Braswell wins 20-19 with final-play score to secure playoff spot
A last-second pass from Khalyl Moore to Chris Lark gave the Bengals their first postseason berth since 2019.
By Fatima Saleh ·
Braswell defeated Hebron 20-19 on Thursday to clinch a playoff berth.
The Bengals trailed 19-14 with four seconds remaining in the District 5-6A game at Bill Carrico Athletic Complex. They faced fourth-and-goal from the Hebron 3-yard line. Coach Justen Evans called a play for sophomore running back Chris Lark. Quarterback Khalyl Moore found Lark in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
Lark finished the game with 19 carries for 77 yards and six receptions for 78 yards. The Bengals’ defense prevented Hebron from gaining a first down on three fourth-quarter drives. The Hawks’ final drive ended with 2:15 left on the clock. Braswell took possession at their own 19-yard line and drove 81 yards to win. Moore threw a screen pass to Lark for 19 yards on fourth-and-10 from the Hebron 49-yard line. Lark then rushed for 29 yards on the next play, placing the team at the Hebron 1-yard line with 32 seconds left. After two runs for one-yard losses and an incomplete pass, the final play resulted in a score. The Bengals did not need to attempt a point after the touchdown.
Hebron established a 19-14 lead with 1:53 left in the third quarter. Ridge Lias completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Robert Smith III. That score followed a Hebron safety when they tackled Zahir Trufant in the end zone after turning the ball over on downs from the Braswell 3-yard line.
Braswell led 14-10 at halftime. Two Hebron turnovers in the second quarter set up the Bengals’ scoring drive. Izayah Broadway intercepted a pass from Brady Brock and returned it to the Hebron 17-yard line. Moore then threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Rivera. Zaylen Redmond recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and Trufant scored on a run three plays later. Hebron quarterback Brady Brock left the game with an injury late in the second quarter and did not return. He had thrown a 6-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Holloway earlier in the half. Beau Merriman kicked a 33-yard field goal for Hebron’s only first-quarter points.
This marks Braswell’s second playoff appearance in program history and its first since 2019. The team played its first UIL season in 2016. Evans is in his first season at Braswell after nine years at Corpus Christi Miller. The Bengals will face Prosper Walnut Grove in the 6A Division II bi-district round next week. Evans said the teams will flip a coin on Friday morning to determine the host venue because both teams finished third in their districts.
Lark described the feeling of making the playoffs in 6A as a major difference from previous years. Evans credited his players for their joy and excitement, stating that the achievement belongs to them and that the team earned the right to play for another week.
