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Kennedy Brooks' four touchdowns runs Mansfield past FM Marcus, 48-21

Mansfield 48, Flower Mound Marcus 21

Click here to view the box score.

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- With junior running back Kennedy Brooks unleashing another eye-popping rushing performance, Mansfield decisively handled Flower Mound Marcus, 48-21, in a Class 6A Division II area playoff Friday night at Birdville ISD Fine Arts/Athletic Facility.

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Mansfield (10-2), No. 4 in the final SportsDay Class 6A area rankings, advances to play Arlington Lamar in a regional playoff at 5:30 p.m. next Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

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Marcus (10-2), tied for No. 5 in the area, rallied from a 27-point halftime deficit with two quick third-quarter touchdowns but could not overcome a lethargic first half.

Brooks paced the Tigers, carrying 37 times for 342 yards and four touchdowns, the most important a 56-yarder on the first play of the fourth quarter to stem Marcus' comeback hopes.

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When Marcus defeated Mansfield 27-17 in the August season opener, Brooks was held to 25 yards on 20 carries.

"We knew we would be a different team tonight," Brooks said. "Going into the first game, I was a little slower and we were just coming together as a team."

Mansfield lost two of its first three but has not lost since, winning eight straight.

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"We've gotten better," said Mansfield coach Jeff Hulme. "We're starting to peak at a good time. And that running back of ours is pretty special."

Saiid Adebo intercepted two passes, running the first one back for a 56-yard touchdown, and Cole Brignac had a momentum-changing blocked field goal in the third quarter when Marcus could have pulled within 10.

"I knew Marcus was going to make a run in the second half," Hulme said. "They are too good a team not to."

Marcus rallied in the third quarter on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Mitch Cason to Kaden Smith to cut Mansfield's lead to 34-14. Cason threw for 280 yards and Smith had seven catches for 135 yards.

C.J. Respass pulled Marcus within 34-21 on an 18-yard run one play after the Marauders gained possession on a fumbled snap on a Mansfield punt.

Mansfield turned its four first-half possessions into touchdowns and a 34-7 lead at the break.

Mansfield, the top seed from District 8-6A, will make its third trip to regional round since 2008. Marcus, the No. 2 finisher behind Allen in District 6-6A, was bidding for its first trip to the third round since winning the 1997 state championship.

Dameron Smith threw the first of his two scoring passes on the game's fifth play, a 67-yard floater in stride to Jackson Gleeson for a quick 6-0 lead.

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Marcus responded with its only scoring drive of the half. Cason was 4 of 4 on the drive, including a 41-yarder to Smith. Nate Hopkins' 5-yard touchdown run put the Marauders in front 7-6.

Mansfield regained the lead at 13-7 on Brooks' 3-yard touchdown that capped a 65-yard, six-play drive. Adebo pushed the Tigers' lead to 13 points with his 56-yard interception return.

Brooks popped a 57-yard touchdown on a third-and-2 pitch sweep early in the second quarter to put Mansfield up by 20.