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Mansfield Legacy takes control of District 15-4A after escaping furious Red Oak comeback

RED OAK — The playoff picture in District 15-4A is far from certain, but Mansfield Legacy certainly looks the part of a team that will be there.

And perhaps do a whole lot more.

Twelfth-ranked Legacy fended off a late comeback and spoiled No. 14 Red Oak’s homecoming with a 49-35 victory Friday at Billy Goodloe Stadium.

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Red Oak recovered back-to-back onside kicks and scored 22 points within a 2:14 window late in the fourth quarter. The rally reduced a 29-point deficit to seven with a minute left to play.

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But Red Oak’s third consecutive onside kick attempt dribbled right into the arms of Kijana Amous, who returned the ball 45 yards for a touchdown.

It was the fourth score of the game for Amous. The senior running back tallied 166 rushing yards and two touchdowns, a receiving touchdown and the late kick return.

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Red Oak’s final possession ended with an interception by Legacy defensive back Jimmy Jones.

Legacy (5-0, 2-0) is off to the best start in school history and is well on the way to its first playoff berth since 2009.

The game looked like it was going to have a much more lopsided outcome during the first half.

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Legacy linebacker Everett Williams blocked a punt to cap Red Oak’s opening drive. He then caught a 6-yard touchdown pass on the first play of Legacy’s next possession.

Williams, who committed to Minnesota two weeks ago, also had a sack in the first half. It was one of four first-half sacks by the dominant Legacy line, which limited Red Oak to 83 total yards through the first two quarters.

Red Oak quarterback Logan Thompson was key to the comeback effort. He threw for 227 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 78 yards and three more scores.

Red Oak, which shared the 15-4A title with Lancaster last season, fell to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in district.

Follow David Just on Twitter at @DavidJustDMN.