Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Mabank’s Blaine Foote chases down the Bullard quarterback in the first half of Aug. 30’s game.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Mabank quarterback Kaden Penland drops back and looks for an open receiver against Bullard.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Brayden Linder of Mabank takes a first-half Kaden Penland pass deep into Bullard territory.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Case Holt of Mabank flies downfield after a fumble recovery at the Mabank 25-yard line.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Rev Neighbors rumbles with a Bullard interception snatched at midfield, returned for a touchdown.

MABANK—The Mabank Panthers opened the 2024 football season Aug. 30 with a home game that was scoreless for three quarters before Rev Neighbors took a Bullard pass interception from midfield for a touchdown, giving Panther supporters hope for a season-opening victory.
But those six points scored at the 10:01 mark of the fourth quarter weren’t enough as Bullard scored a touchdown with 2:48 left in the game, with the extra point giving the visitors a 7-6 lead. Mabank next travels to Kemp (who lost Aug. 30 at Life Oak Cliff, 60-14) for its rivalry game Sept. 6.
With 7:55 left in the third quarter, Mabank linebacker Kameron Wilkinson recovered a Bullard fumble at the visitors’ 25-yard line. That drive was not successful in scoring. Two other Mabank scoring drives came up empty.
During the scoreless first half, on Mabank's first possession, Mabank quarterback Kaden Penland found receiver Brayden Linder with a third-down pass to the Bullard 32-yard line. On fourth down, Penland couldn't find an open teammate.
Next, moving into the second quarter, Bullard's ensuing drive was moved back when Racer McCullough dropped the Panther for a loss to the Mabank 28-yard line. On fourth-and-17, Bullard threw a touchdown pass that was called back because of a personal foul in the backfield, forcing a Bullard punt from midfield.
Mabank ended up punting, but Bullard muffed the ball and Mabank's Boston Hand recovered the fumble at the Bullard 48-yard line with 10 minutes left before halftime.
Penland connected with Gibbs twice (including a 23-yard reception on third-and-20), but that drive ended with a Mabank fumble recovered by Bullard, 9 yards from the visitors' end zone with 5:37 left in the second quarter.
Bullard fumbled on fourth-and-2 on their following drive, picked up by Case Holt at Mabank's 25 and returned to the Bullard 30 with 46 seconds remaining in the first half. That drive stalled on fourth down.