White Oak gets by scrappy Sabine, 42-21

LISTEN UP, TROOPS — Sabine High School head football coach and athletic director Jerry Baker (far left) speaks to his team after their 42-21 season-ending loss at White Oak on Friday night. The Cardinals finished the season 3-7, the second year under Baker. WHITE OAK — The Sabine Cardinals put up some good offensive numbers Friday night, but it wasn’t enough to overcome an experienced White Oak team.

The Roughnecks battled to a 42- 21 victory over the Cardinals at home, and will now prepare for a Thursday-night playoff matchup with the Jefferson Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. in Hallsville.

The loss ends the season for Sabine (3-7), expected to be a major player in Texas Class 2A basketball.

Sabine senior quarterback Lie’Quan Byrd threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns on 9-of-27 completions. He finishes the season with 1,696 passing yards and 14 touchdowns on 94-of-189 completions.

Byrd’s favorite target was Kendrick Chumley, who hauled in five catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Byrd and Chumley connected on a 47-yard scoring strike with 7:57 to play in the first half.

Then, Byrd hit Chumley again on a slant for a 68-yard scoring strike with 10:48 left to play. The second score brought the Cardinals within 14 points of the Roughnecks, 35-21. However, McCurdy would close the door on Sabine when he strolled 42 yards up the middle for a touchdown with 4:14 to go in the contest.

White Oak senior running back Jackson McCurdy rushed for 163 yards and two scores on 15 carries. McCurdy also caught a two-point conversion and a 14-yard touchdown pass from Connor Sharp with 11:53 left in the game.

Senior Roughneck Junior Hamilton also had a big night offensively, rushing for 129 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

Hamilton also caught two passes for 44 yards and two touchdowns.

Sabine’s Chris White, Tevin Alexander, and Hunter Smith led the Cardinal defensive effort, forcing the Roughnecks into several three-and-out series in the first and second halves.

White Oak finishes the season at 9-1.