Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Alex Gonzalez zips toward the end zone on a 13-yard touchdown run just before halftime.
 

MABANK–The Mabank Panthers’ ground game kept the clock running against Quinlan Ford Sept. 30, combining with a swarming defense to allow Mabank to shut out their visitors on homecoming, 18-0. The district-opening victory moved Mabank to 3-2 overall.
Quinlan had two early scoring drives squelched by fumbles, the first at the Mabank 21-yard line with 7:58 left in the first quarter (recovered by Carson Manning) and at the Mabank 15-yard line with 3:50 left in the opening period (secured by Jaden Turnbaugh). Another second-quarter Quinlan scoring drive was stopped on fourth-and-eight from the Mabank 31-yard line with a Kyler Howeth tackle for a loss.
Later, with 5:20 left before halftime, Mabank quarterback Hagen Tijerina converted a fourth-and-inches sneak from the Quinlan 30. Alex Gonzalez cashed in that drive with a 13-yard touchdown run at the 3:42 mark of the second quarter. An extra-point miscue led to Mabank kicker Noah Romero throwing a two-point conversion pass to Cayden Truelove, allowing Mabank to lead 8-0 at halftime.
On the first drive of the third quarter, a 35-yard Romero field goal attempt was preempted by a dropped snap, but later, Romero booted a 31-yard field goal with 8:22 left in the game to put his team ahead 11-0. Jayden Rogers ended Quinlan’s comeback hopes with a 45-yard touchdown run with 2:37 remaining in the game.