Lions look to respond after tough loss to McCallum

By Anthony Collins

LPR Editor                        

   The Lockhart Football Lions left Friday night’s trip to Austin with a 19–10 loss to McCallum, but for Head Coach Mike Maldonado, the bigger concern wasn’t the final score. It was how the Lions finished. “Friday night against McCallum was a tough one, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” Maldonado said. “That’s been one of the tougher losses I’ve been a part of. We didn’t finish to our standard, and as the head coach, that starts with me and ensuring we finish this week.”

   Lockhart dropped to 3–5 overall with the loss, but the Lions were much more competitive than they had been a week earlier against Smithson Valley. Lockhart finished with 165 total yards, including 94 rushing yards and 71 passing yards. Senior Bob Estrada took on the bulk of the passing duties, completing four passes for 71 yards and a touchdown while adding 33 yards on the ground. Demonte Anthony continued to be one of Lockhart’s most productive offensive weapons, catching three passes for 66 yards and a touchdown, while Avery Ybarra led the rushing attack with 57 yards on 18 carries.

   The Lions stayed within striking distance throughout the game but missed opportunities and an inability to consistently sustain drives ultimately kept Lockhart from completing the comeback. For Maldonado, the loss was another difficult moment in a stretch that has tested the team’s depth, confidence, and resolve. “The last few weeks have been a grind,” Maldonado said. “We’ve been in the mud at times. But being in the mud doesn’t define a program; how you climb out of it does. That’s the work in front of us right now every day.”

   Lockhart has battled through injuries and lineup changes during the second half of the season, forcing several players into larger roles. That adversity has created challenges, but it has also given younger players and backups valuable varsity experience. Maldonado said the focus now is not on what has gone wrong, but on how the Lions respond. “This week our staff and players are recommitting to the details: how we practice, how we prepare and how we compete for each other,” he said. “No excuses, no finger-pointing. We’re going to own it, learn from it and get better every single day.”

   For Maldonado, those lessons extend beyond football. “When there’s no growth from setbacks, there’s only failure to live with, and my job is to ensure our boys learn, grow, and are better every week, not only as athletes but as young men,” Maldonado said. “There have been great life lessons we’ve gone through this year. We’ve seen the highs and dealt with the lows, but it’s time to attack success and respond.” Despite the recent setbacks, Maldonado remains confident in the group and the way the players have continued to show up and work. “I’m proud of the young men in this locker room,” he said. “I’m asking our community to keep standing with them, because this group is going to dig its way out together.”

   That opportunity comes Friday night when the Lions return to Lion Stadium for their final home game of the regular season against Manor. It will also be Senior Night, giving Lockhart’s senior class one more chance to play in front of the home crowd. “I ask the community to continue to support the boys, especially with our last home game Friday,” Maldonado said. “It’s a great opportunity to get back on track as we celebrate our senior class.”

   With two regular-season games remaining, Lockhart still has a chance to close the year on a positive note. The Lions will host Manor on Friday before finishing the regular season on the road against Cedar Creek on Nov. 6. For a team that has already experienced both the highs of a strong start and the lows of a difficult district stretch, Maldonado’s message heading into the final two weeks is simple: respond, keep working, and finish the right way.