Lions win nail-biter against Gonzales Apaches
By Alonzo Garza
POST-REGISTER
If you were not at the Lion Stadium on Friday, Sept. 8, you missed an exciting victory for Lockhart, 22-19. Despite the drizzle, which held steady throughout the entire game, the Lockhart Lion varsity football team (1-1), managed to fight on undeterred, resulting in a nail biting victory over the Class 3-A Gonzales (0-2).
“Th
e Lions earned their first win of the season in a thrilling finish as David Moore kicked the winning field goal with ten seconds left to make the score 22-19 over Gonzales.” said Head Coach Les Goad.
Once again, the Lions used a strong running game gaining 353 rushing yards. Demetrius Joseph rushed for 150 yards with 21 carries, Terrance Waldon rushed for 142 yards with 17 carries, David Pozuc rushed for 29 yards with nine carries, and Kennard Lakes rushed for 25 yards with three carries. The Apaches opted for splitting their yards between passing (111yards) and rushing (150 yards) for a total of 261 yards.
According to the Central Texas High School Football Statistics in the Austin American-Statesman, Terrance Waldon has gained the most rushing yards in Class 4-A with 242 yards. Following closely, Demetrius Joseph is listed eighth with 163 yards.
Gonzales scored in the first quarter when Jacob Bird completed a 7-yard pass to Cody Burton and then Juan Cardenas kicked a field goal to make it 7-0. Lockhart responded with a 7-yard run for a touchdown and a two-point conversion by Waldon. Gonzales finished off the first quarter with a 30-yard field goal by Cardenas leaving the score 8-10, in Gonzales” favor. It was a lifeless second quarter for Lockhart as both teams went scoreless.
The second half began with a safety by Gonzales, an 80-yard run by Jerome Espinosa and the extra point by Cardenas. The Lions responded with a 34-yard field goal by Moore in the last 13 seconds of the third quarter leaving the score 11-19.
By far, the most exciting quarter was the fourth. With drizzle still trying to dampen the spirit of the crowd and the players, the Lions came out roaring with a 1-yard run by Pozuc for a touchdown and two-point conversion by Alex Joseph making it a tie game at 19-19. With 4:00 remaining, Gonzales was on the 50-yard line trying to move the ball. Lockhart”s strong defense regained possession with 3:00 on the clock. On offense, Demetrius Joseph rushes to the 28-yard line for a first down, then to the 41-yard line for another first down, and a third time to the 49-yard line for a second down and two yards to go.
With tension building, coach”s voices strained faint commands to their players while the crowd kept screaming! The Apaches” defense worked hard, but the Lions were determined. The Lions pushed forward until Coach Goad called a time out. With 17 seconds on the clock, a third down and 21 yards to go, Demetrius Joseph rushed to Gonzales” 16-yard line for a first down taking seven seconds off the clock. Coach Goad called a second time out for Lockhart. Both sides of the stadium had their fans on their feet, cheering non-stop making the game a bona fide nail biter!
Gonzales called another two time outs before the game ending play, which was the 34-yard field goal by Moore.
“The main thing that these kids needed to do was to learn how to win,” Goad said after the game. “This past week they worked hard and it showed. They were able to kick it into high gear in the fourth quarter and I think tonight… they learned how to win.”
The Lions will play at Floresville on Friday, Sept. 15, at 7:30 pm.
