The Glenbrook Apaches battled to the end but came up just short against the Jonesboro-Hodge Tigers Thursday night at Apache Stadium.
Jonesboro-Hodge rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit for an 18-14 District 1-1A victory.
The Tigers improved to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in district. The Apaches dropped to 3-5 and 2-4.
Glenbrook led most of the game. The Apaches turned in an outstanding defensive effort against a team that came in having won five of their last six.
Glenbrook stopped two-point conversion attempts after the Tigers’ first two touchdowns to stay on top.
But Jonesboro-Hodge took the lead on a 43-yard touchdown pass by Dakota Knox with 4:36 left in the game.
Glenbrook thought it had the 67-yard drive stopped before that. The Apaches held Knox to no gain on third-and-1 at the Apaches 45.
On fourth down Knox ran again toward the Glenbrook sideline.
Glenbrook Head Coach Greg Tibbitt said the official on the Apaches’ side spotted the ball a half-yard short of a first down but the official on the other side had it about a yard over for the first down.
“The white hat (referee) signaled first down before they communicated or anything,” he said. “It is what it is, I guess.”
Regardless of the loss, Tibbitt was pleased with the way his team competed.
“Our kids fought well,” he said. “That’s a very good football team, probably No. 2 in our district. I thought we played as well as we could just couldn’t finish there late.”
One player that exemplified that was senior Gage White. He caught a 65-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Louie Collins with 45 seconds left in the first half to give Glenbrook the 14-0 lead.
White played on both offense and defense. He was slowed by cramps in the second half but kept playing.
“He would come out with cramps and go back in,” Tibbitt said. “His calf was the size of a bowling ball at one point, just cramped up.
“He’s been a senior leader for us. Since I’ve gotten here he’s kind of been the guy that’s led us in everything that we do. He’s played really well for us.”
Glenbrook’s first touchdown came on a pass from Collins to Carson Powell, who caught the ball on a slant route about seven yards downfield and turned it into a long TD pass.
The Apaches were again without starting quarterback and defensive back Ryan Reagan who suffered an injury early against Arcadia In Week 6.
Tibbitt said Collins played well.
“He kept some plays alive kind of rolling around and making things happen. Ran the ball decent at times,” he said. “He did a good job for us tonight.”
In the second half, Jonesboro-Hodge’s offense basically consisted of Knox running the ball with an occasional pass and it was successful.
The Tigers scored on a 53-yard drive on their first possession. Knox hit Latravious Burns for a 23-yard score.
Jonesboro-Hodge drove 76 yards in 16 plays for its second TD. Knox gained five yards on fourth-and-3 from the Apaches 6-yard line and scored on third down from the 2.
The Apaches took down Landon Boston for a big loss on the two-point conversion attempt with 8:15 left in the game.
Darron Hollingsworth had an interception for the Apaches on the final play of the first half.
Glenbrook closes the regular season at No. 1-ranked and undefeated Haynesville next Friday. The Tors (8-0, 5-0) are scheduled to play D’Arbonne Woods Friday night.