Tyler Lee spotted Rockwall-Heath a 10-point lead in the second quarter and spent the rest of the game trying to overcome it before ultimately succumbing in a 24-14 loss Friday in their District 11-6A opener at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
The loss was Robert E. Lee’s first of the season and drops the Red Raiders to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in 11-6A. Heath moves to 3-1 and 1-0.
The Red Raiders gained 387 yards despite fumbling seven times, losing two of them, and being forced to overcome 10 negative-yardage plays.
Senior quarterback Chance Amie was 17 of 27 for 218 yards, eight of those completions going to Marquis Gray, who finished with 150 yards and a touchdown. Junior Ladarius Wickware rushed for 98 yards on 22 attempts.
Rockwall-Heath lost its starting quarterback in the first half, so it turned primarily to the ground game with Tyrus Fort rushing 18 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns (12, 10) and Tanner McCallister finishing with 150 yards and a score (8).
Lee was stopped on fourth down on four separate occasions, twice in the first half and twice more in the second half.
The Red Raiders looked like they would open the scoring late in the first quarter, driving 64 yards in 12 plays. Lee converted on one fourth down during the drive, but on fourth-and-3 from the 11, Wickware was stopped short.
Heath answered with a drive and a field goal to lead 3-0 early in the second quarter.
A blocked punt by Heath gave the visitors possession again at Lee’s 18. McCallister eventually capitalized for the Hawks with an 8-yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead.
Lee was in danger of being shut out in the first half, facing a third-and-8 from its own 8 when Amie lofted a 37-yard pass to Gray. This spurred the Red Raiders to drive 94 yards with Amie and Gray finishing it off on fourth-and-goal from the 20 with two seconds left. Amie faked a spike before rising up and throwing a strike to Gray.
Mason Magers’ PAT made it 10-7 at halftime.
The Hawks’ defense stymied Lee in the second half while Heath’s offense drove down and scored with Fort doing the honors to make it 17-7.
A lost fumble by Lee and recovery and return by Heath set up another touchdown by Fort and a 24-7 lead with 1:05 to play in the third quarter.
The Red Raiders responded, and again it was Amie and Gray providing it. The two seniors hooked up for a 41-yard gain to move into Heath territory with Amie eventually scoring on a 5-yard run. Magers’ PAT made it 24-14 with 10:57 to play.
Lee had two more drives to try to come back further, but was stopped on fourth down twice.
The Red Raiders go on the road next week to face Longview.
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Rockwall-Heath 24, Tyler Lee 14
Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium
Rockwall-Heath 0 10 14 0 - 24
Tyler Lee 0 7 0 7 - 14
Second Quarter
RH-FG Bijan Nichols 29 (9:01)
RH-Tanner McCallister run (Nichols kick), 6:39
LEE-Marquis Gray 20 pass from Chance Amie (Mason Magers kick), :02
Third Quarter
RH-Tyrus Fort 12 run (Nichols kick), 3:13
RH-Fort 10 run (Nichols kick), 1:05
Fourth Quarter
LEE-Amie 5 run (Magers kick), 10:57
RH LEE
First Downs 14 22
Rushes-Yards 40-246 54-169
Passing Yards 29 218
Comp.-Att.-Int. 4-7-0 17-27-0
Punts-Avg. 4-29.2 3-42.6
Fumbles-Lost 3-1 7-2
Penalties-Yards 3-15 5-45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Rockwall-Heath, Tanner McCallister 18-150, Tyrus Fort 18-100, Garrett Cody 5-(minus 4). Tyler Lee, Ladarius Wickware 22-98, Chance Amie 20-24, Kameron Ross 3-24, Lanthony Simmons 4-28, Malcolm Miller 1-5, Jordan Printers 2-4, Te’vion Massey 1-(minus 8), Team 1-(minus 6).
PASSING-Rockwall-Heath, Fort 2-3-0 13, Cody 2-4-0 16, . Tyler Lee, Amie 17-27-0 218 RECEIVING-Rockwall-Heath, Nathan Johnson 3-21, Casey Curtin 1-8. Tyler Lee, Marquis Gray 8-150, Wickware 3-25, Massey 3-20, Harrison Branham 1-13, Malcolm Miller 1-6, Zaylon Walker 1-4.