Photos by Carter Pirtle, PressPassSports.com

AMARILLO — Facing off with Amarillo Palo Duro with sole possession of the District 2-5A Division II lead on the line, the Wylie football team spent most of Friday’s game trying to dig out of an often two-score hole.

After finding themselves down 14-0, 21-7, 28-14 and 35-21 and trimming the deficit to a touchdown each time, the Bulldogs finally leveled the score at 35 with just under two minutes remaining in the game. But Raymond Johnson IV’s third touchdown run of the night, which came with 53 seconds to play, proved too much to overcome in a 42-35 Dons victory at Dick Bivins Stadium.

The outcome dropped Wylie (4-3 overall) to 2-1 in district play — a half-game behind Palo Duro (5-1, 2-0), the only remaining undefeated team in District 2-5A DII.