Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Panther receiver Bryson Morris (left) crosses the goal line after securing a 48-yard touchdown pass.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Panther running back Jaedyn Thompson (right) scores a 2-point conversion after his touchdown gave Mabank their first lead.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Panther free safety Gavin Foote (No. 1) defends an end zone pass against Wills Point, which fell incomplete.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Mabank receiver Wayne Langford scores on a fourth-quarter slant pass to get his team within 33-28.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Mabank defensive lineman Ray Brager celebrates after sacking Wills Point quarterback Tanner Maddox.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Mabank quarterback Jaxon Copeland tries to elude the Wills Point defense during the first half Sept. 12.

MABANK—After being down 19-0 at halftime Sept. 12, the Mabank Panthers (2-1) scored 36 points in the second half against the Wills Point Tigers on homecoming night, taking their first lead of the game with 4:09 left in the contest.
The comeback started when Mabank quarterback Jaxon Copeland found receiver Bryson Morris for a 48-yard touchdown pass. That came on fourth down, three plays after Copeland had converted another fourth down with a keeper. Gavin Foote’s 2-point conversion run made it 19-8, Wills Point, with 5:36 left in the third quarter.
Later, with 2:23 remaining in the third quarter, Mabank running back Jaedyn Thompson (who ran for 200 yards on 28 carries) scampered 27 yards for the Panthers’ second touchdown. The 2-point conversion rollout play by Copeland was unsuccessful, leaving the score 19-14 in favor of Wills Point.
Wills Point then returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to answer with 2:13 remaining in the third quarter. The following 2-point conversion pass reception put Wills Point ahead 27-14.
Copeland answered for Mabank on the first play thereafter, finding Wayne Langford (who caught four passes on the night totaling 115 yards) for a 75-yard touchdown pass. Copeland’s 2-point conversion keeper was good, getting the Panthers within 27-22 with 2:02 left in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Wills Point blocked a Mabank punt, with the ball placed at the Panther 2-yard line. The Tigers scored a touchdown soon thereafter, but what became a 2-point conversion attempt by Wills Point to salvage the play from a low snap did not succeed. With 10:15 left in the game, Wills Point held a 33-22 advantage.
On Mabank’s next drive, Copeland found Morris at Wills Point’s 38-yard line, then a pass interference call against Wills Point brought the ball to the Tiger 20-yard line. On fourth down, a slant pass to Langford ended up in the end zone, getting the Panthers closer at 33-28 (the Mabank 2-point conversion failed) with 7:07 left in the game.
After Mabank defensive lineman Ray Brager recovered a Wills Point fumble near midfield, Mabank made their winning move. Eventually, a pass interference call against Wills Point set up the Panther offense at the Wills Point 2. From the 3-yard line, Thompson plunged in for a touchdown, giving Mabank their first lead of the night. Copeland’s pitch to Thompson (who ran in for the 2-point conversion) gave Mabank a 36-33 lead with 4:09 left in the game.
After holding the Wills Point offense to a punt, Thompson ran deep into Wills Point territory, and a late hit penalty on the Tigers moved Mabank even closer to the goal line. With 1:50 left in the game, Copeland converted another fourth down, and paired with Wills Point having no timeouts left, the Panthers ran out the clock at the Wills Point 6.