By Chad Conine

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Waco High’s Victor Johnson stood outside the Lions’ locker room Friday night and basked in awe of finally beating Tyler Lee.

The Red Raiders brought a four-game winning streak in the series into Waco ISD Stadium, but a headstrong Lions team left with a 19-15 victory.

“Oh, man, it feels so good to beat them,” Johnson said. “I feel like nobody can stop us.”

And, actually, Waco High (4-1) had to win this one twice.

The Lions defense shut down Lee for most of the final three quarters, while the Waco High running game methodically took over.

The Lions were headed in for a possible touchdown that would’ve boosted their lead to 19-7 near the end of the third quarter. But a quirky play — one of several Friday night at Waco ISD Stadium — resulted in seven points for the Red Raiders.

Waco High receiver Prince Sheppard took a reverse handoff and appeared to have blocking set up in front of him. However, a Lee defender got enough of a hand on the football to knock it loose from Sheppard.

Lee defensive back Jordan Aubrey caught the fumble on a bounce and raced 87 yards for a touchdown with no time remaining in the third quarter. Lee tacked on a two-point conversion to go in front, 15-12.

That quickly, Waco High went from being in command to needing a comeback from an offense missing some of its key cogs.

Lions running back Jarred Salubi suited up, but didn’t play for the second straight week. He’s expected to return from a sprained ankle when Waco High opens 16-4A play against University two weeks from today.

Waco High was also missing center Jerold Smith from its starting offensive line.

But the fill-ins performed remarkably well, especially as the Lions constructed a 10-play scoring drive to retake the lead.

“You can’t worry about losing the game,” Waco High coach Johnny Tusa said. “You’ve got to try to win it. ... The odds were against us for a while tonight, but nobody dropped their head.”

Waco High quarterback Clarence Willis and running backs Bronshae’Keon Dugas and Toylon Clark alternated carries to move the Lions into Lee territory.

A little dash of trickery then went a long way when Waco High faced a fourth-and-three from the Red Raiders’ 47.

Lions punter Kollin Kahler lined up in punt formation, but he never caught the ball. Waco High’s Peter Smith grabbed the deep snap and took off around the right side of the Waco High line.

By the time Lee caught him, Smith had given Waco High a first-and-goal at the 8.

Two plays later, Willis ran an option around the left side, kept and dove into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.

Earlier this week, Tusa compared nondistrict games to the NFL preseason, because they don’t really start to count until the district schedule begins. After the game, he called this one a win the Lions can build on.

“When you overcome some adversity, in my opinion, that’s the mark of a champion,” Tusa said.

Waco High certainly turned in a championship effort on defense.

Lee’s only productive offensive series came on the Red Raiders’ first drive of the night.

Lee went 89 yards in 19 plays, converting four third downs, and ate up almost nine minutes as it took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

That marked the Red Raiders’ first touchdown in more than two games. Lee (2-3) was held to a total of three field goals in a loss to Abilene and a 3-2 victory over Dallas Kimball.

But the Waco High defense got tough after the long drive. The Lions allowed Lee no offensive points and only five first downs the rest of the night.

The Red Raiders’ big gains on third down via the screen pass turned into Waco High disruption and sacks for most of the rest of the night.

Oh, and the heads-up play of the game.

The officials flagged Waco High for delay of game to start the second half. A special performance by Waco ISD middle schools along with the Waco High band caused the halftime show to run long.

The Red Raiders made the penalty against Waco High sting when Jamal Mitchell returned the third-quarter kickoff 68 yards to the Waco High 27.

After a holding penalty backed up the Red Raiders, Lee quarterback Luke Wagner threw to Bryan Runnels on a 10-yard out pattern.

But Johnson was ready from his defensive back position. Johnson popped Runnels, putting a helmet on the football, and the ball went squirting away.

Josh Hicks recovered for Waco High, turning away a Lee scoring threat.

The Waco High offense responded with a 15-play drive that ended with Ernesto Guevara’s 25-yard field goal for a 12-7 lead.

All that was left was to win it one more time.

Dugas, who displayed an incredible burst of speed when he shot up the middle for a 20-yard touchdown run in the first half, finished with 78 rushing yards on 16 carries.

Even though Salubi will be back in the lineup in two weeks, Dugas’ role might not change much as he spent most of the night filling Charles Silmon’s change-of-pace-back role. Silmon is out for the year with a knee injury.

Waco High 19, Tyler Lee 15

Tyler Lee 0 7 8 0 — 15

Mart 0 9 3 7 — 19

Second quarter

Lee —Jamal Mitchell 1 run (Joseph Cleaver kick), 11:57.

Waco — Bronshae’Keon Dugas 20 run (Ernesto Guevara kick), 5:26.

Waco — Lee snapped ball over punter Sean Raney’s head out of end zone for safety, 4:34.

Third quarter

Waco — Guevara 25 FG, 2:14.

Lee — Jordan Aubrey 87 fumble return (T.J. Jones pass from Luke Wagner), 0:00.

Fourth quarter

Waco — Clarence Willis 7 run (Guevara kick), 5:53.

Lee Waco

First Downs 12 12

Rushes-Yards 28-70 42-183

Comp-Att-Int 11-16-0 1-3-0 Passing Yards 122 27

Total Yards 192 210

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1

Penalties-Yards 6-37 4-25

Punts-Avg 3-30.6 2-44.5

Individual Stats

Rushing

Lee — Mitchell 12-25, 1 TD; Da Da Brown 10-32; Keyorus Oliver 3-11; Luke Wagner 3-(-31).

Waco — Dugas 16-78, 1 TD; Toylon Clark 15-69; Clarence Willis 8-37; Lamarquet Jones 1-4; Prince Sheppard 1-(-5).

Passing

Lee — Wagner 11-16-0, 122 yards.

Waco — Willis 1-3-0, 27 yards.

Receiving

Lee — Brown 2-34; Mitchell 3-4; Bryan Runnels 2-12; Keyoyrus Oliver 2-44; DeAundre Sparks 1-15.

Waco — Dugas 1-27.