By Moses Leos III
Just as the Lehman Lobos attempted to get up from the canvas Thursday, the Akins Eagles delivered the knockout blow.
Fourteen unanswered third quarter points, aided by Lehman miscues, led Akins to a 31-10 win at Burger Stadium.
“We’re not at a place yet where we can overcome those things. It’s so hard to overcome a 14-point swing, especially momentum wise,” Todd Raymond, Lehman head football coach, said. “We can’t do that. We’ve got to be more disciplined.”
Lehman’s loss marked the program’s tenth straight in a row. The Lobos’ last win came against Akins on Sept. 19, 2014.
The Lobos’ struggles began on the very first play from scrimmage. An errant snap over the head of starting sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Brown allowed Akins to gather the ball at the Lobo 1-yard-line. Akins needed two plays to punch in a score and take a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point.
Lehman responded back, guided by Brown, who was making his first start. Brown led lehman on a nine play drive, capped off by a seven yard touchdown pass to Tyler Henderson.
Raymond said he opted to start Brown over junior Jacob Zamora due to his mobility on the field. But there were growing pains, which Raymond said is “just a part of it sometimes.”
“Ask any defensive coordinator what they are more scared of, they will say they’re more scared of a (quarterback) that can run,” Raymond said. “So we wanted to give him a shot. He did some great things. But he also called plays wrong.”
But Akins countered by orchestrating a 10-0 run midway through the second quarter.
Guiding the Eagle offense was the duo of quarterback Michael Gonzales and wide receiver Jermaine Thomas. The two connected five times for 100 yards during the Eagles’ 10-point run. It was highlighted by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Gonzales to Thomas to give the Eagles a 17-7 lead.
Raymond attributed defensive struggles to Akins’ use of the run-pass option.
“We’re not at a place where we have a large margin for error,” Raymond said. “Our margin for error is really small. We have to be in the right place to make those things.”
The Lobos rallied for a second time, led by the running attack of Brown and running back Bryan Mendoza.
Raymond said Mendoza found success, as the Eagles began to focus more on Brown. He said the move “levels the playing field.” He also lauded Brown’s elusiveness, which he said adds a different element to the offense.
It led to the Lobos manufacturing a eight play scoring drive to close out the first half. A Penniel Rodas 44-yard field goal cut the Akins lead to 17-10.
But Akins reclaimed the momentum for good in the third frame. It was kick started after the Eagles scored a touchdown following a Lobo interception.
They quickly scored again after blocking a punt deep in Lehman territory on the ensuing drive. Akins tallied the final score on a two yard touchdown run by Lockhart.
Youth and inexperience are drivers for the Lobos struggles, according to Raymond. He said miscues were “more on us than anything else,” and that they’re fixable, but it’s “frustrating at the same time.”
For Raymond, continuing to move forward is his mantra as the team attempts to get over their slump.
“The only thing I know how to do is to keep grinding,” he said. “I’m going to keep busting my tail and these kids are going to keep busting theirs.”
