COLLEGE STATION — Both special teams struggled through three quarters.

But the Marshall High School football team came up with a big special-teams play when it needed it, propelling the Mavs to a 33-19 win over Beaumont Ozen in the Class 4A Area Championship game Friday at College Station.

After Marshall scored early in the fourth quarter to open up a 27-19 lead, Panther star running back Jonathan Smith — who also returns kicks — caught the B.J. Somerford kick at the 4-yard line. Instead of running forward, Smith tried to turn the corner to the outside. But the Marshall defense swarmed Smith, dragging him down on the 2-yard line.