Lions dig in, finally fall 28-19 to Clemens

By Alonzo Garza
POST-REGISTER

Despite significant improvements to their game and a resolute, unmatched and resilient attitude, the Lions were unable to defeat the Buffaloes on Friday, Oct. 1, falling 28-19 after a true gridiron battle.

The first quarter began with the Lions kicking to the Buffaloes. Clemens scored first with a pass completion and a 28-yar

d touchdown run at 10:09. The extra point kick was good for a score of 7-0.

The Lions took over the ball at the Buffaloes 46-yard line, and a face mask penalty against the Buffaloes was good for 15 extra yards. The Lions kept moving the ball forward until they reached the 29-yard line with a third-and-6.

Joseph Bell carried a couple of Buffaloes on his back – along with a clingy Lion teammate – for a 23-yard gain and a first-and-goal at the 6. A flag for an illegal shift by the Lions moved the ball back to the 11-yard line. It was followed by an official’s time out for an injured player before Bell was able to move the ball back to the 6-yard line.

With 5:15 remaining in the first, Bell rushed in for the first Lion touchdown of the night with a second-and goal. The two-point conversion attempt by Logan Zimmerhanzel failed for a score of 7-6.

The teams took turns with the ball, but no further scoring by either team occurred in the remaining three and a half minutes of the first quarter.

The second quarter began with the Lions in possession of the ball at the 41-yard line with a third-and-7. The Buffaloes took control of the ball at the 36-yard line and charged down the field, little by little, until they reached a first-and-goal at the 6-yard line. By 7:36, the Buffaloes scored their second touchdown with a quarterback rush into the end zone. The extra point kick failed for a score of 13-6.

The Lions spent the rest of the quarter attempting to score. They moved the ball up to the 6-yard line but could not make it past the Buffaloes.

The third quarter began with a 34-yard return by Chris Jackson. The Lions took their first-and-10 at their own 44. They moved the ball to the 6-yard line by 7:35. Brooks Pittman attempted a 22-yard field goal on a fourth down but failed to get the ball through the goal post.

The Buffaloes put up another seven points by 4:03, putting them ahead 20-6.

The Lions took the ball at the 31-yard line and reached the 36 with a third-and-five by 2:47. Pittman punted on a fourth-and-six. The 18-yard punt put the Buffaloes at the 46-yard line with 2:30 remaining in the third.

Pittman earned the Lions a 15-yard penalty with a personal foul after the Buffaloes first-and-10 drew flags for a dead ball. The Buffaloes also decided to punt after fruitless attempts to gain yardage. The 35-yard punt put the Lions on the one-yard line and ended the third quarter at 20-6.

The fourth quarter proved to be the most exciting since it was action filled from start to finish.

The Lions, who had possession of the ball with a third-and-8 on the 3-yard line, lost it with the first play of the quarter. A Buffalo intercepted a short pass and ran 19 yards to a touchdown by 11:50. The extra point kick was good for a score of 26-6.

The touchdown was followed by a safety, tacking two more points onto the Buffaloes’ score. Clemens kicked the ball well into the end zone, starting the Lions at first-and-10 on the 20. The first play had a high snap, which turned into a loose ball that was kicked into the end zone for a score of 28-6 and 11:30 remaining in the game.

More high snaps and penalty flags continued to plague the remainder of the game. The Lions fought hard and moved the ball as close to the end zone as possible. Lockhart reached fourth-and-goal with inches to go at 3:19, and Bell rushed in for a touchdown by 3:16. The two-point conversion attempt failed for a score of 28-12.

The Buffaloes took a first-and-ten at the 43 after the kick off. A bad snap cost Clemens a 9-yard loss for a second-and-19 at the 34. Lockhart called a time out with 1:49 to go in the game and the Buffaloes decided to punt on the fourth down.

The Lions took the ball at the Buffalo 42-yard line at 1:41. They lost a yard for a second-and-11 at the 43, and eventually completed a 13-yard pass on fourth-and-11.

The Lions took a first-and-10 at the 29-yard line before Lion quarterback Vonte Hedspeth was sacked with 36 seconds remaining. They moved to another first-and-10 at the 15. The Lions remained focused despite the flags on the play for pass interference against the Buffaloes. The ball was spotted at the 3-yard line as a first-and-goal with six seconds remaining. The short pass was completed for a final touchdown and the extra point kick was good for a game score of 28-19.

The Lions will have a bye this Friday, but will resume district play on Friday, Oct. 15. Lockhart will face the Hays Rebels at Lion Stadium starting at 7:30 p.m.

See you at the game.
agarza@post-register.com