Tatum earns wild OT win over White Oak
**WHITE OAK** – In a thrilling battle for the last District 8-3A, Division 1 playoff berth, the Tatum Eagles (3-6, 2-3) took a crucial step by edging out the White Oak Roughnecks (5-4, 1-4) 50-49 in overtime. The game was marked by ten lead changes and one tie, keeping fans on the edge of their seats throughout.
Grant Adcock led the charge for Tatum, passing for 111 yards and two touchdowns, while also carrying the ball 27 times for 193 yards and three scores. For White Oak, Jaxsen Ludlow completed 15 of 28 passes for 290 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also rushed 13 times for 115 yards and returned a kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown.
White Oak jumped to an early 10-0 lead in just over a minute. After Tatum’s opening kickoff resulted in a three-and-out, the Roughnecks marched 42 yards to the Tatum 24-yard line but settled for a 41-yard Brady Prazak field goal with 7:48 left in the first quarter to lead 3-0.
Following a Tatum turnover, White Oak scored on a short run by Kenny Poul, and with Prazak’s PAT, they extended their lead to 10-0 with 6:42 remaining in the quarter.
Tatum responded after the Eagles went three-and-out again. Starting from their 25-yard line, on just the second play from scrimmage, Tatum’s Alijah Williams intercepted a Ludlow pass and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown. Kody Hines’ successful PAT brought the score to 10-7, which would stand as the first quarter’s final score.
The second quarter began with an exchange of punts before White Oak drove 55 yards but stalled at the Tatum 22. Prazak converted a 38-yard field goal, putting White Oak up 13-7.
Tatum answered with a 58-yard, six-play drive highlighted by Adcock’s passes to Quincy Davis (13 yards) and Issac McAlister (8 yards), and Adcock’s own 12-yard run. Ty Moore powered the final 10 yards for the score. After Hines’ PAT, Tatum led 14-13.
On the ensuing kickoff, Ludlow burst through for a 70-yard touchdown run. Although the PAT was blocked, White Oak regained the lead at 19-14 with just over five minutes remaining in the half.
Tatum struck back immediately. Moore exploded for runs of 54, followed by shorter gains, and Adcock capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. The PAT was no good, leaving Tatum ahead 20-19.
White Oak kept the pressure on with a 65-yard, ten-play drive. Key receptions by Cal Jester (two catches for 9 and 11 yards) and Tysen McLain (catches for 13 yards and a 15-yard touchdown) set up the score. Prazak’s PAT put the Roughnecks ahead 26-20 with under a minute remaining in the half.
White Oak took the second-half kickoff and marched downfield, but the touchdown was nullified due to holding. They ultimately turned the ball over on downs at the Tatum 38.
Tatum responded with a seven-play, 62-yard drive. Moore and Kyson George contributed key runs, while Adcock finished the drive with several ground gains, including a 17-yard touchdown run. Hines’ PAT put the Eagles ahead 27-26.
White Oak then saw a Ludlow pass intercepted by Tatum’s Patrick Portley. Tatum’s next drive stalled and they punted, but the Roughnecks fumbled the punt, allowing Tatum to recover at White Oak’s 12-yard line. After minimal gains on the ground, Adcock rolled right and found McAlister in the end zone. With Hines’ PAT, Tatum extended their lead to 34-26, which was the score at the end of three quarters.
The Roughnecks rallied in the fourth quarter with a 71-yard drive, mixing Poul’s runs and a long Ludlow pass to Jester. Poul punched it in from five yards out; the two-point attempt failed, making it 34-32 in favor of Tatum just seconds into the final quarter.
White Oak then controlled the clock on a drive from their 35 to Tatum’s 11. Facing a fourth-and-four, Prazak nailed a 28-yard field goal after a six-minute march, putting the Roughnecks ahead 35-34.
Tatum answered swiftly. Adcock rushed for 57 yards and then 12 more to score at the 2:20 mark. He followed with a two-point conversion run, pushing Tatum back ahead 42-35.
But White Oak was not done. Twenty seconds and two plays later, Ludlow connected with Logan Ladwig, who broke free for a 69-yard touchdown. Prazak’s PAT tied the game at 42.
In overtime, starting from the 25, White Oak’s Poul and Ludlow combined on runs of two and 21 yards, followed by another Poul carry for two yards, setting up a touchdown. Prazak’s PAT put White Oak up 49-42.
Tatum responded with three Adcock runs to reach first-and-goal at the 10. After a minimal gain, Adcock found Brandon Howard in the flat on the left side for the touchdown. Going for two, Adcock ran around the left side to score the conversion, securing the Eagles’ dramatic 50-49 win.
Next week, in their regular-season finales, White Oak will visit Gladewater, while Tatum hosts Jefferson for Senior Night.
https://news-journal.com/2025/11/02/tatum-earns-wild-ot-win-over-white-oak/
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