MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Vista Ridge mounted a second-half comeback, but it fell short against Bowie on Thursday at Gupton Stadium.
Bowie hung on for a 37-28 victory, getting a late 18-yard touchdown pass from Cruz Tello to Rowen Wells to seal the win. Tello found Wells on an out-breaking route and fired it toward the sideline. Wells corraled the pass near the goal line and then fell in the end zone with 5:22 remaining.
Vista Ridge cut Bowie's lead to two points twice in the second half but could never get over the top. The Rangers' JD Jackson rumbled over Bowie defenders for a 19-yard scoring run with 7:51 left in the game. The PAT cut Bowie's lead to 30-28.
Bowie's Kayson Mathabela scored on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 44-yard run to fend off the Rangers' first swing for the lead. Deshaun Castillo scampered 12 yards for a Vista Ridge score in the third quarter to make the score 23-21 in favor of Bowie.
Bowie scored in all three phases to take a 17-6 halftime leader over Vista Ridge in the KBVO Game of the Week on Thursday at John Gupton Stadium.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring with a field goal, and then quarterback Cruz Tello found Owen Ball for a 16-yard touchdown with 2:50 left in the opening frame.
MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters
Aeden Solis provided the big defensive play for Bowie with a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter to give the Bulldogs a 17-0 lead.
Vista Ridge got on the board in the second quarter with a 1-yard pass from Kaden Arnot to Kieren Paegle.
You can watch the second half on KBVO.
On Friday, the KXAN.com live-streamed game features No. 4 Westlake and San Benito from the Rio Grande Valley. The broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. with the opening kick at 7 p.m. from Chaparral Stadium.