The Haughton Bucs fell to the Homer Pelicans 36-34 in a hard-fought season opener Friday night at Prescott Field at Harold E. Harlan Stadium.
Haughton took a 34-28 lead on a 30-yard pass from Taylor Weathersby to DeCarlos Johns with 8:35 left in the game. A two-point conversion attempt failed.
Homer answered with a touchdown and two-point conversion with 5:48 left. The Pelicans made the two-point lead stand up.
Haughton struck first on a 32-yard touchdown run by Brandon Craig early in the game. The conversion attempt failed.
After Homer went up 14-6, Craig scored on a 6-yard run and followed that with a two-point conversion to tie it with 3:31 still left in the first quarter.
The Pelicans quickly regained the lead with a score. They added another touchdown and two-point conversion early in the second quarter and led 28-14.
Haughton answered with a 3-yard touchdown run by Weathersby with 6:56 left in the second quarter but the conversion attempt failed.
Homer led 28-20 at the half.
Weathersby completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Johnson early in the third quarter. He then hit Case Corkern with a pass for a two-point conversion to tie the game at 28.
The Bucs had a big night offensively, rolling up 419 yards (282 rushing, 137 passing). Craig gained 152 yards on just 11 carries. Weathersby had 65 on 12 and Payton Harris 46 on 11.
Westhersby completed 12-of-21 passes with no interceptions. Johns caught six passes for 69 yards.
Haughton opens District 1-5A play against Byrd at home Friday. The Yellow Jackets lost to St. Amant 49-6 in their opener.