Waco finished at 6-5, losing for the second time in seven games at Waco ISD Stadium this season.

Consol saw a sizable lead shrink at the end of the first half, when the Lions returned what may have been a phantom fumble more than 70 yards and scored when a clear fumble was recovered in the end zone. That pulled Waco within 21-10 at halftime, but the Tigers started the third quarter with a key defensive stop and a 64-yard touchdown drive that provided a cushion that stood up to Waco’s answering touchdown and long field goal early in the fourth quarter.

“That was a fun game,” Consol coach David Raffield said. “It was crazy. That’s just normal in the playoffs. I told the kids it would take all 48 minutes, and it did.

“It’s awesome how our kids just continue to rise up. We have setbacks and that kind of stuff, but I’m so proud of the way they fight to the end.”

Waco, which finished third in District 17-5A, forced the 18-5A tri-champions to battle, but Consol responded. After the Lions made it a one-possession game at 28-20, the Tigers put together a 68-yard touchdown drive that chewed up 5:59. Consol got a huge boost when Waco was flagged for pass interference on fourth-and-25, producing a first down and leading to a 1-yard scoring run by Robert Franklin.

The Lions were penalized a staggering 14 times for 150 yards, mistakes they could not overcome with the Consol defense stuffing the run and intercepting four passes.

“The defense played outstanding football,” Raffield said. “[Waco] got some big plays, but when it was all said and done the defense got four picks.”

Waco had two opportunities to get back within a touchdown in the last 6 minutes, but each time the Consol defense delivered. The Lions were at the Consol 19 with more than 4 minutes left, but linebacker Abel Daily sacked quarterback Will Richards and forced a fumble that was recovered by Trevor Williams.

The Tiger offense gave the ball right back on a fumble by Franklin, but on fourth-and-15 Richards was intercepted by Kaleb Chandler, who added another pick in the final minute.

Safeties Kolby Peel and TJ Raniszeski made first-half interceptions that set up Consol touchdowns.

Waco managed 244 yards passing, but it came at a price as the Lions completed 13 of 27 attempts with the four interceptions. The Tigers also shut down the running game of the speedy Lions, who managed only 5 yards on 31 carries as Consol made 15 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Tackles for losses came from Jayden Drisdale, Coy Winder, Jonathon Sylvester, Noah Langley, Trevor Williams and Daily, who had a couple of quarterback sacks.

“We were definitely fired up,” Raniszeski said. “[The Lions] are a lot like [Cleveland Cavalier star] LeBron [James]. You can’t stop them, you can only contain them. I think we did a pretty good job of that.”

The Tigers built a seemingly comfortable lead late in the first half on the strength of quarterback Mason Hickson’s running and passing, along with several huge plays from the defense. Waco scored first on a 37-yard field goal in the closing minute of the opening quarter, but the lead lasted only one play from scrimmage and 11 seconds. After a pooch kickoff and a penalty, Hickson kept the ball on a zone read, cut back against the defense and sprinted 46 yards for a touchdown.

Peel’s 36-yard return set up a 2-yard touchdown from Franklin. Raniszeski’s interception led to a perfect 12-yard fade pass from Hickson to Kennon Williams in the corner of the end zone and a 21-3 advantage with less than 2 minutes in the half.

The Tigers forced a punt and were pushing to score again, driving into Lion territory before the wildest play Consol fans have seen in a long time. Hickson hooked up with Rodney Jernigan, who went down in a scrum of players near the Waco 23. Although a photo on social media seemed to show Jernigan’s knee was down while he had the ball, there was no whistle.

Shockingly, Waco linebacker Dwain Richie emerged from the bunch with the football and took off for the distant end zone. Franklin chased him down and forced a fumble inside the 5, but Darrion McClendon recovered in the end zone for a touchdown to make it 21-10 with 4 seconds left in the half.