The Glenbrook Apaches fell to the Haynesville Golden Tornado 54-36 Thursday night in a District 1-1A opener at Glenbrook.
But don’t be fooled by the final score. The Apaches gave the defending district and non-select Division IV state champion Tors all they wanted.
With 9:59 left in the game, Glenbrook (2-4) cut the lead to 34-22 on a 50-yard pass from Braxton Tibbitt to Carson Powell and Sam Scroggs’ PAT.
The Apaches then recovered a fumble at the Haynesville 47 on the kickoff return. But at the end of a run to about the 30, the Tors (4-1) recovered a fumble and returned it to the Glenbrook 31.
Four plays later Haynesville scored on a 9-yard run and extended the lead to 41-22.
The Apaches weren’t through, though. Taking advantage of several major penalties against Haynesville, Glenbrook drove 67 yards for a touchdown on a 12-yard pass from Tibbitt to Darron Hollingsworth, cutting the deficit to 41-28 with 6:15 to play.
The Apaches were forced to attempt on onside kick from their 25 after a penalty and Haynesville scored on a 33-yard run.
The Tors scored another touchdown after an interception. Powell caught a short pass from Tibbitt and took it 77 yards for the game’s final touchdown.
The 36 points were the most Haynesville has allowed by a district team since Glenbrook’s 56-17 victory in 2022.
Glenbrook made a statement early in the game.
On the Apaches’ third play, Carson Whitehead went 65 yards through a big hole up the middle for a touchdown. The conversion failed.
The Glenbrook line opened big holes for Whitehead and Kleaton Davis throughout the game.
On Haynesville’s first possession, Ryan Reagan intercepted a pass and returned it to the Tors 48.
The Apaches were forced to punt, but they quickly got the ball back after forcing a three-and-out.
Highlighted by a 35-yard pass from Tibbitt to Hollingsworth, Glenbrook drove to a first down at the Haynesville 36. But on fourth-and-3, the Apaches came up just short of a first down.
The Tors tied it on a 52-yard run by Latravious Brooks.
Glenbrook then had a drive inside Haynesville territory end with a fumble at the 30.
Reagan picked off another pass and at the Haynesville 25.
A 29-yard run by Whitehead gave Glenbrook a first down at the 13. On fourth down, Scroggs kicked a 33-yard field goal to put the Apaches on top 9-6 with 6:12 left in the half.
But the Tors returned the kickoff to the Glenbrook 15. A penalty on the return moved the ball into back to the 30 and Moise Crittten scored on the next play
Haynesville scored on a short run with 28 seconds left in the half after an interception and led 20-9.
It took the Tors just two plays after the second-half kickoff to extend the lead to 27-9.
Glenbrook drove 68 yards for a touchdown later in the third. Tibbitt hit Hollingsworth on fourth-and-goal from the 4. Powell had a big catch on the drive.
Glenbrook continues district play next Friday against Cedar Creek in Ruston. The Cougars play North Caddo Friday night.