By Tom Halliburton

The News Sports Writer

WALLER – Colton Johnson and Micah Mosley waged a one-of-a-kind individual shootout. Waller and Nederland did too, delivering a game for the ages.

The Texas Longhorns probably could have used this 240-pound freight train from Waller last week against Ohio State. A very strong UT pledge, Johnson dashed for a career-high 342 yards and five touchdowns on 20 carries to guide Waller to a come-from-behind 41-38 victory over Nederland.

They were scrambling around midnight, guessing that each tailback not only established a career-high but also wondering if each earned a school record for single-game rushing superiority. Mosley followed up last week’s four-TD, 284-yard rushing night with a four-TD, 318-yard display on 32 carries.

What a remarkable Nintendo-type smorgasbord of fast-break football that each side produced. When statisticians finished counting, each side compiled 531 total yards in one of the classic modern-era Southeast Texas high school football shootouts.

The only element that hurt for Mosley, determined receiver Josh Cabra and company was that coach Larry Neumann’s team departed Bulldog Stadium at 1-2. Meanwhile, coach Jim Phillips and maroon-clad hosts celebrated their homecoming night on the high side of a 2-1 ledger.

“I definitely feel I could do better,” said Mosley, with his helmet atop his soaken-wet forehead.

Micah just delivered a virtual 48-minute display, working hard from his safety position, returning a punt for 23 yards, punting twice for 45 yards apiece and catching two passes for eight yards. That’s in addition to 32 carries for 318 yards, including touchdown runs of 1, 20, 77 and 58 yards.

As well as Joe Isbell, Adam Westbrook and Blaine Daniel blocked on the left side of Nederland’s line, maybe those three should share Nederland’s player of the week nominee, too.

“Our line did a great job,” Mosley said. “Personally I believe they’re the best line in the district. But everybody would trade the 318 yards for a win.”

Then in an act of sheer class, the thoroughly worn-out Mosley complimented his counterpart Johnson, who committed to the University of Texas last spring. The Waller senior countered with scoring runs of 41, 54, 47, 51 and 7.

The final scoring burst gave Waller the night’s final points with 1:38 to play, capping a 11-play, 82-yard winning drive which began with 6:22 left in the game.

“That guy is just a great back,” Mosley said. “He’s a hoss. He’s a real train at 240. He reminds me a lot of (former Port Neches-Groves running back) Josh Cook.”

While the pain of losing did not sit real well with Nederland’s head coach, Larry Neumann was quite proud of his team’s effort.