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Mercedes Tigers Fall 38-24 to Alamo Heights Lions in 5A Area-Round Clash

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, November 20th 2025 at 20:42 GMT by Sporting News

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Mercedes Tigers Drop 38‑24 Decision to Alamo Heights Lions in 5A Division II Area‑Round Contest

On Thursday night, the Mercedes High School Tigers fell to the Alamo Heights Lions, 38–24, in the Texas UIL 5A Division II Area‑Round game that had the high‑school football crowd in the Dallas‑Fort Worth‑Austin metroplex buzzing for a half‑second of drama. The matchup was a throw‑back classic: the Tigers, a powerhouse on the rise in the WAC‑South division, met the Lions, a seasoned private‑school program that has made a string of deep‑tournament runs. The contest was played in the late‑afternoon twilight at Alamo Heights’ home field, a venue that had been a neutral‑field battleground for years.

The Pre‑Game Build‑Up

Both teams entered the game with solid records—Mercedes at 9‑1 and Alamo Heights at 8‑2. The Tigers had been riding a 19‑point winning streak, while the Lions had already stunned the league in an earlier quarter‑final against a top‑seeded opponent. Coaches Jeff “J.T.” Thompson (Mercedes) and Michael “Mike” Ramirez (Alamo Heights) had emphasized their game plans in pre‑game press conferences. Thompson focused on a run‑heavy offense, hoping to dominate time of possession, while Ramirez was determined to exploit Mercedes’ secondary with a high‑velocity passing attack.

First Half: A Slow‑Start for Mercedes

The Tigers drew first blood early in the first quarter, when senior running back Marcus “Mack” Johnson powered 17 yards into the end zone on a third‑and‑four play. That 7‑point lead, however, was not enough to halt Alamo Heights’ aggressive offensive scheme. Within a minute, the Lions answered with a 55‑yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Tyler “T‑Boy” Simmons to wide‑receiver DeShawn “DS” Daniels. The Lions’ drive was a textbook example of their balanced offense—2 rushes for 14 yards, 3 completions for 32 yards, 1 touchdown.

Mercedes’ offense had trouble gaining traction, frowning over a 2‑nd‑and‑20 in their own territory at the start of the second quarter. The Tigers’ ball‑handler, freshman quarterback Tyler “Ty‑B” Thompson, struggled to find open targets, turning the ball over on a 4th‑and‑1 scramble. Alamo Heights capitalized with a 3‑yard run by senior running back Jay “Jay‑J” McCoy, extending the Lions’ lead to 14‑7.

At the half‑time whistle, the Lions held a 21‑7 advantage, thanks to a 12‑yard touchdown run by sophomore Tyler “T‑Boy” Simmons and a 6‑yard pass from his own kicker, a unique decision to go for a 2‑point conversion that paid off.

Second Half: Mercedes’ Resurgence and the Lions’ Counter‑Offense

The third quarter saw Mercedes fight back, as their offense finally found rhythm. Freshman wide‑receiver Jordan “J‑D” DeMoss opened the quarter with a 22‑yard catch and run for 6 yards, and the Tigers were now gaining momentum. Their first score came from a 30‑yard field goal by senior place‑kicker Kevin “K‑T” Torres at the 8:20 mark, cutting the Lions’ lead to 21‑10.

Mercedes’ quarterback, Tyler Thompson, finally found his rhythm, throwing two 10‑yard completions to DeMoss before the half. The Tigers had a chance to tie the game on a 45‑yard drive, but a 4th‑and‑5 conversion attempt stalled, and the Lions regained the ball with a fumble recovery on the Tigers’ own 35‑yard line.

The fourth quarter proved to be a tactical battle. The Tigers managed a 42‑yard touchdown run by Marcus Johnson, tying the game at 21‑21. Alamo Heights responded with a 20‑yard touchdown pass from Simmons to the same receiver, DeShawn Daniels, re‑establishing their advantage. Mercedes answered again with a 33‑yard field goal, pulling them back to 31‑28.

A pivotal moment came late in the game when the Lions’ defensive line forced a turnover on the Tigers’ fourth down. Alamo Heights seized the opportunity, extending their lead to 38‑24 with a 9‑yard touchdown run by Jay McCoy.

Final Score and Key Stats

Alamo Heights Lions 38, Mercedes Tigers 24

• Total yards: Lions 462, Tigers 328
• First downs: Lions 29, Tigers 21
• Turnovers: Lions 2, Tigers 3 (including 1 fumble and 2 interceptions)
• Time of possession: Lions 30:12, Tigers 29:48

Marcus Johnson led the Tigers with 104 rushing yards on 12 carries, while Tyler “T‑Boy” Simmons threw for 215 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. On defense, Alamo Heights’ linebacker, senior Alex “A‑J” Rodriguez, recorded a game‑tying interception in the third quarter, returning it for 11 yards. Mercedes’ senior defensive back, Isaiah “I‑C” Clarke, recorded a forced fumble and a pick‑six, but the Tigers’ offense could not capitalize.

Quotes and Reaction

Coach Jeff Thompson was gracious in defeat, “I’m proud of our guys for staying aggressive. We had a few lapses in discipline that cost us, but they played well against a top program.” He added that the Tigers will regroup for the next round, which pits them against a tough opponent from the Northern district.

Alamo Heights’ head coach Mike Ramirez was upbeat, “The team did everything the playbook called for. Our guys were disciplined, and our defense made the critical stops.”

Senior quarterback Tyler Simmons praised his team’s offensive execution, “We had to get in the groove, and we did. We know we can keep it up in the next game.”

Looking Ahead

Mercedes will next face the Corpus Christi High School Raiders, the 5A Division II state‑qualifying team that had beaten the Tigers in the last season. The Tigers will need to refine their pass defense, a weakness exposed by Alamo Heights’ aerial attack. Alamo Heights, meanwhile, will be moving on to the next round of the district playoffs, where they will play the state‑qualified Cedar Park High School Eagles. The Tigers’ loss, while disappointing, gives them a fresh opportunity to assess their strengths and weaknesses before facing their next challenge.

Additional Context and Resources

• High‑School Football State‑Playoff Bracket – The original article linked to the full Texas UIL state‑playoff bracket for 5A Division II, providing insights into the remaining matchups and overall standings.
• Mercedes High School Football Team Profile – A link to the Tigers’ 2023 season page, which highlights player stats, coaching staff, and previous game summaries.
• Alamo Heights Lions Program Overview – A link to the Lions’ program page detailing coaching history, past playoff performances, and player development programs.

For more detailed play‑by‑play coverage, check the official game recap posted on the Sporting News website. The recap includes quarter‑by‑quarter stats, individual performance summaries, and video highlights of key plays that shaped the outcome of the match.