BELTON, TX -- The A&M Consolidated Tigers proved once again they have plenty of fight, but weren't able to close the deal Friday
in their regular season finale and suffered a 26-23 loss to Belton at Tiger Stadium.

Consolidated fell behind 14 to nothing in the first quarter after a 55 yard touchdown catch by Derick Bates and a two yard touchdown
run by Belton running back Donovan Williams.

Belton was looking to catch Consol off guard on the ensuring kickoff with an on-sides kick, but the visiting Tigers came up with the ball
and turned the gamble into points. Jacob Bronowski dumps it off to Durasis Nutall, who takes it 26 yards for a touchdown, cutting Belton's
advantage to 14-7.

Later in the 2nd quarter - and inside the Consol 40, Belton fakes a punt, but the Consol defense is not caught napping and denies the trickery.

The A&M Consolidated offense will take the ball the distance to tie the game at 14. Quinton White taking it in from 9 yards out for the score.

Belton will counter the Consol tally with another long pass completion. Peter Shelburne hits Durham Smythe down the near sideline and 50 yards later the Belton Tigers are up 20-14.

Dillon Moore will connect on a field goal attempt right before the end of the first half for Consol, cutting the Belton lead to 20-17. Neither team
can get any offense going in the 3rd quarter, but the Tiger defense comes up with a gem of a turnover in the 4th quarter to swing the momentum of the game.

Tiger defensive lineman Jimmie Gilbert comes up with a one-handed interception and then returns it close to 40 yards to put Consol in a perfect position to tie the game with a field goal or better yet take their first lead of the game with a touchdown.

Consol works the ball down the field and Bronowski scores from a yard out on first and goal from the one giving the Tigers a 23-20 lead with
the point after to come. Justin Zimmermann will miss the PAT and the Consolidated lead is just 3 points.

That missed extra point will come back to bite the Consolidated Tigers. Carlo Mosnia will hit a pair of field goals later. His 27 yarder ties the game at 23 and his 33 yarder with a 1:20 left in the game puts Belton back on top 26-23.

With no timeouts the Tigers will work the ball into field goal range with a chance to tie the game at 26 and send it to overtime, but Zimmermann's kick from 44 yards is wide left and A&M Consolidated loses it 26-23.

The A&M Consolidated Tigers (5-5 overall, 5-2 in 12-5A) will take on DeSoto (9-1) in the opening round of the Class 5A Division One playoffs next Friday night in DeSoto.

The Consol Tigers might be without the services of leading rusher Quinton White. The Texas Tech commit suffered a knee injury late in the second quarter of the game and did not return.