Summer Creek Holds Off Atascocita 23-17 to Close 17-6A Play

Special teams made the difference first, and defense made it last. Summer Creek closed out District 17-6A play with a 23-17 win over Atascocita, a fellow postseason contender, in a game that came down to the final two minutes.

Jaiden Dunham got the Bulldogs on the board early, fielding a punt, shaking a pair of defenders, and weaving his way to the end zone to put Summer Creek up 7-0. The momentum carried into the second quarter, when Braylin Causey punched it in from four yards out to push the lead to 16-3 at halftime.

Colin Alexander extended the advantage in the third quarter, breaking through Atascocita's defense on a 33-yard scoring run. Atascocita answered with two touchdowns to pull within six, including a Corbin Smejkal touchdown pass to Brian Manuel that made it a one-possession game.

With less than two minutes remaining and Atascocita driving for a potential go-ahead score, Savion James ended the threat with an interception, preserving the 23-17 final. Summer Creek enters the postseason at 6-4.