JEFFERSON — Jefferson's defense stayed on the field long enough to give the Bulldog offense one last opportunity, and they delivered.

Bulldog quarterback Clarence Lee guided the 'Dogs on an 85-yard drive that was capped by his 2-yard touchdown run with 1:18 left in the game to give Jefferson a 14-8 victory over the Hughes Springs Mustangs.

The game winner not only put Jefferson ahead in the game for the first time, but also vaulted the Bulldogs into the Class 2A, Division 1 post season, which starts next week. Jefferson advances to face District 18-2A's White Oak Roughnecks in a game that is tentatively scheduled for Thursday night at Hallsville's Bobcat Stadium.

The post season date was in doubt, however, thanks to a ball-hogging Hughes Springs offense that repeatedly jabbed Brent Giddens through the line for chunks of yardage. The Mustangs' ball control permitted them to run 26 more plays than did Jefferson and cling to an 8-7 lead.

The Bulldogs' game-winning drive started around the 5-minute mark, and included rushing contributions by Lee, Devin Figures and Destin Mosley, who carried the ball only four times for 13 yards, but had each of those totes in the final drive.

The big play of the series was a 37-yard pass from Lee to Figures, setting Jefferson within range of a Connor Carroll field goal attempt, if needed. The 'Dogs continued their drive, and with only 78 seconds remaining in the game, Lee pushed through the line for the 2-yard score to put Jefferson on top.

Hughes Springs started the scoring with a Davunte Hatten 1-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Hatten then hit Cody Murphy for the 2-point conversion.

Jefferson responded three minutes later, however, when Figures sprinted around the end for a 20-yard run and a dive into the Mustang end zone. Carroll hit the first of his two PATs to make it a 1-point game. Jefferson followed up that second quarter scoring drive with another one deep into Mustang territory, but a fumble at the 5-yard line halted the drive. Hughes Springs' Giddens ran 25 times for 113 yards, while Hatten scooted 44 yards on 15 totes.

The Ponies outgained Jefferson, 230 to 196, but had more than doubled up Jefferson until the Bulldogs' final drive. Jefferson did not gain a first down in the second half until piling up six in the game-winning drive.

Each team turned the ball over twice — Hughes Springs lost one of four fumbles and suffered one interception, while Jefferson lost its only fumble and also had a pass picked off.

Through the airways, Jefferson outgained the visitors 56-34 on Lee's two completions out of four attempts. The Mustang's Hatten completed only 3 of 11 attempts.

Bulldog punter D.J. McDonald was key to the Bulldogs' second half effort, twice punting from inside his own end zone to push Hughes Springs back near midfield. That distance allowed Jefferson's defense to bend, but not break.

While Jefferson advances to the post season for the fifth straight year, Hughes Springs' season ends at 4-5 overall and 2-3 in District 17-2A play.