Commerce repeat dream dashed by New Boston

By Kevin Carson/Special to the Herald Banner

MT. PLEASANT -- Defending Class 3A Division II state champion Commerce dominated New Boston for 46 minutes of the Division II area round playoff contest Saturday afternoon at Sam Parker Field. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the game lasted two more minutes.

New Boston collected a safety with 1:55 to play and then marched 55 yards in just three plays, scoring on a 14-yard pass from Cason Hanes to Chris Briggs to claim a dramatic 9-6 victory.

New Boston (11-1) advances to take on Longview Spring Hill, a 38-14 victor over Crandall, in the regional semifinals. Commerce ends the season with a 9-3 mark.

Commerce held a slim 6-0 lead when it took possession at the Tiger 19 with just 2:28 remaining. But a 2-yard loss on a fumbled pitch to Eddie Hines set the tone for what proved to be a disastrous turn of events.

The Tigers failed to gain a first down and were forced to punt from their own 27 with just 1:43 left. The snap rolled all the way to punter Bart Bryant, who alertly kicked the ball out of the end zone for an apparent safety.

But Bryant was flagged for an illegal kick, which took place at the 10 and Commerce was forced to punt again, this time from the back of the end zone following a 5-yard penalty. The result was the same, however, as Bryant stepped out of the end zone for the safety.

And things went from bad to worse for Commerce as Antwon Jefferson returned Bryant's ensuing kickoff to the New Boston 45 to set up the game-winning drive.

Cedric Dorsey, the game's leading rushing with 183 yards on 21 carries, ripped off 38 yards on the first play from scrimmage. He gained three yards on the next play before Hanes hit Briggs on a quick slant for the game-winner with 55 seconds to play.

The last Commerce drive of the season was almost doomed from the start as the kickoff was bobbled and went out of bounds at the Commerce 13. The Tigers managed one first down but failed to convert on a fourth and eight from the 33 and New Boston took over on downs with 33 seconds left.

Most of the second half mirrored the first in the defensive struggle as both teams missed opportunities in a scoreless opening half.

Commerce took the opening kick and quickly marched 66 yards to the New Boston eight. A delay of game penalty on a fourth-and-one from just inside the nine forced the Tigers to line up for an apparent field goal attempt. But holder Chad Hunter's shuffle pass to Ryan Burrell was stuffed behind the line and New Boston took over on downs.

The Tigers threatened again late in the quarter as they marched to the New Boston 29. But New Boston's Jason Hughes recovered Bobby Phifer's fumble on first down.

New Boston was not without chances to score either as the Lions drove deep into Commerce territory in the first half. But both times the Commerce defense stiffened and the Lions came away empty-handed.

The Lion offense came alive in the third period as it marched 68 yards to the Commerce 13. But Hanes fumbled the snap and Phifer recovered to end the threat.

That set the Commerce scoring drive in motion as Phifer hit Chris Winston on a 17-yard pass and then gained 24 yards on a quarterback keeper to the New Boston 30. Eddie Hines ripped off 23 yards on a third and 10, moving the ball to the seven.

And Phifer, who led Commerce with 119 yards rushing on 20 tries, finished off the drive with a 7-yard run. Bryant's point-after try was no good however, and Commerce clung to the ill-fated 6-0 lead.

New Boston put together a pair of threats in the fourth period as the Lions twice advanced to the Commerce 19. But the first drive stalled when Hanes was flushed out of the pocket and stopped for no gain on fourth down. And the second ended when Dante Wade knocked away a pass intended for Briggs in the end zone.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, Hanes and Briggs got one more chance.

Dallas Morning News Stats