SALADO – Stephenville jumped out to a 31-19 halftime lead Friday night at Salado, but the Yellow Jackets couldn't withstand Noah Mescher and the Eagles' Slot-T rushing machine in the second half.
Senior fullback Mescher exploded for 365 yards and five touchdowns, highlighted by four second-half scores, and Salado outscored Stephenville 42-14 after halftime en route to a 61-45 win at Eagle Stadium. The Eagles (2-1) racked up 622 rushing yards on 51 carries overall.
Mescher's touchdown rushes were from 1 yard in the second quarter, 49 and 1 yards in the third and 13 and 19 yards in the fourth.
Senior tailback Reid Vincent added 152 rushing yards as Salado bounced back from its 21-7 home loss to two-time defending Class 3A Division I state champion Grandview a week ago. Vincent had a 64-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and a 22-yard TD reception from junior quarterback Hutton Haire – the Eagles' only pass attempt – in the third.
Senior Wrook Brown rushed for a 35-yard touchdown and threw a 2-point pass to senior Peyton Miller, and sophomore halfback Caden Strickland had a 7-yard TD among his 58 rushing yards.
After allowing 31 first-half points against Stephenville (1-2), Salado's defense limited the Yellow Jackets to seven points in each of the final two quarters.
Salado plays at Mexia (1-2) at 7:30 p.m. next Friday in the fourth of five non-district games for coach Alan Haire's Eagles.