Lions suffer 41-14 Homecoming loss to Tigers

Lockhart High”s Homecoming celebration on Friday night was disrupted by the Dripping Springs Tigers. The Lions suffered a crushing 41-14 loss at the hands of the Tigers.

The Lions had the first possession, and they turned to workhorse Willie Hill. Hill received six of the first seven snaps, helping the Lions make way down the field and build momentum. The drive ended

short of the end zone, when the Tigers made an interception on quarterback Joey Uker.

The Lion defense started strong, forcing the Tigers to go three-and-out on their first two possessions. The Tigers answered by forcing the Lions to back-to-back three-and-outs. The defensive battle went on until Tiger Daryl Lehman made a 75-yard break for the end zone, ending first quarter scoring at 7-0 with Dripping Springs in the lead.

Early in the second quarter, senior running back Thomas Collins returned to the field after sitting out with an injury last week.

The Tigers opened the second quarter with a second touchdown drive that left them with a 14-0 lead.

The Lions put a charge into the Homecoming crowd with just over a minute left in the half. Quarterback Jacob Alvarez hit Hill with an 80-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Tigers” lead to 14-7. The Tigers answered with an 82-yard kickoff return for a third Dripping Springs touchdown. The teams returned to the locker room with Dripping Springs up 21-7.

The Tigers came out in the third quarter and drove deep into Lion territory, but the Lions held them to a field goal attempt. A “roughing the kicker,” call against the Lions put the Tigers at first-and-goal. Tiger Wes Jackson picked up his third touchdown for the evening from 5 yards out, widening the gap to 27-7.

The Lions” second possession of the half resulted in Lockhart cutting into Dripping Springs” commanding lead. The drive, consisting of three strong runs by Hill, ended when he found his way to the end zone on a 5-yard run. The Lions entered the fourth quarter behind 27-14.

The Tigers scored again in the fourth. The Lions answered by using a fake punt for a conversion, but the score was reversed by a holding call. Another Lion punt followed, and as the Lions waited for the ball to stop bouncing, Jackson sped in, recovered the ball for the Tigers, and made a 33-yard touchdown run, making the final score 41-14.

“Every team has one of these a season,” said head coach Bryce Monsen. “Wthis is one we will watch to correct our mistakes, and then forget.”

The Lions will begin district play against the Taylor Ducks on Friday night.

“Everyone is 0-0,” Monsen said. “[The start of district play] is a new season.”

The Ducks will be celebrating their homecoming as they host the Lions on Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled at 7:30 p.m.