Tharptown closes season with Vina shutout

Senior Luis Macias accounted for all of the Tharptown Wildcats’ points in a 10-0 win over the Vina Red Devils Friday night.

“I’m proud for my guys. They have worked hard all season, and they have had their backs against the wall for much of it,” said Tharptown coach Kevin Lacey. “We played in one of the toughest 2A regions in the state.  Every week we played a school with a lot of football tradition and a lot of talent. So, it was good to close out the season with a win.”

Both the Tharptown Wildcats and Vina Red Devils have had their share of struggles this season – and sometimes, when pride and passion mix, things can get testy. Friday night was no exception, as the game turned into a penalty-laden affair.

The two teams committed a combined 265 yards in penalties – Vina with 175 and Tharptown with 90. Three Vina players were ejected, including two in the closing seconds of the game as Tharptown approached the end zone.

Macias scored Tharptown’s only touchdown on the Wildcats’ first drive of the game on a 14-yard run. He also kicked the point after to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.

Macias kicked a 36-yard field goal with 2:17 to go in the second quarter to give Tharptown a 10-0 lead.

Tharptown moved the ball down to the Vina one-yard line with just less than a minute to play before the fight broke out in the end zone resulting in two of the three ejections.

Tharptown ended the night with 182 yards of total offense. Vina had 139 yards in total offense.

Individually for Vina, Isaac Harper had 76 rushing yards on 16 carries.

Some individual highlights for Tharptown were Carson Petree’s 44-yard punt return; Nathan Lucas’ two catches for 41 yards; and Jovani Gomez picking off a Vina pass.

Tharptown ends the season 2-7. Vina finishes the season 0-10.