Lehman wide receiver Tyler Hyss (15) attempts to rush past an Alamo Heights defender during the Lobos’ game against the Mules Friday night. (Photo by Rafael Marquez) |
By Keff Ciardello.
The term moral victory is often used in vain, but for the Lehman Lobos 42-35 loss to the Alamo Heights Mules, it is appropriate.
After Jeremy Schilhab’s second pass of the game was intercepted, Lobo head coach Todd Raymond almost abandoned the passing game altogether. Leh-man ran 61 running plays for 285 and eight pass plays for 70 yards.
After a Lobos drive sputtered, the Mules punt returner, Robert Shuler, returned the ensuing punt 79 yards for the first touchdown of the game. Lehman countered with an 11 play, 73-yard drive that ended with a Schilhab four-yard quarterback sneak touchdown on fourth and one.
The Mules broke the tie in the second quarter when quarterback, Dalton Banks, found receiver, Scott Uhl, for an 18-yard touchdown pass. The Lobos were forced to punt, but Shuler fumbled after he was crushed trying to catch the punt and Lehman recovered.
The turnover set-up Tyler Hyss’ game tying 22-yard touchdown run.
Lehman got the ball back before the half and went on another 11 play drive that ended with another Schilhab touchdown on QB sneak. They took the lead, 21-14, just before halftime and added to it mid-way through the third quarter when Schilhab took off for a 19-yard score, his third touchdown. He finished with 154 yards on 28 rushes and completed 5-8 passing for 70 yards and an interception.
The Lobos 14 point lead didn’t last long as the Mules’ running back, Byron Proctor, found the end zone on back to back drives, the first a one-yard dive and the second a 45-yard run off the left tackle.
In a tied game with 1:18 left in the third, Alamo Heights tried an onside kick but it went straight to Jay Hargrove who snatched the ball and ran it in for a surprising 45-yard touchdown to regain the Lobos lead, 35-28.
Success was short-lived when, 23 seconds later, Byron Proctor danced around the Lobos defense on his way to a 30-yard touchdown. After Proctor tied the game at 35, he would also score the game-winning touchdown on a two-yard score with 6:41 left in the game.
Proctor finished with 10 rushes for 112 yards and four touchdowns, all in the second half. Dalton Banks passed for 364 yards and a touchdown for the Mules.
It’s not easy for a coach to accept that his team’s passing game is ineffective but Raymond swallowed his pride and almost beat Alamo Heights. Although he took away most of Schilhab’s passing opportunities, he let him shine on the ground with a steady dose of quarterback draws, sneaks and read-option plays.
The difference in Schilhab against the Mules was his decisiveness on read-option plays. There were times this season where Schilhab hesitated and allowed the defense to catch up with him. But last Friday, he made a read and stuck with it, whether it was handing off to one of his many running backs or keeping it himself.
It paved the way to a successful rushing attack all around for the Lobos.
Malcolm Turner wore number 1 instead of his usual 21 in honor of Tylor Dodero, who injured his leg and will miss the rest of his senior season. Turner honored his teammate and friend by gaining 190 yards of total offense, including 77 yards on the ground. He set up a touchdown after a 27-yard run.
The Lobos prepare themselves for a Thursday night tilt at home against Seguin. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17.
