By Tim Peterson
(Pasadena) – Mekhi Fox scored three times to lead Pasadena to a 27-21 win over Paraclete Friday night on the Bulldogs home field.
The UCLA bound Fox hauled in two touchdown passes from Kaden Taylor including one in the third quarter that proved to be the game winner. Fox got behind the Spirits secondary, reeled in Taylor’s pass in stride and cruised into the end zone for a 65-yard touchdown with 8:31 left in the third. The big play gave Pasadena a 27-13 lead and it turned out to be enough.
Paraclete responded with a huge play of its own. Just 13 seconds later Taajean Brown connected with Sammy Lopez who scampered 85 yards for a touchdown. A run by Brown for the two-point conversion cut the Bulldogs lead to six. Just like that Paraclete was a touchdown and a boot away from taking the lead.
Pasadena however never relinquished the advantage. The Spirits had their chances. Brown was intercepted by Jason Samford in Pasadena territory on their next possession. In the fourth quarter the Bulldogs halted a Paraclete drive at their own 16 yard line and then blocked a 32-yard field goal attempt with 5:05 left in the game.
After the block the Bulldogs took over at their own 26 yard line and were able to run out the clock behind the hard running of Ahmad Jolley.
Paraclete broke the ice quickly when Treyshun Hurry hurried his way to a 91 yard return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff or a 6-0 lead. The extra point was missed.
Pasadena answered with 29-yard touchdown pass from Taylor to Fox. The extra point gave the Dogs a 7-6 lead.
The Spirits took one more lead late in the first quarter driving 94 yards on 10-plays with Brown finishing with a one-yard scoring plunge. Paraclete led 13-7 but it was their last advantage of the night.
The next Pasadena touchdown looked like something out of the Twilight Zone. Taylor threw what appeared to be an incomplete pass to Fox. But Fox scooped it up off of one hop and scooted 43 yards for a touchdown. The Paraclete defense froze thinking it was an incomplete pass but Fox kept playing and kept running for the score. The officials ruled it a backwards lateral and Fox was allowed to advance it like a fumble. After the whistles stopped and the dust had settled it was 13-13 with 4:48 left in the half.
Tw minutes later Pasadena got the ball back and cashed in again. Samford was on the receiving end of a 19-yard scoring strike from Taylor with 2:31 left in the half for a 20-13 lead.
The Bulldogs took that lead into halftime and made it stand up until the end.
Cameron Mitchell picked off Brown twice for Pasadena to help stymie the Paraclete offense.
Fox had three catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns and the 43 touchdown run. Jolley had 22 carries for 154 yards. Taylor threw for 144 yards and two scores .
For Paraclete Brown threw for 230 yards and a score but was hurt by three interceptions.
Pasadena improved to 2-1 with the big win while Paraclete dropped to 1-2.
That is a quality win for Pasadena.