A&M Consol halts Oak Ridge win streak

CONROE, Texas - They were trying to do what no other Oak Ridge High School football team had ever done. On Friday, the 7-0 War Eagles were trying to become the first-ever in the program's history to start the season with eight consecutive victories.

This season's start matched the 2002 team that started 7-0 at the Class 4A level and went on to the region finals.

But A&M Consolidated had other ideas. The Tigers scored on their first three possessions of the second half and broke open a close game, marching to a 41-23 victory at Buddy Moorhead Stadium.

It was anybody's game at halftime with the Tigers holding onto a 14-10 edge. But the Tigers scored three times in a six-minute span to start the second half and pulled away. In doing so, the Tigers (6-2, 4-1) moved into second place in the District 14-5A standings while sending the War Eagles (7-1, 3-1) to their first defeat of the season.

Tigers quarterback Kobe Miller, who entered the game with more than 2,000 yards passing, added another 316 yards and five touchdowns. He completed 22 of 26 passes and did not throw an interception. His favorite target was Kerry Thomas, who piled up 169 yards and two touchdowns on 10 pass receptions.

The Tigers scored on their first two possessions to start the game, putting Oak Ridge in a 14-0 hole early. But quarterback Braden Letney rallied the troops, leading the War Eagles on a short touchdown drive following a fumbled punt.

Letney scored on a 32-yard run to cut A&M Consolidated's lead in half at 14-7. It was a defensive struggle for the rest of the first half with a 35-yard field goal from Patrick Coale the only other score before intermission.

Letney rushed for a game-high 172 yards on 17 carries. He also threw for another 153 yards, completing eight of 15 passes. He closed the scoring with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Riley McKnight as Oak Ridge scored twice in the final six minutes of the game.

McKnight finished with 84 receiving yards on three catches.

Justin Edwards preceded the final tally with a 1-yard touchdown run.

"These guys didn't quit," Oak Ridge head coach Dereck Rush said. "They kept playing until the end. We'll regroup and get ready for next week."

The War Eagles travel to Lufkin (3-5, 2-2) for a 7:30 p.m. Friday game.