Leading 43-35 after three quarters of play Friday, the Northwest Texans were hoping to win their second consecutive game.

But the visiting Grapevine Mustangs put up a fight in the final 12 minutes.

Grapevine’s defense built a wall to shut down Northwest’s offensive rhythm in the fourth quarter.

The Mustangs added 11 special teams points in the fourth quarter to escape Northwest ISD Stadium with a 46-43 win.

Northwest held a 29-14 lead at the halftime break.

Trading touchdowns on their first two drives of the second half, Grapevine narrowed Northwest’s lead to 11 with a 41-yard pass to receiver Parker Polk from quarterback Walker Berryman.

Grapevine’s comeback rally was fueled by Drew Nelson’s 52-yard punt return. The Mustangs tacked on a 2-point conversion pass from Colt Mercer to Layton Towery to tie the game at 43.

About four minutes later, Grapevine kicker JD Rice chipped in a 22-yard field goal, giving the Mustangs their first lead of the game, 46-43.

Grapevine’s victory was cemented by Jaxson Yarbrough’s interception of a pass thrown by Northwest quarterback Jake Strong with 27 seconds left.

The Texans started the game with a 22-0 advantage with Strong’s three touchdown passes to Shannon Danicki (17), Chad Phillips (12) and Kenan Reil (28).

Grapevine responded with a 76-yard kick return and a 41-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Berryman to Polk.

Strong added 1-yard run late in the second quarter to give the Texans a 29-14 lead at halftime.

Under center, Strong finished 26-of-35 for 262 yards and three scores, with one pick.

Strong connected with Reil six times for 84 yards. Danicki grabbed six passes for 78 yards.

Northwest’s rushing attack was led by Kyle Cummings with 156 yards on 13 carries. Strong tallied 20 rushing attempts for 80 yards.

Northwest (1-2) will host Abilene Cooper in Week 4 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17.

Grapevine 46, Northwest 43

FIRST QUARTER

• Northwest — 7:34, Shannon Danicki 17 pass from Jake Strong, Greyson Steele kick
• Northwest — 3:38, Chad Phillips 12 pass from Strong, Strong run

SECOND QUARTER

• Northwest — 11:52, Strong 28 pass to Kenan Reil, Steele kick
• Grapevine — 11:40, Sammy Kelley 76 kick return, JD Rice kick
• Grapevine — 5:46, Walker Berryman 41 pass to Parker Polk, Rice kick
• Northwest — 0:22, Strong 1 run, Steele kick

THIRD QUARTER

• Grapevine — 11:30, Victor Delacruz 3 run, run failed
• Northwest — 10:35, Kyle Cummings 66 run, Steele kick
• Grapevine — 8:17, Delacruz 1 run, Hank Miller pass from Colt Mercer
• Northwest — 4:57, Ricardo Dyer 11 run, Steele kick
• Grapevine — 1:01, Polk 25 pass from Berryman, Rice kick

FOURTH QUARTER

• Grapevine — 8:48, Drew Nelson 52 punt return, Layton Towery pass from Mercer
• Grapevine — 4:58, Rice 34 field goal

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

• Rushing: Grapevine, Caleb Texada 16-229. Northwest, Cummings 13-156, Strong 20-80
• Passing: Grapevine, Berryman 10-21-1-117. Northwest, Strong 26-35-1-262
• Receiving: Grapevine, Polk 8-105. Northwest, Reil 6-84, Danicki 6-78