CROWLEY, Texas — After a tense first half that ended in a defensive stalemate, Mansfield found its rhythm late, pulling away in the final quarter to defeat Crowley 28–14 on Thursday night at the Crowley Multi-Sport Complex.
Crowley (2–4) struck quickly to open the second half, tying the game 7–7 less than a minute into the third quarter with a lightning-fast three-play drive that swung momentum in the Eagles’ favor. Junior quarterback Kendrick Kennedy Jr. (#10) orchestrated the series, finishing it off with a touchdown run to ignite the home crowd.
But Mansfield (2–4) answered immediately. Senior quarterback Mykah Lankford (#2) led a methodical 65-yard march, converting twice on third down before calling his own number on a keeper to reclaim the lead, 14–7.
Crowley refused to fold. Midway through the fourth quarter, Kennedy found Antayvious Ellis (#1) on a crossing route that turned into a 48-yard touchdown, tying the score at 14–14 with just over four minutes remaining. The momentum, however, didn’t last long.
Mansfield’s defense, which had been sturdy all night, came up with the game’s defining moments. In the final two minutes, the Tigers recorded two interceptions returned for touchdowns on back-to-back Crowley drives to slam the door on Crowley’s comeback bid and seal the 28–14 victory.
“We went into this week really focusing on tackling, blocking, and taking care of the football,” head coach Gregory George said after the game. “But more than that, we talked about how to respond. You’re going to make mistakes, but what happens next is what defines you. That’s what we did in the second half.”
Lankford accounted for two total touchdowns, spreading passes to Zion Robinson (#8) and Chime Ojirika (#12) while using his legs to extend key drives. “The defense backed us up the whole game,” Lankford said. “We just had to come out, execute, and figure it out in the second half. The energy never dropped, and it showed on the scoreboard.”
Crowley’s offense showed flashes of life behind Kennedy, who created plays under pressure, but protection breakdowns and turnovers proved costly. Despite the loss, head coach Carlos Lynn said he saw growth in his team. “We battled,” Lynn said. “We’ve got to finish drives, take care of the ball, and clean up the small details. But I’m proud of the way these kids fought until the end.”
For George, the win was about more than the scoreboard. “We knew what was at stake,” he said. “This win puts us in a great spot for the playoffs. But more importantly, it shows the resilience and faith these kids have… Coaching is a calling, it’s about helping them grow into good men, not just good players.”
Mansfield hosts its homecoming game next Friday, while Crowley looks to regroup before facing North Crowley later this season in a pivotal district matchup.
All statistics cited are unofficial and based on live, in-game estimates.