Daingerfield topples Tatum on road behind star quarterback

Junior Chase Johnson throws 4 TD passes, runs for another score in the Week 2 Texas high school football showdown

TATUM, TEXAS — A big night from Daingerfield quarterback Chase Johnson allowed the Tigers to continue their hot start to the season. 

Johnson threw four touchdown passes and added a TD run as the Tigers moved their record to 2-0 after a 34-17 win on the road at Tatum on Thursday night.

A junior signal-caller, Johnson recorded three of his TD passes in the first half - all going to senior receiver Amarion Simon-Jones. The first hookup covered 48 yards after the Tigers trailed early, 7-0.

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Then, Simon-Jones made a diving catch in the end zone from 45 yards out early in the second quarter as Daingerfield took its first lead on the night, 13-7. The two then teamed up for the hat trick with four minutes to go in the half, a 36-yard play as the Tigers extended their lead to 13, 20-7.

Tatum (0-2) got within six in the closing second of the first half, as senior quarterback Cole Watson - a linebacker commit to Louisiana Tech - took a keeper 4 yards into the end zone.

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But the Tigers responded coming out of the second half, putting together a 63-yard scoring drive, culminating in Johnson's fourth TD pass. This time, Johnson found a wide-open Mason Williams, and the sophomore ran it in from 42 yards out to make it 27-14, Daingerfield.

Johnson then put the finishing touches on the win with 4:59 left with a 9-yard TD run. He fumbled the snap before recovering; then shook off several potential tacklers to complete the scoring play.

In last week's opener, Johnson passed for 221 yards and three TDs and added 110 yards and a TD on five carries as the Tigers defeated Gladewater, 53-32.

Watson gave Tatum an early 7-0 lead by breaking loose on a 38-yard TD run. The Eagles' final points came on a 30-yard field goal from Carson Gonzalez with less than eight minutes left.

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Photo of Daingerfield quarterback Chase Johnson.

-- Buck Ringgold | buck@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveTX