Lions outlast Spartans to capture first victory
When Alief Taylor and Seven Lakes met last season, the Lions were rolling — all the way to a 9-0 start.
This time, they were trying to overcome their own inertia.
After losing two games to Hurricane Harvey, and their delayed opener with Dekaney, the Lions finally found a much-needed victory, outlasting Seven Lakes 28-13 on Saturday at Crump Stadium.
“In all honesty, turnovers are killing us,” said Taylor coach Brian Randle, whose team had two Saturday. “When we lost to Dekaney, we turned the ball over five times … but the boys are resilient.
“If we don’t lose those games (with Bush and Cypress Falls), we’re hitting our stride at the right time, so that hurt us, but I’m not a big fan of making excuses, so we’ve got to roll with the punches.”
The Lions (1-1) had dropped three straight going back to last year’s tough finish. Spartans led early
The Spartans (0-2) jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 67yard scoring run by Chris Williams, and then pulled within 15-13 late in the third quarter on another 67-yard TD run by Williams.
But Taylor responded with a little trickery.
On fourth-and-26, Devin Williams, a 6-4 defensive end/punter, rolled out to rugby punt, dropped the ball, picked it up on the run and sprinted down the left sideline for a 55-yard score and 21-13 lead.
Shea Whiting sparked the Lions in the first half.
With the Spartans focused on 6-4 wide receiver Brennan Eagles, a Texas pledge, Whiting supplied 21- and 60-yard TD grabs in 2:21, quickly turning a 7-0 deficit into a 13-7 lead in the second quarter.
The 6-3 junior finished with nine receptions for 188 yards and two scores.
“We told him in the spring, I said, ‘Shea, you’re going to have an outstanding year because all the attention is going to go to Brennan, so you’re going to get a lot of one-on-ones,’ ” Randle said. “I don’t think it’s going to last long, though, because Shea’s an explosive player.”
But Seven Lakes consistently pressured quarterback Charlie McFarland, preventing Taylor from pulling away.
Parker Jones recorded three of his team’s seven sacks — twice to end quarters.
Derek Jones supplied a sack and an interception, which he returned 31 yards, and Taylor turned it over twice.
The Lions still racked up 441 yards and 20 first downs.
“We’re still trying to figure out who we are offensively,” Randle said. “We’ve got some new staff, and everybody’s still trying to figure out where they fit, so we’re working on it.
“We’re going to get there.”
The Spartans couldn’t capitalize on Taylor’s struggles.
Michael Batton tossed a costly interception to De’lvion Brown in the end zone, and his receivers dropped the ball or let it slip through their hands on several opportunities to put points on the scoreboard.
Seven Lakes finished with 281 yards and seven first downs.
Taylor also blocked a punt, which rolled through the end zone for a safety. Game-changing plays
Backup QB Ralph Jones put the game away with a 20-yard TD run for a 2813 advantage with 4:13 remaining.
“We didn’t make the plays when we had an opportunity to make the plays,” Seven Lakes coach Lydell Wilson said. “Down toward the end, we dropped one that’s going to be a for-sure six because he’s going to outrun him to the end zone.
“We allowed a guy to get outside of us on a bad punt snap, and he scores a touchdown there.
“Those are two gamechanging plays.”