UPSET ALERT: Rockwall (TX) edges North Crowley 37-35 on late TD pass: Live updates, score of key Thursday night Texas showdown

Buck Ringgold

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UPSET ALERT: Rockwall (TX) edges North Crowley 37-35 on late TD pass: Live updates, score of key Thursday night Texas showdown image

Defending UIL 6A Division I state champion North Crowley has definitely been tested all season, but the Panthers still have found ways to win.

It appeared to be more of the same on Thursday, as the Panthers appeared to continue to survive another high-wire act. But Rockwall had other ideas.

A 20-yard TD pass from quarterback Brent Rickert to Ryan Wiley with 22 seconds left lifted the Yellowjackets to a huge 37-35 win in Fort Worth. Rockwall ended North Crowley's 19-game winning streak while handing Panther coach Ray Gates the first regular-season loss in his four-season tenure with the school.

North Crowley (3-1) had won its first three games by a combined total of 14 points, including a 28-27 nail-biter at Denton Guyer last week. It was another close finish on Thursday, one that the Panthers appeared to pull out again after scoring on a touchdown with under two minutes left.

But Rockwall (2-2) responded with an 11-play, 70-yard drive. One play after Jerry Castro took a Wildcat play on fourth down to the North Crowley 20, moving the chains for a first down, Rickert found Wiley for the latest go-ahead score.

North Crowley then got the ball just past midfield and tried a Hail Mary pass on the final play, but it was knocked away by Rockwall defenders.

The Panthers had been ranked No. 2 in the latest edition of The Sporting News Texas Top 25 rankings. Rockwall, meanwhile, was coming off back-to-back losses to Lake Travis and then last week against Lewisville by a combined total of 15 points. 

But the Yellowjackets certainly turned things around with a win against the defending state champions Thursday.

Rickert was 23-of-38 for 292 yards and two TDs, both going to Wiley, who had five catches for 89 yards. Kaydon Castro rushed for 71 yards and scored three times.

Rockwall's performance overshadowed a tremendous night from North Crowley running back G'yrell Smith. Smith rushed for 191 yards on 22 carries and scored all five Panther TDs.

Follow The Sporting News correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Fort Worth.

Scroll down for live score and game updates from kickoff to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest.

ROCKWALL 37, NORTH CROWLEY 35 FINAL

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POSTGAME

- Rockwall comes in and stuns North Crowley, handing the Panthers their first regular-season loss in the four-season tenure of coach Ray Gates. The Jackets also overcame a five-TD performance from Panther running back G'yrell Smith. Rockwall improves to 2-2; North Crowley drops to 3-1.

FOURTH QUARTER

- Hail Mary pass toward the end zone is KNOCKED AWAY by Rockwall, and the Yellowjackets come in and pull off the upset. 

- North Crowley has the ball at midfield with five seconds left. Time for one final play. 

- North Crowley has the ball at its own 40 after returning the kickoff with 15 seconds left. 

- TOUCHDOWN ROCKWALL. A catch in the end zone and Ryan Wiley grabs it with 22 seconds left. WOW. But the Jackets botch the snap on the PAT, keeping it a two-point game. (Rockwall, 37-35 | :22, 4th) 

- First down Rockwall, as Castro gets a keeper. AND ROCKWALL JUST SCORES A TD. HOLY MACKEREL. 

- Brent Rickert plows forward on a third-down keeper, and Rockwall faces a fourth-and-1 at the 26 with 43 seconds left. 

- Rockwall stopped for a minimal gain and the Jackets will take their first time out of the half. 

- Rockwall CONVERTS on third down and the Jackets now have the ball inside the North Crowley 30 entering the final minute. WHAT A GAME.

- Rockwall takes over at its 30 with 1:45 left. 

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH CROWLEY. G'yrell Smith with his FIFTH score on the night and that was perhaps the biggest one. He breaks free from 37 yards out, and the Panthers have regained the lead. (North Crowley, 35-31 | 1:51, 4th) 

- North Crowley converts on a third down and has a first down at the Rockwall 37 as we are at the two-minute warning. 

- North Crowley immediately gets the ball past midfield and into Rockwall territory with less than three minutes left. 

- TOUCHDOWN AND 2-POINT CONVERSION ROCKWALL. Brent Rickert takes a keeper to the house, and Rockwall has taken the lead. Rickert then adds the two-point conversion. Buckle up. We have 3:08 left and the defending state champs are on the ropes. (Rockwall, 31-28 | 3:08, 4th) 

- Rockwall converts on third-and-long and the Jackets have a first down near the 30 with about three minutes left. 

- Rockwall appeared to convert for a first down but it was called back due to a penalty. But North Crowley then gets flagged for pass interference, and the Jackets get a first down after all. 

- Rockwall stops North Crowley and forces a punt. Jackets take over near their 30 with nearly six minutes left. 

- Rockwall attempts an onside kick, but it is snagged by a North Crowley player. 

- TOUCHDOWN ROCKWALL. The Jackets WILL NOT GO AWAY. Castro breaks free and goes in from 25 yards out, and it's another one-score game. (North Crowley, 28-23 | 8:21, 4th) 

- Rockwall converts on fourth down, and the Jackets have the ball at the North Crowley 25. 

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH CROWLEY. Guess who? Yep, G'yrell Smith for the fourth time this evening, scoring again from 12 yards out on the second play of the final quarter. (North Crowley, 28-16 | 11:14, 4th) 

THIRD QUARTER

- G'yrell Smith continuing to have a huge night, as he converts on a fourth-down run, and North Crowley has the ball near Rockwall's 20 late in the quarter. 

- TOUCHDOWN ROCKWALL. Jackets continue to put pressure on North Crowley. Castro with a short run into the end zone. Try for two fails, but it is a one-score game. (North Crowley, 21-16 | 4:12, 3rd) 

- Rockwall converts on a fourth down and the Jackets keep on marching. They now have the ball inside the North Crowley 10. 

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH CROWLEY. It's a hat trick for G’yrell Smith, who darts in from 24 yards out. After having just one TD entering Thursday, Smith has three TD runs tonight. (North Crowley, 21-10 | 6:22, 3rd) 

- Rockwall quick-kicks it on fourth down but it's shanked and goes about 15 yards. North Crowley takes over near its 40.

- North Crowley inside the Rockwall 40 and faces fourth down. Panthers go for it, but a pass is broken up. Rockwall takes over. 

- North Crowley receives the ball to start the second half. 

SECOND QUARTER

- North Crowley attempts a Hail Mary pass into the end zone, but Rockwall knocks it down, and we will go into the half with the Panthers hanging on to a four-point lead. 

- North Crowley has the ball at the Rockwall 44 with 11 seconds left. 

- TOUCHDOWN ROCKWALL. Jackets take advantage of North Crowley's miscue on the punt, and gets into the end zone with a 4-yard pass from Brent Rickert to Ryan Wiley. PAT is good. (North Crowley, 14-10 | :43, 2nd) 

- North Crowley forces a punt, but it's muffed and Rockwall makes the recovery near the Panthers' 30 with less than two minutes to go in the half. 

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH CROWLEY. G'yrell Smith with his second score on the night, going in from 19 yards out and the Panthers are up by double digits. (North Crowley, 14-3 | 2:20, 2nd) 

- North Crowley converts on a fourth-and-short and the Panthers are moving near the red zone.

- Rockwall goes for it on fourth-and-7 inside the North Crowley 35. A pass toward the sideline goes in and out of the receiver's hands, and the Panthers hold once again near the midway point of the quarter. 

- INTERCEPTION ROCKWALL. Jackets get the ball right back on the next play with a pick at midfield. 

- Rockwall faces a fourth-and-short inside the North Crowley 15 and goes for it. Yellowjackets try a halfback pass, but it falls incomplete. 

- The second quarter is now under way. 

FIRST QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH CROWLEY. After the turnover on downs, the Panthers quickly strike, and a short run into the end zone from G’yrell Smith puts North Crowley in front. (North Crowley, 7-3 | :14, 1st) 

- Rockwall faces a fourth-and-2 at the North Crowley 40 and goes for it. But North Crowley snuffs out a swing pass to the halfback, and he's driven backward. Panthers hold near the end of the period. 

- North Crowley reaches the Rockwall 40 but the Yellowjacket defense forces a turnover on downs, as the Panthers have a fourth-down incomplete pass. 

- FIELD GOAL ROCKWALL. Yellowjackets had a first-and-goal at the 2 but went backward, going back to the North Crowley 11. But Rockwall is able to get on the board first, finishing off a near six-minute opening drive. (Rockwall, 3-0 | 6:24, 1st) 

- Rockwall with a nice opening drive, as the Yellowjackets are already into North Crowley territory. 

- North Crowley wins the toss and will defer to the second half. Rockwall to start the game on offense. 

PREGAME

- Live from the Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium in Fort Worth, undefeated North Crowley gets set to welcome in Rockwall.

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Buck Ringgold

Buck Ringgold has been covering high school sports for more than 25 years. He has a BA in Journalism from the University of Arkansas and is a die-hard Texas Rangers fan.