Maybe there was a bright side to A&M Consolidated's kickoff coverage miseries against Harker Heights on Friday night. Although repeated practice didn't solve the problem, it did signal that the Tigers were scoring like crazy.

Consol's offense produced touchdowns on nine of its first 11 possessions as the Tigers wobbled past the Knights 62-45 at Leo Buckley Stadium to clinch at least a share of the District 12-5A football championship.

The Tigers (8-1, 6-0) have won eight consecutive games since a season-opening loss to Klein Oak. Consol, which already had secured 12-5A's top seed in the Class 5A Division I playoffs, can capture the district title outright by winning its regular-season finale at home against Belton on Friday.

While Consol's offensive output of points and total yards (588) looked like championship stuff, the Tigers' kick coverage and defense was suspect against Heights (3-6, 2-4).

The Knights torched Consol's kickoff coverage team for 234 yards on eight returns, including a 94-yard touchdown that sent the home team speeding back into a game that the Tigers seemed ready to control. Consol's defense, with leading tackler Ben Kennedy missing the game because of a concussion, allowed 381 yards to the Heights offense, including 282 on the ground.

"We can't play like we did tonight and win next week," Consol coach Jim Slaughter said. "I don't want to put the offense in that kind of hole again, where they've got to continue to outscore whoever we're playing. We've gotta improve."

The Knights scored on the first possession after intermission to pull within 34-31. After an exchange of punts, the Tigers got a 51-yard touchdown run from Quinton White to push the lead to 41-31.

Then came a pair of mistakes that Heights could not afford while standing in the way of Consol's offensive onslaught. The Knights fumbled on their next two possessions, and the Tigers converted both turnovers into touchdowns.

Chris Nutall, who led Consol with 137 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns, took a pitch around the left side and sped down the sideline for a 40-yard score that gave the Tigers a 55-31 lead midway through the fourth quarter that was safe from bad kick coverage and defensive lapses.

The Knights fumbled six times and lost three, while Consol did not commit a turnover.

"One of the things that I cannot overlook is that we did not fumble the ball and we did not throw an interception," Slaughter said. "That's probably the reason that we won the game."

The second quarter was a blur of scoring plays, with the Tigers cranking out four touchdowns in the period while the Knights answered with 17 points. Consol built a 34-24 halftime lead as a terrific offensive showing was partially offset by special teams and defense.

Heights forced the only punt of the half on Consol's opening possession and then quickly scored for a 7-0 lead. The Tigers responded with two touchdowns, with second score set up when Consol safety Brett Mahnke forced a fumble and recovered at the Heights 26.

The Tigers built two-touchdown leads on three occasions, but Heights cut into the deficit each time. Junior quarterback Jacob Bronowski threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Nutall and found tight end Matias Grande for a 49-yard gain that set up Clinton Banks' third touchdown run.

Heights kept the pressure on with help from its kickoff return team. Daevon Brown split the Consol coverage unit for a 94-yard return that pulled the Knights within 21-14. Later, Demetre Cook returned a pooch kick 28 yards to set up a 46-yard drive that cut the Tigers' lead to 28-21.

Consol finished with three runners with more than 100 yards as White gained 133 on just four carries and Banks added 101 on 17 attempts. Bronowski completed 5 of 7 passes for 118 yards.