For the first four minutes of their bi-district game, it looked as if the Rusk Eagles might give the Salado Eagles a challenge on Nov. 15 at Corsicana’s Tiger Stadium.

Rusk took the opening kickoff of the game and marched 66 yards in nine plays, overcoming a fumble at the Salado 20-yard line and scoring on a 23-yard pass from Landon Gates to Jaden Rushing. Gates hit Brennan Lucien in the end zone for a 2-point conversion and 8-0 lead with 8:45 left in the first.

For the next 43 minutes, Salado dominated on both sides of scrimmage, winning 57-16 for the Bi-District championship.

Noah Mescher returned the kick after Rusk scored for 13 yards and a late hit against Rusk gave Salado the ball across midfield.

Reid Vincent carried for 8 yards, followed by runs of 6 and 2 yards by Wrook Brown before Vincent ran through the Rusk defense for a 29-yard TD with 7:13 in the first. Kofi Stoglin scored a 2-point conversion to tie the game.

The Salado defense gave up 4 yards in three plays and took the punt at their own 32-yard line. Hutton Haire rolled out of the pocket and hit an open Brown for a 68-yard TD with 5:40 in the first. Brown kicked the PAT for a 15-8 lead.

The Eagles defense forced Rusk to punt and Salado took over at its own 27-yard line. After a 5-yard by Vincent, Hunter Turk dashed through the Rusk defense for a 68-yard TD with 2:45 left in the first. Brown kicked the PAT for a 22-8 lead.

Rusk drove to the Salado 35, but stalled on three straight incomplete passes, turning the ball over on downs. Salado then drove 65 yards in seven plays, including a 46-yard run by Vincent who was pulled down at the Rusk 3-yard line. Mescher bulled through the line for the TD and Brown added the point-after for a 29-8 lead.

Ryan McBurney fell on a fumble by Rushing at the Rusk 30 and on third-and-6, Turk against blistered his way through the defense for his second TD of the night. A blocked kick was called back for leaping and Brown converted the next try for a 36-8 lead with 7:46 left in the first half.

Rusk got to the Salado 31-yard line but Caleb Self intercepted a pass to give Salado the ball with 3:23 left in the first. Salado took the lead to the lockers.

Salado took the second half kick and drove 58 yards in four plays, topped by a 47-yard TD run by Mescher with 10:17 in the third. Brown converted for a 43-8 lead.

Rusk found the end zone for the second time in the game on a 77-yard drive, highlighted by a 30-yard completion by Gates to Isiah Ward to set up first down at the Salado 14. Lucien took the ball for the TD and Gates hit Sean Rogers for two points to trail 43-16.

Salado answered in short order, driving 61 yards in three plays, a 5-yard run by Turk and a 19-yard run by Mescher, followed by his 37-yard TD run with 7:14 left in the third.

The Eagles forced Rusk to punt and drove 66 yards in nine plays with carries by Blake Volk, Caden Strickland, Travis Carter, Ethan Scott leading to Chris Bates’ bulling his way for a 9-yard TD with 1:29 left in the third. Brown kicked the PAT for a 57-16 lead.

Rusk threatened to score early in the fourth, but Stoglin recovered a fumble in the backfield to give Salado the ball at the 15-yard line.

Salado fumbled it back at the 32, but held up against the Rusk offense to take the ball over on downs at their own 17 with 6:37 left.

Kofi Stoglin led Salado with six tackles, nine assists, an interception and a fumble recovery. Caleb Self had an interception as well.