By Kyle Mooty

LPR Editor

VICTORIA – It may have well been a NASCAR race and played under a caution flag, particularly early as Lockhart was flagged seven times in the first quarter in its first game as a member of Class 5A Division 1, losing 30-7 at Victoria West’s Memorial Stadium Friday night.

“There were certainly more penalties than we wanted, and some were at critical moments,” Lockhart Head Coach Todd Moebes said.

West scored on its opening possession, driving 47 yards eight plays with the aid of an offsides penalty against the Lions. Quarterback Dominick Martinez scooted in from 8 yards out for the touchdown, and Ethan Van Dusen’s PAT made it 7-0 with 8:01 remaining in the first quarter.

Lockhart, starting sophomore Kadon Moebes at quarterback, picked up a trio of first downs on its second series, but stalled.

Another West drive ended when Josuph Zurita recovered a Warrior fumble. A 50-yard run by Nathaniel Gonzales flipped the field for the Lions, but a holding penalty on the final play of the first period put LHS too far behind the chains to recover.

Moebes was picked off midway through the quarter at the West 2 as the Lions hoped to move in for the tying score.

West proceeded to drive 96 yards six plays, the final 18 on a pass from Martinez to Tristan Bernard with 4:48 remaining before intermission. Van Dusen’s kick made it 14-0.

Lockhart had a punt blocked at midfield with 21 seconds left, but that and the vast array of penalties kept the game in reach for the visitors heading into the second half.

West used a 31-yard field goal by Van Dusen with 8:47 left in the third quarter to make it 17-0, then put the game away with an 81-yard, 11-play drive capped off by Jenesis Jeffries’ 13-yard run with 3:18 left in the frame. Van Dusen’s PAT made it 24-0.

Two plays into the fourth quarter and West tacked on another score when Martinez connected with Jerrett Swanson, who made an over-the-shoulder grab and sprinted in for a 69-yard touchdown with 11:22 left in the game. Surprisingly, West decided to go for two and failed, getting a running back injured in the process.

Lockhart finally found pay dirt on its final drive, going 60 yards in five plays. Moebes found Gage Deutsch, who hauled in a pass and scored on a 20-yard connection with 1:07 remaining. Evan Estrada booted the PAT for the final margin.

Lockhart’s defense did well against the run, limiting the Warriors to less than three yards per carry – 86 yards on 30 attempts — but Martinez was strong through the air, passing for 355 yards. Swanson hauled in 10 of Martinez’s 16 completions for 203 yards, while Bernard caught five for 141yards.

“I thought the defense played well,” Moebes said. “There were a couple of explosive plays but they tackled well for the most part. We’re headed in the right direction.”

Lockhart got 68 yards on the ground from Gonzales. Moebes finished 7-of-10 through the air for 74 yards while Noel Jaimes was 4-of-6 for 89 yards. Deutsch had three receptions for 79 yards, including the score. Frohock caught five passes for 53 yards, and Wes Abel had three for 31.

UP NEXT

Lockhart visits San Antonio Southwest Friday in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against the Southwest Dragons. The game will be played at Legacy Stadium (4495 SW Verano Parkway in Van Ormy).

The Dragons held off the Lions in the season-opener last year, 41-35. LHS lost despite out-gaining Southwest, 485-276.

Southwest opened its season with a 35-10 victory at Harlandale.

“Southwest is very physical and plays with a lot of pride and are well-coached,” Moebes sad. “We’ve certainly got our hands full. They are a very veteran team.”

Victoria West 30, Lockhart 7

at Memorial Stadium, Victoria

Score by Quarters

Lockhart   0   0             0 7  —    7

Victoria West   7   7 10 6  —  30

TEAM STATS   Lockhart     Victoria West

First Downs             16           21

Rushes-Yards         32-98                   30-86

Passing     11-17-2               16-29-0

Passing Yards                   163         355                

Total Yards           261         441

Punts-Avg.       5-39.8     2-42.0

Penalties-Yards         10-70         6-69

Fumbles-Lost           2-0           2-1

Time of Possession         28:09       19:51

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING

LOCKHART — Gonzales 13-68, Moebes 8-19, Roland 8-17, Jaimes 3-(-6). VICTORIA WEST — Jeffries 13-47, Nelbrandt 5-28, Martinez 7-14, Flores 3-3, DeLeon 1-3, Boyce 1-(-9).

PASSING

LOCKHART — Moebes 7-10-1-74, Jaimes 4-1-1-89. VICTORIA WEST — Martinez 16-29-0-355.

RECEIVING

LOCKHART — Deutsch 3-79, Frohock 5-53, Abel 3-31. VICTORIA WEST — Swanson 10-203, Bernard 5-141, Kelly 1-11.

* * *

SCORING

First Quarter

VICTORIA WEST — Martinez 8 run (Van Dusen kick), 8:01

Second Quarter

VICTORIA WEST — Bernard 18 pass from Martinez (Van Dusen kick), 4:48

Third Quarter

VICTORIA WEST — Van Dusen 31 field goal, 8:47

VICTORIA WEST — Jeffries  13 run (Van Dusen kick), 3:18

Fourth Quarter

VICTORIA WEST — Swanson 69 pass from Martinez (run fail), 11:22

LOCKHART — Deutsch 20 pass from Moebes (E.Estrada kick), 1:07

* * *

5A D1 District 12

Thursday, Aug. 29

Austin Anderson 57, Austin McCallum 40

Pflugerville Hendrickson 14, Belton 0

Weiss 42, McNeil 41 (2 OT)

Friday, Aug. 30

Victoria West 30. Lockhart 7

A&M Consolidated 33, Lake Belton 21

Buda Hays 31, Elgin 21

Chaparral 12, Kyle Lehman 6

Del Valle 54, Cedar Creek 21

College Station 35, Klein Collins 28

Pflugerville Weiss 42, McNeil 41 (2 OT)