Lehman running back JR Torres follows massive offensive lineman Kenny Higgins during the Lobo Kickoff scrimmage Saturday night. The Lobos will next travel to Wimberley on Saturday where they will scrimmage the Texans, a Class 3A State semifinalist last season, and Marble Falls, a Class 4A playoff team last year. (Photo by Caitlyn Cygan)
by WES FERGUSON
After the sweltering heat of two-a-days, a cool breeze carried football weather into Kyle on Saturday night.
Lehman High School was ready for it. The marching band played, the drill team performed, and a full crowd of Lobo fans packed the bleachers to witness what many people are calling the most competitive team in the short history of Lehman football.
Senior standouts such as quarterback Matt Anguiano and running back Levi Medley didn’t disappoint.
Medley ran like a man on fire. On the first play of the Lobo Kickoff scrimmage, played on Lehman High School’s practice field, he tore through several defenders on a long gain down the middle of the field. On the second play he broke a couple of tackles on a sweep around the left side.
“Gotta give everything,” Medley said later, while taking a breather. “We’ve been training for this all summer.”
The first touchdown came when Anguiano found Julio Besa slanting across the middle. Besa caught the pass on a full sprint and didn’t stop until he reached the end zone.
The downside to the offensive firepower? It came at the expense of the Lobos’ defense.
“We started off with good intensity,” said head coach Steve Davis. “The second team (defense) had some assignment busts, but all in all I’m very happy with it. I liked our intensity and how we executed for the most part.”
As might be expected, the offense and defense saw a pronounced drop-off in performance when the second-team squads subbed in for the first-team.
“Depth right now is probably our biggest concern, so we’re going to have to stay healthy,” Davis said.
During the scrimmage, Lobos defenders played with the intensity that Davis had called for, but they were hampered by the usual preseason miscues, which coaches were quick to address.
“When a guard pulls, they’re not doing that for fun,” one coach barked. “The football follows the guard every time.”
“We’re reading the wrong keys and getting faked out.”
“Don’t break coverage. You can’t make it easy on the Q.B. if we’re blitzing.”
The Lobo defenders wore blue jerseys, while most of the offensive squad wore white. Senior wide receiver/defensive end Matt Riojas, one of the only offensive players who wore blue, caused some momentary confusion on the sidelines when he caught a deep pass from Anguiano and sprinted for an easy touchdown. For the folks not paying close attention, however, it appeared that a defender had picked off a pass and then sprinted into the wrong end zone.
“So confusing,” came murmurs from the sideline.
There were some shining moments for defensive players as well. Speedy junior Bradley Braxton wreaked havoc while blitzing from his cornerback position. On one play, when Besa bobbled a pass in the flats, Braxton clobbered him.
On the sidelines, older players kept giving pep talks to their younger teammates. Senior defensive end Quadry Kirkland, who was sitting out the game with a twisted ankle, spent much of the evening offering rapid-fire encouragement to sophomore offensive lineman Chris Luster.
“Don’t back down now,” Kirkland said. “Don’t be scared. They ain’t here to hurt you. They’re here to make you better.”
In some ways, the final play of the night summarized the scrimmage. Senior wide receiver Cameron Baird sprinted for the end zone, and Anguiano sent a floating spiral his way. The defender lost track of his man, then turned around and lost track of the ball as well.
The football fell into Baird’s waiting hands for the scrimmage-ending touchdown.
The Lobos will scrimmage again this Saturday in a three-way matchup against Wimberley, which reached the Class 3A state semifinals and finished 14-1 last season, and Marble Falls, which reached the 4A playoffs. Texas Football Magazine picked the Texans to win the 2011 Class 3A Division II State Title this season. Kickoff is 10:30 a.m. in Wimberley.
