For much of the first half, the Commerce High School Tigers looked like they would get their third win of the season, and second in district play as they led 28-21 over the Community High School Braves at the half.
Well, looks can be deceiving and they were as the Braves outscored the Tigers 35-12 in the second half to get a 56-40 win over Commerce at Memorial Stadium last Friday night.
Commerce got off to a good start in the first quarter, as Landon Allen mixed up the run with the pass to cap off a drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Jake McCarty added the extra point and the Tigers were up 7-0.
It didn’t take the Braves long to answer the Tiger drive with one of their own. At the start of the second quarter, Marcus Underwood, the Braves running back, rumbled for a 61-yard touchdown run that made the score 7-6 Commerce.
Commerce then had the first of three kickoff returns for touchdowns, as Derek Hines’ 95-yard kickoff return put Commerce up 13-6.McCarty added the point after and it was 14-6 Tigers.
Then the Braves marched down the field again on Commerce’s defense. Tanner Marshall, the Braves quarterback scored on an 11-yard run and then passed to Ross Hutchison for a two-point conversion making it 14-14.
Then on the kickoff, Landon Allen returned the kick 85 yards for a touchdown and McCarty’s extra point gave the Tigers a 21-14 lead. After the next Brave drive stalled, Commerce got the ball and Allen returned the Braves punt 75 yards for a touchdown and McCarty’s kick was good for a 28-14 lead for Commerce. Commerce had three kick returns for touchdowns, two of them by Allen. Before halftime the Braves scored again as Marshall scored on a 55-yard run. The Braves kicker hit the extra point and it was 28-21 Commerce at the half.
At the start of the second half the Braves kicked off to Commerce and recovered the first of their three on-sides kicks. With Underwood and Marshall rushing though the Tiger defense with a head of steam, Tim Underwood scored on a 5-yard run, before the PAT tied the game at 28-28.
Things for the Tigers, unfortunately, were going to get worse instead of getting better. After getting the ball back, Commerce completed a pass to Trey Hicks, and subsequently fumbled the ball. The Braves recovered at the Commerce five-yard line, and Tim Underwood wasted no time as he ran in for a touchdown giving the Braves a 35-28 lead.
The Braves then kicked off to Commerce, and recovered their second onsides kick as Marcus Underwood, the main Tiger destroyer of the evening, ran for a 9-yard touchdown. Marcus Underwood’s touchdown gave the the Braves a 41-28 lead, after the Braves missed the PAT.
Then the third Braves onsides kick put them on the Tigers 48-yard line, and Marcus Underwood rushed 44 yards to give the Braves a first and goal at the Commerce four.
Marcus rushed in for the touchdown and Tanner Marshall then threw the ball to Ross Hutchison for another two-point conversion giving the Braves a 49-28 lead.
Commerce was finally able to get something going before the end of the third quarter, as Allen found Hines for a 64-yard scoring strike. The extra point was no good, and it was 49-34 Braves at this point. Then in the fourth quarter Commerce was to briefly get within striking distance, as Allen found Bobby Draughn for a 79-yard touchdown reception giving the Braves a 49-40 lead, with the whole fourth quarter still to go.
If the Tiger defense could somehow stop the Braves, they might just pull this game out. But alas, it wasn’t to be, as the Braves took over the football and Marcus Underwood ran for 13 yards and a Braves first down.
Oscar Muniz then rushed for a 12-yard gain and another Braves first down, then Marshall completed a bomb to Hutchison putting the Braves on the Tiger 5-yard line with a first and goal.
After a couple of runs got the ball to the Commerce 1-yard line, Marcus Underwood slammed the door shut on the Tigers with a 1-yard scoring run. The kick was good and the Braves had a 56-40 win at Commerce’s Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers will host Wills Point at Memorial Stadium on Friday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m.