Sabine falls to Troup in a 20-19 thriller

TROUP — The Sabine Cardinals attempted to crash the Troup homecoming Friday night in another wild game against the Tigers. The Cardinals came up just short, though, falling 20-19 in a barnburner.

It was the second straight year that the contest was decided by a single point. Sabine won last year's game, 13-12. The Tigers used a relentless ground attack, led by Ryan Nichols' 207 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

Troup was able to get the win despite a stellar performance from Sabine senior quarterback Lie'Quan Byrd. Byrd threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns on a 22-of-35 completion night. Byrd's favorite receivers were Bernard Alexander and Zac Howell. Alexander caught 10 passes for 197 yards. Howell was also a target with five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. The Cardinals' Shane Lewis had three receptions for 39 yards and two touchdowns.

The Tigers drew first blood with 4:43 in the first quarter as Nichols scampered 59 yards for a touchdown. The Cardinals an- swered immediately with an aerial assault, when Byrd found Lewis on the fade route for a 23-yard touchdown strike. Howell missed wide right on the extra point kick and the Tigers held the lead 7-6 with 3:18 left in the first quarter.

The Cardinal defense, led by Tevin Alexander, Byrd, and Hunter Smith, held off a Troup late red-zone scare to end the first half. Troup went into the locker room with that 7-6 advantage.

The Tigers' Ethan Huckaby fielded the opening kickoff of the second half at his own 38. Troup's offense put together a quick four-play 62-yard scoring drive anchored by a second 59-yard run by Nichols on the first play of the half. Tyler Davis proceeded to cap the drive off with a 1-yard quarterback sneak.

The Cardinals took over on their own 1 and went on a commanding 10-play, 99-yard touchdown drive. Byrd got the Cardinals out of a trouble with a 31-yard pass to Bernard Alexander. Byrd then capped off the drive with a 25-yard touchdown strike to Howell. Howell converted the kick to tie the game at 13 with 5:10 in the third.

Sabine took possession late in the third from their own 43. Byrd found Kendrick Chumley on a left-side wide receiver screen, juking his way for a 43-yard gain to the Troup 15. A personal foul on a late hit on Chumley put the Cards at the Troup 8. Byrd's pass intended for Terrence Daniels was bobbled and intercepted by a Troup defender in the end zone.

Byrd found Lewis open for an 11-yard scoring strike across the middle with 4:58 left in the game. Sabine second-year head coach Jerry Baker and his staff elected to go for the win on with a two-point conversion.

Byrd's pass in the corner of the end zone intended for Lewis was tipped and fell imcomplete, and the Tigers held on for a very dramatic 20-19 victory, their first of the season.

Sabine, now 1-1 (the Cards opened the season with a home win over Redwater), will have an open week next week before returning to action Sept. 18, hosting Beckville for homecoming.