Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
The 15-0 Malakoff Tigers win their 31st-consecutive football game Dec. 12 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco by beating the Paradise Panthers in the State Semifinals, 27-19, to advance to play Thursday, Dec. 19 against the 14-1 Columbus Cardinals in the Class 3A Division I State Championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, seeking to repeat as State Champions. 

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Malakoff’s Jack Hustead (right) jumps for joy after returning an interception for a late-game touchdown.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Malakoff quarterback Mike Jones heads down the sideline during the first quarter against Paradise.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Malakoff tight end Parker Poteete crosses the goal line to complete a 13-yard touchdown reception.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Malakoff defender James Studley bears down on the Paradise quarterback before making a big hit Dec. 12 in Frisco.

FRISCO–As the saying goes, it’s always darkest before the dawn. But as sure as the sun rises, the Malakoff Tigers dug deep and found a way to overcome adversity Dec. 12, beating the Paradise Panthers with three fourth-quarter touchdowns to qualify for today’s State Championship game.
With the 27-19 State Semifinal victory at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, defending state champion Malakoff won their 31st consecutive game to move to 15-0 for the season and will play the 14-1 Columbus Cardinals tonight at 7 p.m. at AT&T Stadium in Arlington in the Class 3A Division I State Championship game.
Down 13-7 at halftime, things became bleaker for Malakoff when Paradise took the second-half kickoff and drove downfield for a touchdown, taking up 9:36 of the third quarter in the process and seizing a 19-7 advantage after Malakoff blocked the Panthers’ extra-point kick, which came after a successful 2-point conversion pass was called back by offensive pass interference.
That’s when Malakoff made their move. The Tigers started a third-quarter drive that ended with a 7-yard Jason Tennyson touchdown run 7 seconds into the fourth quarter. Now within 19-14, Ford Center’s Malakoff crowd exploded when Tiger defensive back Jack Hustead grabbed a Paradise pass in stride and returned it untouched 34 yards for a touchdown with 10:38 left in the game, putting Malakoff ahead for the first time since early in the second quarter at 20-19. The Tigers tried a 2-point conversion run, but Malakoff quarterback Mike Jones was called just short of the goal line.
Malakoff’s defense stopped the ensuing Paradise drive on third-and-9 at the Panthers’ own 31-yard line, even though a pass interference flag was thrown during the play. Officials gathered and picked up the flag from the sailing, uncatchable pass play.
Next, Tennyson put the nail in the coffin with a 3-yard touchdown run with 2:20 remaining in the contest. Jacob Padron’s extra point put Malakoff in front 27-19. Paradise, behind their backup quarterback (in because the first-stringer was injured) mounted a desperation drive, which ended as the backup ran out of bounds short of the first-down marker on a fourth-and-15 play at Malakoff’s 42-yard line with 1:09 left in the game. Malakoff then ran out the clock.
Early on, the Tigers appeared as though they might dominate the contest. The first drive, Malakoff marched downfield for a touchdown, capped off with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Mike Jones to Parker Poteete for a7-0 lead.
Paradise was unfazed, responding on their first offensive drive with a touchdown, ending on a 5-yard quarterback keeper score. Paradise’s 2-point conversion pass was called back for illegal touching by the Panthers, and the loss of down attached to the penalty meant no other play.
Then, early in the second quarter, Paradise took the lead on a 59-yard touchdown run. Another Paradise drive was stopped by a James Studley interception half at the Tigers’ 23-yard line with 12 seconds left in the first half.
Then Paradise’s seemingly game-threatening drive to start the second half ended with a 6-yard Panther touchdown run with 2:24 left in the third quarter. The 2-point conversion pass succeeded but was nullified by a pass interference penalty. Instead, Paradise tried the extra-point kick, which Malakoff blocked to keep the Panthers’ lead at 19-7.
For Malakoff, Tennyson rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns, while Jones rushed for 56 yards and threw for 94 more. Poteete picked up an eye-popping 19 tackles on defense, 10 of those solo.