Despite late push, Indians fall in district opener

Despite+late+push%2C+Indians+fall+in+district+opener

Eric Speelman, Staff Writer

Shortly after losing senior Demani Richardson for the year with a torn meniscus, the Waxahachie Indians put up arguably their best showing of the season, albeit in a 59-47 loss to the DeSoto Eagles.

After a thirty-minute weather delay, DeSoto opened the game with two quick touchdowns, one on an 8-yard pass to Lawrence Arnold Jr. and a 5-yard quarterback keeper by Shun’Darion Ward. Waxahachie would keep pace with an 88-yard strike to Jaden Watson to make it 14-6.

Indian signal-caller Jordan Fay then left the game with a toe fracture and was replaced by DJ Hollywood. Fay will miss 2 weeks.

Both teams would continue to trade scores throughout the game, with the 12th-ranked Eagles holding a 24-19 lead at halftime.

The Tribe would take the lead on their first possession of the third quarter with a 1-yard run by Watson. However, DeSoto would respond in kind with a 6-yard pass to Arnold for 6 points.

On a later kickoff, senior receiver Keshawn Anderson was carted off the field on a stretcher with a neck injury. According to the WHS training staff, Anderson was not seriously hurt. The following play resulted in an Indian touchdown.

As the Eagles began to pull away in the fourth, Hollywood exited the game due to an injury of his own, with Campbell Sullivan taking his place. Junior wideout Josh Sterns also left the game early, and is expected to miss a week with a knee injury.

Waxahachie (1-3, 0-1 in district) returns home to face Cedar Hill (4-0, 1-0) on Friday. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 PM at Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium.