MESQUITE — Lindale ran 61 plays compared to 21 for Ennis in the first half.
If only that statistic told the story.
Ennis (11-0) only needed 21 plays to score 48 points in the first half en route to a 62-17 win over the Eagles in a Class 4A Division II bi-district football playoff game on Friday at E.H. Hanby Stadium.
The Lions move on to face either Lucas Lovejoy or Hallsville in the area round.
Ennis scored on an 80-yard punt return by Jahshawn Johnson, 40-yard interception return by Taylor Thompson, had another long interception return set up a score and had scoring runs of 25, 70, 8 and a pass of 60.
“We put our defensive in a bind all night and then we were trying to claw our way out of it and make up stuff, but they are a good football team,” said Lindale coach Mike Meador. “We just made mistakes early that really hurt us.”
Lindale trailed 27-0 at the end of the first quarter before Jordan Lawless got the Eagles (3-8) on the board with a 27-yard field goal. Ennis fired back with three more touchdowns and called two timeouts in the closing minutes looking to add even more to its lead.
Instead the Eagles got a first down on a fake punt run from Tate Coomer which eventually led to Lindale’s Delenis Garrett punching in from 8 yards for a touchdown and 48-10 halftime score.
Lindale’s Bryce Barkowsky then intercepted Ennis’ first pass attempt in the third quarter, but the Eagles were held on downs and did not threaten again until the fourth quarter.
“They have some kids who are going to be playing at the next level, but I really thought our kids fought hard,” Meador said.
Eagles back Aaron Jackson rushed for 126 yards in the loss with Garrett finishing with 72.
Ennis tailback Terence Williams totaled 151 yards and three scores with Nick Gabriel adding 101 yards on six carries and three touchdowns.