BY JACK WALKER

SPECIAL TO THE HERALD DEMOCRAT

VAN ALSTYNE -- The Van Alstyne Panthers used two big plays late in the third quarter for touchdowns in a 28-21 win over Paris that gave Van Alstyne the District 10-3A championship.

A pass interference call against the Wildcats (6-4, 4-1) gave Van Alstyne (10-0, 5-0) a first down at the Paris 14-yard line. Jordan Barnes scored on his only carry of the night on the next play to give Van Alstyne a 21-14 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff the Wildcats didn't field the kick and Barnes recovered on the Paris 25-yard line, setting up another Panther touchdown.

Van Alstyne needed just three plays to convert that error as Chris Burge completed a 19-yard touchdown to Solomon Biscarro for a two-touchdown lead.

Paris answered with a 55-yard drive to narrow the gap but the Panther defense held off the visitors for the remainder of the contest to preserve their perfect season.

Paris displayed good speed on a 70-yard drive late in the quarter, the key play coming on a 59-yard run by Tyrell Smith, who got the touchdown on a one-yard carry.

Van Alstyne came right back to tie the game on a four-yard run by Burge that capped an 80-yard march.

Orion Thomas, who had 178 yards on 27 carries, got most of that yardage on a 55-yard carry.

Corbin Taylor connected with Tevairus Williams on a 56-yard pass play that moved the ball to the Van Alstyne 28-yard line but two plays later the Wildcats fumbled and Lucas Love jumped on the ball for the Panthers. Van Alstyne scored off of that turnover, driving 72 yards to get its second touchdown on a one-yard run by Thomas.

"We felt like we could run the ball and we wanted to keep the ball away from their speed guys in the secondary," Van Alstyne head coach Mikeal Miller said.

Paris took the second half kickoff and overcame two early penalties to get back in the game. Smith's two-yard scoring run tied the game at 14.

The Panthers were unable to capitalize on a break late in the third as Tyler Kuster blocked a punt at the Wildcat 30-yard line.

Van Alstyne's defense stepped up in the final minutes to preserve the win, getting an interception by Chance Grayson that was overturned by penalty, then another pick by Biscarro, which sealed the win and the title.

The Panthers will play Celina in a Class 3A Division II Region II bi-district game at 7:30 Friday in Little Elm.