Braswell beats Hebron 20-19 on final play to secure first 6A playoff spot since 2019

Braswell defeated Hebron 20-19 on Thursday night to clinch its second playoff berth in program history and its first since 2019. The victory at the Bill Carrico Athletic Complex came on the final play of the District 5-6A game, capping a defensive stand that kept the Hawks scoreless in the fourth quarter.

With four seconds remaining, the Bengals trailed 19-14 and faced fourth-and-goal from the Hebron 3-yard line. Quarterback Khalyl Moore threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to sophomore running back Chris Lark, who was wide open in the end zone. Lark said the moment felt good because the team had made the playoffs several years ago in a lower class, and moving to 6A presented a much larger challenge.

"It feels good, especially the fact that we made it to the playoffs last time several years ago and now we’re in 6A, which is a very big difference," Lark said. "Sometimes you just have to make plays, and it felt very good to be able to get out there, make that play and put my team in the playoffs."

The offense moved 81 yards on the final drive after taking over at its own 19-yard line with 2:15 left in the game. The Bengals converted a fourth-and-10 from the Hebron 49 on a screen pass from Moore to Lark, who gained 19 yards. Lark followed with a 29-yard run to bring the ball to the Hebron 1-yard line with 32 seconds left. After two stuffed runs and an incomplete pass on the subsequent plays, Lark caught the game-winning score.

Lark finished the game with 19 carries for 77 yards and six receptions for 78 yards. Hebron’s only points came earlier in the contest, including a 33-yard field goal by Beau Merriman in the first quarter. Hebron took a 19-14 lead with 1:53 left in the third quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Ridge Lias to Robert Smith III. That score followed a safety that resulted from a Hebron tackle of Zahir Trufant in the end zone.

Braswell coach Justen Evans said the team earned the right to compete for another week. Evans, in his first season with the Bengals after spending nine years at Corpus Christi Miller, credited the players for their effort and emotion on the field. "To see these kids achieve this, the tears in their eyes, the joy and excitement in their faces, that’s what it’s all about," Evans said. "It’s not about me. It’s about them. We earned the right to go play for another week, and we’re excited."

The Bengals will face Prosper Walnut Grove in the 6A Division II bi-district round next week. Both teams finished third in their respective districts, so Evans said the coaches will flip a coin on Friday morning to determine the host site. Hebron finished the regular season with a 5-5 record, while Braswell improved to 7-3.

The win marks the first time the Bengals have made the postseason since 2019. That year, they beat Corsicana in the first round before losing to Red Oak in the second. Braswell moved up to Class 6A the following season and had struggled to return to the playoffs until this victory.