AUSTIN – A 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cameron O’Banan to wide receiver Andres Flores Perry with nine seconds left Friday sealed the deal for the Dripping Springs Tigers as they stunned the LBJ Jaguars in a 17-14 win at Nelson Field.
Dripping Springs’ score capped off a thrilling 63-yard drive orchestrated by the Tigers in the final 30-plus seconds of the contest.
In a contest of unbeaten teams in 12-5A, DI, both Dripping Springs (5-1, 3-0) and LBJ (4-2, 2-1) played a high energy, physical brand of football that had the atmosphere of a playoff game.
Dripping Springs kicker Desi De la Cruz nailed a 45-yard field goal in the first quarter to give the Tigers the early 3-0 advantage.
The Jaguars battled back with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Hunter Scott late in the second quarter on a fourth down scramble to take a 7-3 lead. But O’Banan and the Tiger offense responded with an 8-play, 63-yard drive that culminated with a 1-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Shel Hudson just seconds before halftime.
On the opening possession of the third quarter, LBJ’s offense marched down the field and running back Sean Fresch scored on a 9-yard run up the middle, giving the Jaguars a 14-10 lead.
Late in the fourth frame, the Tiger defense generated a key fourth down stop with 33 seconds left in the game, giving Dripping Springs’ offense one last opportunity to score.
A facemask penalty against LBJ, along with two completions to the sideline by O’Banan, set up Dripping Springs’ final punch to clinch the victory.
