The Connally Cougars jumped out to a 14-3 lead and then withstood a fourth quarter scoring frenzy by the Del Valle Cardinals to escape with a 21-19 victory Friday night at Cougars Stadium.

The lone score of the first half came off the arm of Devon Lewis when he hooked up with Andrew Hellriegel for a 29-yard touchdown to put the Cougars up 7-0.

The Cougars added another score in the third quarter when Breion Evans darted in from 14 yards out giving the Cougars a 14-0 lead. The Cardinals finally got on the board with 1:52 left in the third when Maricio Lopez booted a 45-yard field goal to make the score 14-3.

Things got dicey in the fourth quarter as the Cardinals out scored the Cougars 16-7 but fell a two-point conversion shy of tying the game. Back-to-back turnovers by the Cougars were converted into nine points by the Cardinals, but Connally turned to its ground game and managed to milk the clock in the waning minutes hold on for the win.

Connally improves their record to 2-0 and now sets its sights on their next opponent LBJ.