Pirates Fall to the Mavericks in Second-Half Shootout

An erratic series of possessions left the Pirates and Mavericks searching for something to spark their offenses. Fortunately for the Pirates, a lengthy drive brought them into the red zone, where Ryan Rodriguez connected with Easton Barnhill for a touchdown with just 1:04 remaining in the first quarter. The Mavericks eventually answered back, as quarterback Joe Castles linked up with receiver Jamari Dean for a stunning 55-yard touchdown. Despite battling for momentum, both teams headed into halftime with the score tied at 7-7.

After a regroup in the locker room, both teams returned ready to unleash what they lacked in the first half, and the scoreboard quickly showed results. In under three minutes, Lubbock-Cooper’s Chaymane “Deuce” Johnson powered into the end zone for the Pirates' second touchdown of the night. A successful extra point put the Pirates back in the lead, 14-7. Following a quick turnover on downs, the ball returned to the Pirates. A deep 60-yard pass to Michael Dever resulted in another touchdown, extending their lead to two scores. With just six and a half minutes gone in the second half, the Pirates were ahead 21-7.

The Mavericks knew they had to act quickly. Fortunately, Jamari Dean answered and scored his second touchdown of the night, narrowing the score gap. However, just as the teams shifted to the fourth quarter, Lubbock-Cooper’s Michael Dever caught another deep 45-yard pass for his second touchdown, extending the score to 28-14. The Pirates aimed to maintain their 14-point lead, but things did not unfold as they had hoped.

Just past the 10-minute mark, Memorial found themselves back at the 20-yard line. A handoff to Kenji Johnson put the Mavericks on the board again with another touchdown, narrowing the margin to just one score. However, the Pirates were determined to maintain their comfortable lead. After returning the kickoff just shy of midfield, they quickly launched their next drive. A series of passes downfield connected with Deuce Johnson in the end zone once more, restoring their 14-point advantage. The Pirates led 35-21.

As the stands gradually emptied and the temperature dropped, fans didn’t anticipate a comeback from the Mavericks—but they were in for a surprise. Memorial’s Castles connected with Eric Powell, closing the gap to 35-28. The Pirates struggled to find any open opportunities to maintain their two-score lead, forcing them to punt. Their defense needed to step up and hold the Mavericks back to keep the pressure off.

A lengthy drive down the field positioned Memorial perfectly to either tie the game or take the lead—and they chose the latter. On the Pirates' 10-yard line, Castles fired a bullet pass to tight end Kenton Evans, who caught it for his first touchdown of the night. Trailing by one, the Mavericks opted to go for the lead. Castles handed the ball to Johnson, who powered through for a successful two-point conversion. For the first time in the game, the Memorial Mavericks took the lead, 36-35, over the Lubbock-Cooper Pirates.

The Pirates responded with determination, and a series of quick passes propelled them to the 50-yard line. Right off the snap, Dever maneuvered past his defender to snag a 50-yard touchdown pass, reclaiming the lead. After the Mavericks successfully converted their two-point attempt, the Pirates followed suit and converted theirs as well. With just 1:38 left in the game, the Lubbock-Cooper Pirates took a 43-36 lead.

With plenty of time remaining, the Mavericks expertly managed the clock. A series of quick passes advanced them to the 22-yard line. With just four seconds left in the game, Joe Castles found a leaping Kenji Johnson, who secured the ball in the end zone. Trailing by one point and with the clock at zero, the Mavericks opted to go for the win instead of settling for overtime. Fortunately for the Memorial Mavericks, Castles connected with receiver Vanson Jones to clinch the game. In a thrilling second half that scored 77 points, the Wichita Falls Memorial Mavericks squeaked over the Lubbock-Cooper Pirates, 44-43.

The head coach of the Lubbock-Cooper Pirates, Chip Darden, talked about how hard his kids battled and how the little mistakes and penalties hurt them, especially against a tough opponent. Watch that interview here:

The Lubbock-Cooper Pirates travel to Abilene to face off against the Wylie Bulldogs in their last district game of the season on Friday, November 1, at Abilene Wylie High School. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.