Kalan Watts runs for three TDs as Northside holds off Harris County
Northside trailed 14-0 in the first half before scoring 17 straight points and had to hold on late to defeat Harris County 31-28 Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
Harris County received the opening kickoff and drove 67-yards in 12 plays to go up 7-0 when Josh Stein out jumped a Patriot defender in the endzone on a fade thrown by Chandler Lott.
On the ensuing drive Northside drove across midfield but its drive ended when J.J.
Hutchinson intercepted a Levi Dunn pass at the Tiger 14-yard line.
There were three fumbles, 2 by Northside and 1 by Harris County in the final 1:06 of the first quarter.
Kalan Watts fumbled on 1st and 15 near midfield which was recovered by Austin Thompson setting the Tigers up with 1st and goal at its own 45 yard line.
Bubba Blackmon went 38-yards two plays later to get inside the Patriot 10-yard line. On the next play Blackmon was struggling for extra yardage near the goal line when the ball was stripped loose and recovered by the Patriots.
On the next play Dunn picked up 5 yards on a quarterback read. As Dunn was knocked upside down the ball came loose and was recovered by Rico Dunn once again setting the Tigers up in the red zone.
T. J. Chiles was able to dive in from 2 yards out to put Harris County up 14-0 on the second play of the second quarter.
Dunn got hot late in the first half and drove the Patriots to the Tiger 18-yard line before a backwards pass was recovered by Juan O'Neal. Dunn was 2-for-2 on the drive passing for 40-yards.
Once again fumbles were contagious as Chiles fumbled on the Tigers first play with 43 seconds remaining in the half.
Nathan Robertson was able to turn that turnover into a 34-yard field goal on the final play of the half to cut the Tigers lead to 14-3.
Northside opened the second half with a 14-play, 69-yard drive and pulled to within 14-10 on Kalan Watts 2-yard scoring run. The Patriots did not throw a pass on the drive.
After a Tiger three-and-out, Northside went 55 yards on 5 plays with Watts taking it through the middle of the Tiger defense for 40 yards and the first Patriot lead of the night at 17-14.
Harris County answered with an eight-play, 80-yard drive and went back ahead 21-17 on Jesse Williams 2-yard run.
Watts scored once again with 4:21 remaining in the game on a 9-yard run giving Northside a 24-21 lead.
Harris County was unable to manage a first down on the next possession as Caleb Johnson put pressure on Lott to thwart a fourth-and-6.
One play later Watts went for 28 yards and a score to put Northside up 31-21 with only 3 minutes to play. Watts rushed for 198 yards on 34 carries.
Harris County drove 80 yards and scored on a 3-yard run by Bubba Blackmon with 23 seconds remaining to get within a field goal at 31-28.
Matt Chumbley's onside kick was recovered by Cordale Scott to end the threat.
Friday at Tiger Stadium
Northside 0 3 14 14--31
Harris Co. 7 7 7 7--28First Quarter
HC--Josh Stein 15 pass from Chandler Lott (Matt Crumbley kick), 7:48Second QuarterHC--TJ Chiles 2 run (Crumbley kick), 11:26
N--Nathan Robertson 34 FG, 0:00Third QuarterN--Carson Parker 2 run (Robertson kick), 6:41
N--Kalan Watts 40 run (Robertson kick), 3:24
HC--Jesse Williams 2 run (Crumbley kick), 0:00Fourth QuarterN--Watts 9 run (Robertson kick), 4:21
N--Watts 28 run (Robertson kick), 3:00
HC--Bubba Blackmon 3 run (Crumbley kick), );23
Team records: Northside 3-2, 2-0 Region 1-AAAAA. Harris County 1-4, 0-1. Next: Northside, vs. Hardaway, Oct. 15, at Kinnett, 7 p.m. Harris County, vs. Hardaway, Oct. 8, 7 p.m., at Kinnett
This story was originally published October 2, 2015 at 11:48 PM with the headline "Kalan Watts runs for three TDs as Northside holds off Harris County ."