Lions bounce back, beat Rebels 57-24
By Alonzo Garza
POST-REGISTER
Lockhart took charge of the field at Toney Burger Stadium from the beginning. Austin Travis tried their best to keep up but they were out played in the end. The Lions never let up, beating the Rebels 57-24 on Thursday night.
Despite a few fumbles and some penalties against them, the Lions’ offensive line was able to plow
through the Rebel defense and move the ball forward 479 yards with 46 rushes. The Lion defense was also productive, holding the Rebels back to 106 yards with 30 rushes in the game.
“Our offensive line got a way better push than they did last week,” Lion Head Football Coach Paul Kilby said after an outstanding, high-scoring win. “The couple of times we did turn the ball over, it wasn’t in our backfield. It was after big gains down field. When we held on to the ball, our run game was real effective. We still struggle with ball security. It was real costly to us last week so we’ve got to continue to improve with it. Still, the offensive line played a lot better this week. They needed to. They needed to respond and they did. Some of our kids were challenged and they rose to the challenge.”
First quarter scoring action started with a 75-yard touchdown run by Dettrick Reed followed by a successful two-point conversion pass by Charles Ereaux to Trent Till for a score of 8-0 with 10:29 remaining in the quarter.
After a penalty against Lockhart for holding and a recovered potential fumble, the Lions scored again with a 5-yard run by Levi Mair. The touchdown was followed by a two-point conversion by Chris Jackson for a score of 16-0 at 6:57.
A Lion fumble was followed by enough Rebel gains to make a 39-yard field goal change the score with 1:21 remaining in the quarter.
An 82-yard touchdown run by Reed was called back after flags were tossed for a chop block penalty against Lockhart ending the quarter at 16-3.
The second quarter began with an illegal procedure penalty against Lockhart followed by a 92-yard touchdown by Marcos Rodriguez after catching a pass from Ereaux. The extra point kick by Jose Marin was good for a score of 23-3 with 11:15 remaining in the quarter.
The Rebels scored their first touchdown and extra point field goal of the night at 8:57 for a score of 23-10. The Lions answered with another touchdown by Rodriguez, who ran 59 yards to the end zone. The extra point kick by Marin was good for a score of 30-10.
Rodriguez and Marin scored again with a minute left to go for a score of 37-10. Logan Zimmerhanzel closed out the half with an interception with 26 seconds remaining.
The Lions kicked off to the Rebels at the top of the third quarter. The Rebels fumbled the ball at the their own 42 yard line at 9:28 for a Lion first-and-10. The Lions fumbled and recovered the ball for a second-and-3 at 9:05 only to fumble it away again by 8:13 for Rebel first and-10 at the 23.
The Lions got the ball back by blocking a Rebel pass and running it in for a touchdown at 7:27. The ball was blocked by Adrian Lopez and caught by Jordan Huckaby who ran it two yards for the score. Marin’s kick was good making it a 44-10 game.
The play cost both teams an ejection. A Rebel and Lion Junior Garcia were sent to the showers for pushing and shoving.
Austin Travis scored a second touchdown with a 19-yard pass. The extra point kick was good for a score of 44-16 at 2:55 remaining.
Rodriguez scored a 43-yard touchdown run with 1:45 to go on the clock. Marin’s kick was good, closing out the scoring at 51-17 in the third.
Austin Travis scored the last Rebel touchdown of the night at 10:45 to go in the fourth quarter. The extra point kick was good for a score of 51-24.
Lockhart sealed the deal with one last Rodriguez touchdown at 1:22 remaining in the game. The extra point kick was blocked for a final score of 57-24.
Rodriguez rushed for 149 yards with 12 carries in the game. Mair rushed 86 yards with 14 carries. Lockhart fumbled the ball six times and failed to recover three fumbles. The Lions also lost 53 yards with six penalties.
The Lions (2-1) will travel to Dripping Springs and go head to head with the Tigers (2-1) on Friday, Sept. 16.
“Dripping Springs is an extremely well coached team,” Kilby said. “They throw the ball a bunch… very much a spread team. We’re going to have to play a near perfect game to be able to beat them.”
The Tigers beat Manor 42-34 last week and lost 47-26 to Wimberley the week before.
See you at the game.
agarza@post-register.com
Great job Lions!!!