By Moses Leos III.
After 48 minutes, no clear victor emerged in the Hays and Lockhart game on Friday night. It took two overtimes to settle the score.
Leading 38-37 in double overtime, the Hays defense stood firm, halting a two-point conversion attempt to earn an important district win.
The lead up to the big moment shaped a tremendous football game.
Both teams scored touchdowns in the first quarter. Lockhart’s offense flexed its muscle in the second. The Lions attacked the Hays defensive line behind the power of running back C.J. McKinney and fullback Curtis Hawkins. Lockhart finished the game with 387 yards rushing.
Above: Hays running back Cody Gandy (28) attempts to shake off a tackle from a Lockhart Lion defender in Friday night’s game at Lion Stadium. A second half Rebel rally helped force overtime, where in double overtime, the Rebel defense stood firm and halted a potential game-winning Lockhart two-point conversion for a 38-37 win. |
Hays struggled to stop Hawkins, whose size and speed made him hard to tackle.
“[Hawkins] is a big back. He was very talented,” linebacker Daniel Minor said. “Taking those kinds of big backs down, it takes a team effort. One guy cannot do it alone.”
The Lions took a 13-7 lead on a C.J. McKinney touchdown run and a missed extra point.
However, the turnover bug once again stung the Rebel offense.
A fumble allowed Lockhart to score more points via a Jordan Johnson 31-yard field goal. Lockhart had one final possession, but Hays’ defense held to keep the score 16-7 at the half.
Adjustments were the name of the game in the locker room. Head coach Neal LaHue stressed the need to keep fighting and to keep the faith.
Senior Luke Park knew they had to shake another slow start. They had to rally.
“We just pumped each other (up) in the locker room,” Park said. “Us seniors really tried to step up … we made it happen.”
It showed in the third quarter, as Hays scored ten unanswered points. The Rebel defense kept Lockhart to only 86 offensive yards.
Lockhart roared back in the fourth with a three-yard touchdown run by Hawkins, increasing their lead 24-17.
Enter Park, whose speed flummoxed the Lion defense in the second half. A big 66-yard gain led to Park scoring a two-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 24.
Park said the ability to work around the Lion defense paid dividends.
“We had a lot of good blocks on the perimeter, which opened up looks downfield,” he said.
But the Lions ran down the final three minutes for one last crack at victory. Johnson aimed for a 28-yard field goal, which he missed. To overtime they went.
Both teams scored touchdowns in the first session. The Rebels scored on their possession of the second overtime, as Jeff Jordan lobbed a 12-yard pass to Hayden Cagle, giving Hays a 38-31 lead.
But Lockhart countered with Hawkins’ third touchdown. The Lion coaching staff then chose to go for two. They wanted to win.
Only three yards separated Hays from a crucial win or a crushing defeat. It’s also what Lockhart had no issue in getting for the majority of the game.
Hawkins got the call to punch it in the end zone. He came up three yards short.
The Rebel defense saw it coming.
“We knew they were going to give it to [Hawkins],” defensive lineman Justin Diaz said.
LaHue was proud of his team’s resiliency. He was equally happy they came away with a statement win over a tough offense.
While they get ready for Schertz Clemens next week, they will savor the moment at hand.
“Anytime you win a double overtime game in district, on someone else’s field, it’s a great feeling,” LaHue said.
The Rebels host Schertz Clemens next Friday at Shelton Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
