The Pine Tree Pirates fought hard on the road Friday night, clinching a dramatic 28-21 overtime victory over the Hallsville Bobcats at Bobcat Stadium. This gritty win marks Pine Tree’s second of the season and showcases the team’s resilience and explosive playmaking under pressure.
From the start, Pine Tree’s offense showed it could strike quickly. Quarterback Colton Croft connected early with Ja’Karius Timmons for a five-yard touchdown run, giving the Pirates an early 7-0 lead. Though Hallsville fought back to tie at halftime, Pine Tree refused to back down. After Hallsville took a brief lead in the third quarter, Croft answered with a huge 74-yard touchdown pass to Rashaad Wofford, sparking momentum for the Pirates.
Pine Tree’s special teams also stepped up, recovering an onside kick to set up a two-yard rushing touchdown by Croft, putting the Pirates ahead 21-14 late in the fourth quarter. Despite Hallsville’s late rally, an interception and solid defense helped Pine Tree stay in the game.
With under three minutes left, Hallsville tied the game at 21-21, but Pine Tree remained poised. Croft engineered a promising drive, only to have a fourth-down pass dropped, sending the game into overtime.
In overtime, Croft wasted no time, connecting with Bosston Johnson for a 25-yard touchdown that ultimately sealed the win. Hallsville’s subsequent fumble allowed Pine Tree to secure the ball and close out the game.
Croft’s performance was impressive, throwing for 260 yards, two touchdowns, and rushing for another score. Wofford hauled in five receptions for 103 yards, while Johnson added six catches for 89 yards, including the game-winner. This victory shows Pine Tree’s growing confidence as they prepare for district play, with their sights set on building momentum and consistency as the season progresses. The Pirates will next travel to Kilgore, aiming to carry this energy forward.
