Lions pick up first win over West
By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER
In what amounted to a defensive battle in storm-torn Victoria on Friday night, the Lions emerged victorious over the Victoria West Warriors in a 21-18 pre-District standoff.
As they exited the bus, the Lions knew they were in for a challenge – a passionate Warrior squad drew a nearly capacity crowd as Victoria pulled itself up by its bootstraps after a devastating tangle with Hurricane Harvey less than a week before the game. The community swung their gates open wide, offering free admission to the game and paying tribute to first responders, emergency services and utility workers who held the city together in the face of the storm.
Scoring started slowly, with the defensive squads trading blows until late in the first quarter, when the Warriors found pay dirt on a short hop into the end zone.
The defensive battle raged on through the second quarter, when Daequan Ellison found the goal line on a 41-yard scamper. Kicker Juan Ocampo easily split the uprights to give the Lions a 7-6 lead.
The Warriors took over, but the Lion defense held strong, forcing a punt. However, the strength of West’s kicker put the ball behind the Lion’ 3-yard line, and the Warriors were able to force a safety to go ahead 8-7, and followed up with 32-yard field goal to increase their lead to 11-7 at halftime.
After the break, the Lions came back to the field strong, despite the absence of the Roaring Lion Band early in the third quarter.
Halfway through the quarter, Ellison broke free again, putting the Lions back in the driver’s seat.
The Warriors answered right back with a 71-yard touchdown run and an 18-14 lead.
The Lion defense went into high gear in the fourth, breaking up every driver the Warriors attempted, and keeping the quarterback neutralized.
Meanwhile, quarterback Logan Brown teamed with running back Clayton Hinckley to connect a touchdown pass for the final score of the game.
Skylar Griffin and Logan Schnautz were instrumental on both sides of the ball, both picking up quarterback sacks, and making key gains on offense to keep the Lions’ scoring drives alive. Griffin also had five solo tackles and three assists on the night, as the Lion defense stacked up a total of 29 tackles, including three for losses. In fact, most of the Lions spent most of the evening playing “both ways.”
“We are searching for the right combinations,” Head Coach Brian Herman said. “We have had multiple injuries to expected starters and rotational players. Hopefully, spreading the touches out among healthy players will make us harder to defend.”
The Lions had an easier time this week with penalty trouble, losing only 25 yards on three calls, as opposed to last week’s 90 yards.
“We highlighted from the last game how our mistakes cost us the victory,” Herman said. “If we minimize our self-inflicted wounds, we are much more competitive.”
The Lions will travel to San Antonio on Thursday evening to take on the Laredo LBJ Wolves. In their last meeting, the Lions won 28-6 over the Wolves.
“They were very young last year and seem to be much improved,” Herman said. “They have a new offensive system that they are very excited about, and their defense is veteran and aggressive.”
The matchup will be the last for the Lions before they open District play on Friday, Sept. 22, when they will host the Seguin Matadors for Homecoming.
“We highlighted from the last game how our mistakes cost us the victory,” Herman said. “If we minimize our self-inflicted wounds, we are much more competitive.”
The Lions will travel to San Antonio on Thursday evening to take on the Laredo LBJ Wolves. In their last meeting, the Lions won 28-6 over the Wolves.
“They were very young last year and seem to be much improved,” Herman said. “They have a new offensive system that they are very excited about, and their defense is veteran and aggressive.”
The matchup will be the last for the Lions before they open District play on Friday, Sept. 22, when they will host the Seguin Matadors for Homecoming.
