The Independence football team earned a key victory Thursday night with a 34-24 victory over Wakeland.

Independence rallied from a 21-17 deficit in the third quarter with the help of a touchdown pass and a touchdown run by quarterback Braylon Braxton. The scores came on back-to-back drives -- one before the Independence defense forced a Wakeland punt and one after.

Independence improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in District 5-5A Division I. The Knights are in a three-way tie for third place in the district with Little Elm and Wakeland. Independence has the head-to-head tiebreaker edge against Wakeland and plays Little Elm next Friday (Oct. 25).

Braxton has now thrown 30 touchdown passes this seasaon with only two interceptions. Dwayne Orr leads the Knights in rushing with 502 yards and five touchdowns, and Khi'Yon Wafer leads the team in receiving with 39 catches for 841 yards and 16 touchdowns.

(Statistics provided by the Dallas Morning News' SportsDayHS.com)