Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
The Malakoff Tigers gather with the trophy after their 42-7 regional semifinal win over Grandview Nov. 24.

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
The Malakoff Tigers hoist the trophy after decisively defeating opponents Grandview Zebras.

By Blaine Clamon & Russell Slaton

MESQUITE–The Malakoff Tigers once again faced off in the postseason with their playoff rival, the Grandview Zebras, this time in the Class 3A, Division 1, Region 2 semifinal Nov. 24 at Mesquite’s Hanby Stadium.
Malakoff (13-0) will next take on the also-unbeaten Winnsboro Raiders in the regional final at City Bank Stadium in Forney, scheduled Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Winnsboro defeated Whitney 72-17 during their Nov. 24 regional semifinal game.
In their last playoff meeting, the Tigers knocked out the Zebras, 29-17, in the regional finals in Waxahachie last December. Malakoff also won the regular-season matchup in week two, 51-21, at Grandview. Malakoff handed Grandview (11-2) both of their 2023 losses.
Grandview running back Casey Cannon had a huge run on the Zebras’ first play from scrimmage into Tiger territory, but after the ball was spotted at the 13-yard line, Mike Jones intercepted Grandview quarterback Ryder Hayes in the end zone.
With 2:27 left in the first quarter, to cap off a drive that included a fourth down conversion, Jerrion Hall picked up a 4-yard touchdown run to put Malakoff up 7-0. Chauncey Hogg intercepted Hayes at the 10:53 mark of the second quarter and with 8:11 remaining until halftime, Jones as Malakoff’s quarterback dashed to pick up a 31-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 14-0.
Zebra wide receiver Anthoney Berrones put Grandview on the board, 14-7, after Hayes threw him a 52-yard touchdown reception with 5:29 left in the second quarter. Hall of Malakoff’s second score came on a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:06 left before halftime and it was 21-7, Tigers. The score would be 28-7 Malakoff at halftime after Jones found Jack Hustead for a touchdown pass with 8 seconds left before the break.
During the second half, Hogg recorded a 57-yard touchdown run with 7:36 in the third quarter for the 35-7 Malakoff lead. The Tigers added one more touchdown as Hall picked up his third rushing score of the game with 10:31 left to play in the contest, as the Tigers went on to defeat Grandview by the final score of 42-7 to win the regional semifinal.
Malakoff totaled 469 yards of offense during the game, including 340 yards on the ground and 129 yards in the air. Jones was 11 of 17 passing with one touchdown, finding Hustead four times for 97 yards and that single touchdown.
Hall led Malakoff runners with 112 yards on 19 carries, followed by Jones, who gained 92 yards on 10 carries. Hogg had one carry for 57 yards and caught three passes for 21 yards. Malakoff senior Jalen Smith ran twice for 42 more Tiger yards, including a 37-yard run.