

JT – Allison 1 run (Sanchez kick), :54

ATT. – 2,000.

JT RH

First Downs 14 14

Yards-Rushes 33-83 38-131

Passing Yards 248 130

A-C-I 14-23-2 9-22-0

Punts-Ave 2-29.5 3-32.2.

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-1

Venalities-Yards 7-47 3-35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – JT, Grant 15-70, Warren 7-12, Allison 3-9, Crawford 3-8, Woods 2-5, Campbell 1-0, Team 2-(-21). R-H, McCalister 19-71, Cody 10-29, Fort 5-28, Williams 4-3.

PASSING – JT, Warren 12-16-1 194 yards. Woods 2-5-1 54 yards, Givens-Washington 0-1, Williams 0-1. R-H, Cody 9-22-0 130 yards.

RECEIVING – JT, Givens-Washington 5-102, Street 4-94, Woods 2-34, Williams 1-14, Crawford 1-7, Grant 1-(-3). R-H, Fort 5-77, Salley 3-47, Saenz 1-6.