Look: Parker Polk leads Grapevine over Lake Dallas in Texas 5A football playoffs
GRAPEVINE, Texas - Parker Polk racked up 216 all-purpose yards and caught a touchdown pass to help lead Grapevine to a 31-14 victory over Lake Dallas in the Texas Class 5A Division II football playoffs Thursday night.
"This is a big relief,” Grapevine head coach Mike Alexander said after the game. “Honestly they were ... that’s the toughest four-seed that we’ve had to see since I’ve been here. They had a rough spurt for about three games where they turned the ball over a little bit and it cost them a couple games in district, [but] that’s a two-seed right there that we played tonight.”
Lake Dallas took the lead just four minutes into the game on a quarterback sneak by Cade Bortnem.
Bortnem finished 10 of 23 for 81 yards, adding 116 yards on 14 carries and a score on the ground.
The Mustangs responded on the ensuing drive when quarterback Evan Baum (10 of 12, 185 yards, 1 TD) hit Parker Polk over the middle for a 57-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
Polk made the difference for Grapevine offensively as he ran for 139 yards on 22 carries and added 4 catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.
Just before the first quarter came to an end, Grapevine blocked a punt and Tatum Evans picked up the ball and rumbled 15 yards for a touchdown to put the Mustangs ahead for good.
Leading 14-7, Grapevine nearly scored again, but the Mustangs fumbled at the two yard line and Lake Dallas recovered.
After another punt, the Mustangs tried to extend the lead but missed a field goal. Then, just before halftime, the Falcons had a field goal blocked, leaving the score at 14-7 going into the break.
Lake Dallas took the second-half kickoff and methodically drove down the field, but fumbled the ball away. Grapevine took advantage, going on a long drive that culminated in 28-yard touchdown run by Reid Watkins to give Grapevine a 21-7 lead. Watkins finished the game with 8 carries for 65 yards.
On the next Grapevine drive Hayden Rhoades tacked on a 27-yard field goal to extend their lead to 24-7.
Lake Dallas was able to muster another scoring drive late in the game when Dylan Brauchle found the edge and scored on a 7-yard run.
The Mustangs dashed any hopes of a comeback when Rondale Carridine took an option pitch 46 yards to pay dirt, giving Grapevine a 31-14 lead.
CJ Holmes sealed the game with an interception on Lake Dallas' next drive.
"The senior class, they’re a special group,” Alexander said. “I think every senior class is special and I love them all equally, but this group, from the time they got here on campus as freshman, they’ve done just a little bit extra … they love each other well, they cheer each other on, and they love coming to work every day and that matters.”
Grapevine (10-1) will face Abilene Cooper in the area round of the Texas high school football playoffs. Abilene Cooper beat El Paso Andress 49-20 on Thursday night.
Check out SBLive's exclusive photos from Grapevine's victory:
(All photos by Brian McLean)
PHOTO GALLERY: GRAPEVINE 31, LAKE DALLAS 14
