Bonham -- For three quarters it looked like the Bonham Warriors would shake up District 12-3A by knocking off the previously unbeaten Princeton Panthers in the district opener, but Princeton rallied to score 26 unanswered points to get out of Bonham with a 33-25 win.

Bonham's defense was spectacular in the first half as it bottled up the potent Panther offense and matched it point-for-point. 

Bonham's Eli Ballard came up with the first big play of the game when he stepped in front of a Princeton receiver for an interception early in the first quarter and teammate Dra Smith read a screen pass perfectly, picked it off and went in from 25 yards out to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead after the first period.

Princeton got its only score of the first half when Jordan Blake got loose for a 33-yard TD run.

Bonham quickly went back on top when Smith scrambled out of the pocket and spotted Greg Moses behind the Princeton secondary. Smith delivered the ball and Moses made the grab for a 70-yard touchdown catch and run. 

The Warriors would go up 19-7 at intermission when Ballard hit Smith on a 25-yard fade pattern.

Bonham stretched its lead to 25-7 early in the third quarter when Smith and Moses hooked up again, this time on a 50-yard scoring strike.

But Princeton rallied with four rushing touchdowns to score 26 unanswered points and escape with a 33-25 win in the District 12-3A opener.

Princeton moves to 7-0 on the year and 1-0 in district.  In spite of a very encouraging performance against one of the top Class 3A programs in the area, Bonham is now 1-6 for the season and 0-1 in district.

In other District 12-3A action, Anna put away Community 42-13.

Anna (6-1, 1-0) will host Bonham next Friday.