Opportunities wasted as Prairie Lea drops opener

LPR staff

PRAIRIE LEA – Unable to convert from the 1-yard line in the third quarter came back to haunt Prairie Lea as the Indians dropped their season-opener Saturday night at Indian Field, 50-45, to Valor South Austin.

Prairie Lea led several times in the game but found itself trailing by 12 late when it scored with 1:02 remaining to pull within five, but time would run out on the Indians.

Prairie Lea opened the game by scoring in just three plays, capped off by Jimmy Soberanes’ 22-yard touchdown run. It would be the first of a five-touchdown night for Soberanes. Lane Fiscus ran in the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

South Valor pulled within 7-6 on a touchdown, but missed its extra point attempt.

However, a Prairie Lea turnover turned into another touchdown for South Valor and the Eagles led, 12-7. 

Soberanes took off on a 40-yard touchdown jaunt on the Indians’ next drive and Lane Fiscus‘ extra point run gave the Indians a 14-12 advantage. 

South Valor again took the lead at 18-14, but a 52-yard run by Joe Zapata put Prairie Lea back on top, 20-18. 

Soberanes’ third touchdown gave the Indians a 26-18 advantage.

Soberanes added two more touchdowns, but missed extra points kept the margin from being much larger.

The Indians trailed 50-38 with just 1:02 remaining when Zapata narrowed the gap to 50-45.

“We just would have a turnover or stall on offense and could never get any momentum,” Prairie Lea Head Coach Steven Brown said. “In the third quarter, we got to the 1-yard line and couldn’t get in. Also, we missed a bunch of extra points.”

Prairie Lea’s defense had a big night, getting five turnovers – two interceptions by Braden Fiscus, one each by Lane Fiscus and Gabriel Garcia, and a fumble recovery by Zapata.

Garcia had 15 tackles, followed by Zapato with 12 and Lane Fiscus 7.

Soberanes finished with 184 yards rushing on 20 attempts. Zapata picked up 120 yards on 10 attempts with two touchdowns. Lane Fiscus had 78 yards on 10 carries.

“One thing that I was worried about is if we got behind, was would we fold and give up, but those guys never did,” Brown said.

Prairie Lea returns to Indian Feld Friday as Living Rock Academy of Bulverde visits. The Bobcats lost their opener at Cedar Park to Summit Christian Academy, 54-0.