By the end of the first quarter, the game was still scoreless. The resurgent Polar Bears and traditional power Panthers moved the ball against each other but their defenses adjusted to stop drives.
Meanwhile, officials threw so many flags sky-high over the gridiron … it easily outnumbered the yellow planes of Spirit airlines departing and landing at DFW airport. Combined, both teams were assessed 27 penalties – and that does not include the few penalties declined or waved-off. Frost totaled 13 flags for 88 yards. Mart accumulated 14 flags for 120 yards.
The barrage of whistles and penalties slowed the action to intermittent pulses of activity.
The first score of the game came on the first play of the second quarter. Panther running back Ah’Maad Scott ran 11 yards into the end zone. With Ayden Lauderdale’s PAT kick, Mart led 7-0.
Frost evened the score with a 4:38 drive over 90 yards on 11 plays. Facing third-down and 10 at their own 22-yard line, quarterback Edwin Alvarado fired a completion to receiver Fabian Abundis, running a crossing pattern about 10 yards deep. Abundis caught the ball in stride and raced for 56 yards diagonally before being shoved out of bounds in front of the concession stand.
With fans roaring, the Polar Bears ran four times pushing the ball within the 1-yard line. On fourth down, Frost ran the Philadelphia Eagles tush-push to shove quarterback Edwin Alvarado into the end zone. Gabriel Abuid’s PAT kick tied the score 7-7.
On their next possession, Mart drove to the Polar Bears 3-yard line. On a first-and-goal, Frost defensive end Russell Foy broke around the right end for a 12-yard sack. Three plays later, the Panthers took the lead on a Lauderdale 23-yard field goal and a 10-7 halftime lead.
Frost Head Coach Phillip Gibson reflected after the game, “We played well in the first half. I am very pleased how we came out of the tunnel ready to play. We did not cower to their tradition. But in the third quarter the penalties and turnovers hurt us.”
Scott scored on a 5-yard run with 8:07 in the third quarter to put the Panthers up 16-7. After a near interception pass-breakup by Polar Bears defensive backs Jaycus Hailey, Brock Holland, and Alvarado, Mart committed itself to the running game. The Panthers pounded the Polar Bears for 410 yards rushing on 41 carries. They gained 169 yards in the third quarter. Scott led all rushers with 19 carries for 273 yards and four touchdowns. His teammate running back De’Quinn Preston added 14 carries for 125 yards.
A frustrating play for Frost came with 4:43 left in the third quarter. After Preston gained 27 yards on a left sweep, Polar Bear defensive backs forced a fumble. It bounced favorably forward down the field for Mart. Receiver Damian Davis scooped up the ball and ran 27 yards for a touchdown down the left sideline. The score with a Lauderdale PAT kick gave Mart a 23-7 lead.
The Frost offense sputtered in the second half. The Polar Bears passing game sailed nine incompletions in row and was only 2 of 12 for 11 yards in the second half. Alvarado finished with 98 yards passing, and led the Polar Bears rushing attack with 89 yards on 19 carries.
Mart added two more touchdown runs in the third quarter and another in the fourth quarter. The Panthers moved into third place in the district standings tied with Goldthwaite. They will host the Eagles next week. Frost will travel to district leader No. 3-ranked Bremond.