Belton escapes Mesquite Horn in overtime 45-38 Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 14 2009 05:52 AM MANSFIELD – Belton's Nick Alaniz broke up a pass in the end zone on fourth-and-7 in overtime and Belton held off Mesquite Horn 45-38 in a Class 5A Region II Division II bi-district game Friday at Newsom Stadium.

The Tigers' David Ash was 30-of-46 passing for 406 yards, but more importantly, he hit his targets when he needed to most. Ash hit Adrian Anderson on a 5-yard pass from in the first overtime session to put Belton on top. Ash and Belton (10-1) forced overtime when the quarterback scored on a 1-yard run with 49 seconds left in regulation.

For much of the first half, the game looked like it was going to be a blowout. Belton went up 24-7 on Horn with two passes from Ash to Jeff Lepak (7, 37) and a 6-yard run by Anderson.

Horn (6-5), though, scored 17 points in the final 26 seconds of the first half to tie the game at the half.

First the Jaguars scored on a 39-yard pass from Emory Miller to Jakeem Grant and then Horn's Keonte Gran recovered a fumble of the ensuing kickoff in the end zone.

Horn finished out the first-half scoring by capitalizing on an interception, which led to a 42-yard field goal from Travis Tamez.

The Jaguars took the lead in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Medgar Coleman, but Ash hit Kevin Thornton for a 7-yard touchdown to tie the game again. Belton, the champion from District 12-5A, advances to face South Garland in the area round.