In a defensive struggle, the Meadowview Trojans held off a late Kingwood interception to secure the regular-season finale over the Lions, 13-6.

The Trojans built an early 13-0 lead, but many penalties and turnovers resulted in good Kingwood field position.

Meanwhile, with the game in control late in the fourth quarter, the Trojan offense breathed new life into the Kingwood team with an interception that almost turned Meadowview’s homecoming into a catastrophe.

The Trojans got on the board first with a drive set up by a Stone Jackson interception to put the Trojans in business at the Kingwood 20-yard line.

Meadowview quarterback Randal Hamilton scampered for a 6-yard touchdown run to cap a 4-play drive and put the Trojans up 7-0.

The Trojans extended the lead to 13-0 when Hamilton hooked up with receiver J.R. Lowe for the next score. Lowe caught the ball at the Kingwood 35, broke two tackles and outran the Lion defense the rest of the way.

But the play drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and the Lions elected to enforce it on the extra point attempt. The Trojans missed the kick, and it nearly cost them in the end.

The Lions responded with a twist of their own. Steele found a new role as a Tim Tebow-like battering ram, capping a 3-play drive — comprised entirely of his rushes — with a 61-yard touchdown run.

“He’s a heckuva athlete and he’s got some wheels,” said Kingwood assistant coach James Lee.

After Steele’s run, both defenses settled in and took control as neither team found paydirt in the game’s final 31-plus minutes.

“Our defense played their butts off tonight,” said Lee. “I’m proud of them. Our record doesn’t show it, but these guys have a lot of heart. We’ve got a lot of guys coming back and we’ll be ready for next year.”

Late in the game, facing a third-and-30 from the Meadowview 14, Kingwood’s Eric Marshall caused Hamilton his fourth interception of the night at the Meadowview 17.

However, Hamilton redeemed himself in the end, deflecting Steele’s fourth-down pass intended for Derrick Lykins.