For the second time in as may weeks, the Glenbrook Apaches dug themselves a deep hole early.
Glenbrook trailed the Ringgold Redskins 20-0 in the first quarter Thursday night on Ringgold’s home field. As in Week 2, when they trailed Bossier 21-0 in the first quarter, the Apaches fought back.
But that’s where the similarities between the games end. Glenbrook wound up losing to Bossier.
After falling behind Thursday, the Apaches dominated the Redskins en route to a 53-32 victory.
Glenbrook improved to 2-1. Ringgold dropped to 1-2.
The Apaches outscored the Redskins 53-12 over the last three-and-a-half quarters. Even more impressive, they outscored them 37-6 over the final three quarters, including 29-0 in the second half.
“I guess we try to keep it interesting,” Glenbrook Head Coach Greg Tibbitt said. “Got in a 20-0 hole again and battled our way back and took the lead and ended up winning 53-32 against a really good Ringgold team. They played really well.”
The Apaches line excelled on both sides of the ball and the defense got some big turnovers.
“We were really able to run the football down the stretch,” Tibbitt said. “Carson Whitehead and Holden Williams had a really good game running the football and our offensive line just kind of took over the game for us.
“We had a couple of great plays by our defense. We had three picks in the second half that kind of gave us the ball back and gave us short fields sometimes. Our kids didn’t quit. They kept playing and kept fighting and had a good outcome this time.”
Trailing 26-16 after the first quarter, Glenbrook got within 26-24 on a 6-yard pass from Ryan Reagan to Gage White with 8:14 left in the half.
Connor Williams then got an interception but the Apaches couldn’t take advantage. Ringgold scored on a wild 95-yard run with just five seconds left in the half. Reagan almost scored on a long run on the final play but was tackled at the 5.
The Apaches had to punt on their first possession of the second half.
But Davis Powell gave Glenbrook a spark with an interception. Reagan ran 20 yards to the Ringgold 20. Whitehead carried to the 1.
After a 2-yard loss, Reagan scored from the 3. He then tied the game at 32 with a two-point conversion run.
The Apaches defense continued to dominate. A high punt snap set Glenbrook up at the Ringgold 5. Whitehead scored on a 4-yard run. A try for two failed but the Apaches were ahead to stay.
After forcing a punt, Glenbrook drove 67 yards for a touchdown. Whitehead broke loose for a big gain to the 6. Reagan scored from the 2, Whitehead went in for the conversion and the Apaches led 46-32.
Connor Bolton then picked off a pass and returned it deep in Ringgold territory. A penalty pushed the ball back to the 40.
Glenbrook took advantage with Williams scoring on a short run.
Glenbrook visits Cedar Creek for a District 1-1A game next Friday. The Cougars (2-0) were scheduled to play Loyola Friday night.