Eighteen seconds stood between Wylie East and a share of first place in District 9-6A — and Victor Ekpo made sure that was enough.
With the game knotted at 17 and the Raiders pushing for field goal range, quarterback Victor Young found Ekpo on a short route near the sideline. Rather than step out of bounds, Ekpo spotted an opening, cut upfield, and dove for the pylon — touchdown, with the clock nearly expired. Wylie East walked away with a 24-17 win over Rowlett on a Thursday night district matchup, staying tied atop the 9-6A standings.
The first half was largely quiet, with Wylie East's lone score coming on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Young to Toi Ardoin, giving the Raiders a 7-0 lead at the break. The second half was a different story. Rowlett's Bre'sean Clewis went deep to Braxton Moore for a 63-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and the Eagles eventually pulled even at 17 with seconds remaining — setting the stage for Ekpo's decisive play.
The win is a significant one in the 9-6A race, where every district game carries playoff weight. Wylie East's ability to close out a tight game on the road keeps them in the driver's seat as the second half of the district schedule approaches.
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