Lions start season with 55-12 win

By Alonzo Garza

POST-REGISTER

The Varsity Lions took down the Victoria West Warriors with a solid 55-12 victory in the first game of the regular season at Lion Stadium on Friday, Aug. 31.

“I am real pleased…real pleased,” Head Lion Coach Paul Kilby said after the game. “The kids really rose up. We had a couple of injuries, but people

stepped in to cover. Some younger kids stepped up and they just did a fantastic job all around.”

Scoring began with a touchdown by Brandon Clinger at 4:55 remaining in the first quarter.

The Warriors took over the ball at their own 22-yard line only to fumble it later with under two minutes to go in the quarter, which ended at 7-0.

Second quarter action began with another touchdown by Clinger at the top of the quarter.

The touchdown was followed by an interception by Brandon Miller with 10:44 remaining in the first half.

The interception was good for a first-and-10 at the 16-yard line. Curtis Hawkins turned the first down play into another touchdown. A two-point conversion run by C.J. McKinney changed the score to 22-0.

Lion Elijah Tienda recovered a Warrior fumble at 7:43. A long carry by Marcos Rodriguez made it possible for Miller to score another touchdown with 7:09 remaining in the half.

The Warriors answered with a touchdown of their own at 6:55, but failed to make the extra point.

The Lions scored again with a touchdown by Charles Ereaux at 2:22 remaining. The extra point kick was good for a score of 36-6.

Victoria West briefly took control of the ball with a first and ten at their own 45-yard line, but an interception by Lion Chris Castillo returned possession of the ball to Lockhart.

A personal foul against Lockhart with 53 seconds to go in the first half set the Lions back a bit, but could not stop the scoring.

Rodriguez took in the last touchdown before halftime ending the scoring at 42-6.

The third quarter began with a couple of fumbles.

First the Warriors fumbled the ball after starting at their own 28-yard line, and then the Lions fumbled the ball back to the Warriors who took a first and ten at the 40-yard line.

Possession of the ball went back and forth between teams until the Lions scored another Rodriguez touchdown with 4:05 remaining. The extra point kick was blocked for a score of 48-6.

The Warriors pushed back scoring their second and final touchdown of the night with 44 seconds left in the third. The extra point kick was no good setting the score at 48-12.

The Lions kept pushing in the fourth quarter until J.D. Franco scored the last touchdown of the game with 7:37 to go. The extra point kick was good for a final score of 55-12.

“District is a long way away,” Kilby said. “We got two games to get a whole lot better for the strong district we’re in. I believe in these kids and I believe we’ll be ready.

The Lions face Austin Crockett at Burger Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6.

See you at the game.

agarza@post-register.com