Tyler, TX — The Tyler Lions rolled to a 66-28 homecoming victory against the Dallas W.T. White Longhorns on Friday, September 25, 2026, at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. The District 7-5A Division I win improved the Lions' season record to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in district play.
Junior speedster Kayden Walker was a significant force for the Lions, scoring four touchdowns during the game. Early in the first quarter, Walker returned a high punt 62 yards for the first touchdown at 10:41, putting Tyler up 7-0 after Marvin Espinal's extra point. Just minutes later, at 7:50, Walker collected another Longhorns punt at the six-yard line and raced 94 yards for his second punt return touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0 following another Espinal PAT. In the second quarter, Walker also took a kickoff 90 yards up the left sideline for a touchdown at 8:36, making the score 35-7. He later caught a 62-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jacob Harper at 6:17 before halftime, pushing the Lions' lead to 42-14.
Beyond Walker's standout performance, the Lions' offense saw contributions from several players. Running back CaDarius McMiller rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns on five carries. His first score was a 54-yard burst at 6:26 in the first quarter, giving Tyler a 21-0 advantage. McMiller added a 3-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first half and a 50-yard run in the third quarter. Sophomore quarterback Jacob Harper, who completed 11 of 15 passing attempts for 163 yards and two touchdowns, also connected with Trey Haralson for a 20-yard touchdown at 1:47 in the first quarter, making the score 28-7. Markeithan Potts scored a 3-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and kicker Marvin Espinal sealed the final score with a 43-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining.
The Dallas W.T. White Longhorns, now 0-5 overall and 0-2 in district play, scored 28 points. Demarius Jackson Jr. led the Longhorns with 117 yards rushing and three touchdowns, scoring on 1-yard runs in the first and second quarters, and a 2-yard dash in the fourth. Quarterback Jordan Sims connected with Pierre Roquemore for a 25-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Before the game, Jazmine Martinez, representing the Big Blue Band, was crowned homecoming queen, and Ja’Michael Cook, representing boys basketball, was crowned homecoming king. At halftime, former John Tyler football and soccer player Nico Hernandez was inducted into the Tyler ISD Athletics Hall of Fame. Other members of the homecoming court included Duke Kenyon Downs, Duchess Iyanna Adams, Prince Ignacio “Nacho” Salinas, and Princess Amy Vasquez.
In other District 7-5A Division I action, Mesquite defeated West Mesquite 14-13, North Mesquite shut out Dallas Sunset 64-0, and Crandall beat Dallas Bryan Adams 66-6. Crandall, Mesquite, and North Mesquite currently lead the district with 2-0 records, while Tyler and West Mesquite are 1-1. Dallas Bryan Adams, Dallas W.T. White, and Dallas Sunset are all 0-2. The top four teams in the district advance to the playoffs.
The Tyler Lions will travel to Dallas to play Sunset at Sprague Athletic Complex on Friday, October 9, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
