Game story

By Jim McCurdy

ARGYLE – Argyle used some late stops and a backs-against-the-wall mentality to pull out a 25-20 win over Mansfield Summit in the penultimate game at Eagle Stadium Friday.

Quarterback Maguire Gasperson scored on a 1-yard sneak with 3:16 to play for the gamewinning score as Argyle took over sole possession of first place in District 3-5A Division II.

“That’s big. That’s a team effort,” Gasperson said. “Back and forth the whole game, we had to pull something out.”

Ranked No. 6 in The Dallas Morning News area rankings, Argyle (6-1, 5-0 District 3-5A), moved a game ahead of No. 11 Mansfield Summit (5-2, 4-1). The Eagles improved to 105-8 all-time in Eagle Stadium with one game remaining before they move into a new stadium next season.

“This was a very big win for us because this means we get the first spot in district,” Eagles running back Nathaniel Bruce said after scoring two touchdowns. “We found a way to push through a little adversity. We kind of came together as a team a little bit. We had to find a way to fight, fight, fight, bend, but not break type of philosophy.”

Gasperson completed 20 of 23 passes for 222 yards, and Bruce ran for 80 yards on 14 carries. But it was the second half defensive effort that held the Eagles together. Argyle’s defense forced two turnovers on downs in a scoreless third quarter.

“We definitely needed that,” Gasperson said of his defense. “They played their butts off. We’ve got to be better than that, but they did a better job.”

After back-to-back 3-and-outs for the Jaguars offense, Ian Gebhardt scored on a 2-yard run to put Mansfield Summit ahead 20-19 with 5:57 to go. Gebhardt ran for 144 yards and passed for 131.

Bruce scored on the opening drive, scooting in from 6 yards out to give the Eagles the lead. Mansfield Summit tied the game on its first possession when Adarian Nettles scored from 3 yards out.

Argyle took a 13-7 lead with 57 seconds left in the first quarter on Logan Rexroat’s 3-yard touchdown run. Nettles, who had 105 yards rushing, scored his second touchdown of the first half on a 1-yard run with 1:17 left in the second quarter to put the Jaguars up 14-13. Bruce answered with his second touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run, and Argyle reclaimed the lead 19-14. His touchdown was set up by Gasperson’s 35-yard pass to Julian Caldwell.

“This definitely is a win we can build off of,” Bruce said. “There’s a lot of things we can correct, but this is a big step forward offensively and defensively.”


Longest scoring play

Nathaniel Bruce scored the longest touchdown of the game, a 6-yard run in the first quarter.

Key moments

In the first quarter, Nathaniel Bruce ran six yards for a touchdown, Adarion Nettles ran three yards for a touchdown, and Logan Rexroat ran three yards for a touchdown.

In the second quarter, Adarion Nettles ran one yard for a touchdown, and Nathaniel Bruce ran five yards for a touchdown.

In the final quarter, Ian Gebhardt ran two yards for a touchdown, and Maguire Gasperson ran one yard for a touchdown.


Top performers

Ian Gebhardt rushed for 144 yards and one touchdown and completed 9 of 16 passes for 131 yards for Mansfield Summit.

Maguire Gasperson completed 20 of 23 passes for 222 yards for Argyle.

Julian Caldwell had 140 receiving yards for Argyle.

Adarion Nettles rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns for Mansfield Summit.