By Kevin Carson
Special to the Herald Banner
COMMERCE - The last time Commerce lost a district game, Royse City's Justin Keeton was in grade school. Keeton's all grown up now and the Tigers' seven-year unbeaten string in district play is over.
The senior defensive back and wide receiver intercepted three passes and scored on a 56-yard pass from Mitch Morris to lead the Bulldogs to a come-from-behind 27-13 win over the Tigers Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
Royse City, which improved to 6-1 on the season, moved into a tie for the district 10-3A lead with a 3-1 mark. The Tigers, who recorded their last district defeat to Bonham in 1991, are also 6-1 overall and 3-1 in district play.
"This obviously was a big win for us," said Royse City coach Robert Wilcox, who was showered with the traditional ice water bucket following the game. "Keeton had a great game, but it was our overall defensive effort that was most impressive. Commerce is an excellent team and holding them to just 13 points is amazing."
In addition to the three interceptions, the Bulldogs also forced two Commerce fumbles and held the Tigers' high-powered offense to just 114 second half yards.
All three of Keeton's pickoffs came at key points in the game, but his final interception, which came off backup quarterback Justin Garrett with six minutes remaining, may have been the most crucial.
B.J. White's three-yard run with 6:26 to play had given the Bulldogs their first lead of the game, 20-13. Commerce began the ensuing drive at their own 20 and immediately went deep down the left side. But Keeton stepped in front of the intended receiver at midfield and returned it to the Commerce 24.
White then put the game out of reach with his second score of the night, this one from two yards out, and the Bulldogs lead by 14 with just 5:49 left.
"No question that Justin's last interception was the deciding factor. They had their backup quarterback in and it was his first pass of the game. You could just see the momentum change," continued Wilcox.
It was not the first time that big plays had swung momentum in the game.
The Tigers were in championship form early as they took the opening kickoff and marched 68 yards, scoring on Ryan Sienty's 6-yard run, to take an early 7-0 lead with 9:18 left in the first quarter.
Royse City came back in the second quarter as Morris raced 76 yards on a quarterback draw with 5:21 to play in the half. The point-after attempt was blocked however, and Commerce clung to a 7-6 lead.
The Tigers came back on their next possession, driving to the Royse City 38. Keeton ended the threat when he picked off Chad Anderson's tipped pass at the 16 and returned it to the 45.
White rambled for 17 yards and a first down to the Tiger 38. But momentum shifted again as he coughed the ball up after an 18 yard gain and Odrekus Lewis recovered at the 16.
Enter Keeton again, who grabbed his second Anderson pass just two plays later and returned it to the Commerce 25. The Bulldogs were unable to capitalize however, as they drove to the five but Zapata's 22-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked.
Sienty's second touchdown of the night, this one also from six yards out, capped an eight-play, 59-yard drive. Jordan Hougham's point-after try was wide, though, and Commerce held a 13-6 lead with 33 seconds left to play in the third quarter.
Royse City then caught the Commerce defense off guard as Morris hit a wide-open Keeton for the 56-yard scoring pass less than one minute later. Zapata hit the extra point try and the game was knotted, 13-13 at the 11:51 mark in the fourth.
Another Commerce miscue, this time a fumble by Aven Johnson at the Bulldog 44, set up White's game-winning touchdown.
Commerce, which ran for 219 yards, finished with 286 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs had 305 yards of total offense on the night, 207 on the ground.
Individually, Morris was 6-of-10 passing for 98 yards and the touchdown. He also rushed for 104 yards on 11 tries. White had 89 yards on 17 carries.
Sienty led the Tigers with 71 yards on 10 carries. Anderson was 5-of-7 for 50 yards and two interceptions before leaving the game with a concussion early in the fourth quarter.
The night belonged to Keeton however, as he returned his three interceptions for 97 yards and also hauled in two passes for 73 yards.