Eastex Advocate - Sports
Pirates’ fourth down decision results in a momentum swing
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| The Longhorns were led Friday night by Andrew Keinary, running back, who racked up 67 yards rushing against the Shepherd Pirates. The final score was 20-14. |
By WAYNE RHYMES
The first district football game of the season for the Shepherd Pirates was against the Tarkington Longhorns. The game was intense and exciting as neither team ever gave up. The final score was 20-14, Tarkington.
They competed down to the last seconds of a game that boiled down to the heroics of Longhorn quarterback Travis Hobbs connecting with wide receiver John Stroud as he jumped over the Pirate defenders to bring it down at the goal line with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter with the score tied 14-14.
The Pirates’ defense had one more chance to stop the Longhorns, but on the goal line with a running back like Andrew Keinary, it was a very slim chance as he plowed in for six points putting the Longhorns 20-14 in front, winning the game.
This football game had every ingredient a fan needed to be on the edge of your seat. Fans on both sides were screaming, cheering and singing chants with the Longhorn and Pirate cheerleaders, while discussing great moves made by the players with family and friends. But it wasn’t just the last minutes that were intense.
During the first half, the Longhorns had the lead 7-0 over the Pirates. Even with three Longhorn turnovers lost to fumbles, the Pirates couldn’t get their offense going to capitalize on the mistakes.
Both teams really played great defense, not allowing positive yards to come easy as the Longhorn Keinary and the Pirate Keandre Shaw finished with 67 and 64 yards, respectively.
For the second half, Longhorn Head Football Coach Walter Fortune mixed it up a bit as he threw different offensive schemes to Coach Shane Hanks and his Pirates.
The Pirates received the kickoff, amounting to three and out as the Longhorns’ defense hooked the Pirates’ running attack, forcing them to punt.
Coach Fortune continued to fight for opportunities to get some breathing room for his team, by calling what he hoped would be winning plays for the Longhorns.
Tarkington’s Keinary, as always, ran the ball. Hobbs threw for 106 yards and connecting with Stroud five times, giving him 85 receiving yards that were a boost in the offensive arsenal.
The Pirates’ defense appeared to be flat-footed as Keinary ran for a huge gain to the Pirates’ 10-yard line. The ‘Horns went in for another touchdown, bringing the score to 14-0.
The Longhorns were not allowed to get overconfident, as that touchdown appeared to wake up the Pirates and senior wide receiver Jared Wilson, who he received the kickoff and ran following blockers to the Longhorns’ 40-yard line.
This ignited Shaw as he ran threw the middle for a big gain, but the Longhorns’ defense line stopped the Pirates from scoring. The Longhorns got the ball back as Hobbs tried to lateral the ball to Keinary, resulting in another fumble and Michael Walulik for the Pirates picking it up to make the score 14-7.
The Pirates defense then got the ball back to their offense and began to do damage led by double-trouble from Shaw and Amad Lewis that was the result of Coach Hanks substituting them in and out.
Next was a scary moment for the Pirates as a outside run put Shaw out for some downs, but it only inspired Lewis as he led the way by plowing through the Longhorns’ defenders. Lewis finished with 43 total yards.
Shaw returned and immediately got a screen pass with blockers in front of him. He put the burners on and scored, tying the game at 14-14. The Pirates were helped by a 36-yard reception thrown by quarterback Dustin Brown who finished with nine attempts for three completions with a total of 59 yards.
In the fourth quarter, the game became a head-to-head battle between Coach Hanks and Coach Fortune. Both knew they could not afford a mistake with the scored tied in the final part of the game.
Coach Hanks continued with the success that his dual running backs Shaw and Lewis have given him, but the Longhorns’ defense again stopped them, resulting in a fourth down with less than two minutes left in the game on the Longhorns’ 40-yard line.
Coach Hanks decided that his Shepherd team would fake a punt, but the Longhorns’ defense was prepared and it resulted in a quarterback sack that led to the winning drive for the Longhorns.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Pirates on their home field. They must regroup and move on. The Pirates face a tough Coldspring team this Friday.
As for the Longhorns, it was an amazing game as they won their first district game and second game of the season.
“I am so proud of these guys. I mean the character of our team, never give up always fight. I am so proud of my offense and defensive line that really was the key to our win,” Coach Fortune said.
The Longhorns will put their 1-0 district record on hold for a week as they have a bye.
They competed down to the last seconds of a game that boiled down to the heroics of Longhorn quarterback Travis Hobbs connecting with wide receiver John Stroud as he jumped over the Pirate defenders to bring it down at the goal line with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter with the score tied 14-14.
The Pirates’ defense had one more chance to stop the Longhorns, but on the goal line with a running back like Andrew Keinary, it was a very slim chance as he plowed in for six points putting the Longhorns 20-14 in front, winning the game.
This football game had every ingredient a fan needed to be on the edge of your seat. Fans on both sides were screaming, cheering and singing chants with the Longhorn and Pirate cheerleaders, while discussing great moves made by the players with family and friends. But it wasn’t just the last minutes that were intense.
During the first half, the Longhorns had the lead 7-0 over the Pirates. Even with three Longhorn turnovers lost to fumbles, the Pirates couldn’t get their offense going to capitalize on the mistakes.
Both teams really played great defense, not allowing positive yards to come easy as the Longhorn Keinary and the Pirate Keandre Shaw finished with 67 and 64 yards, respectively.
For the second half, Longhorn Head Football Coach Walter Fortune mixed it up a bit as he threw different offensive schemes to Coach Shane Hanks and his Pirates.
The Pirates received the kickoff, amounting to three and out as the Longhorns’ defense hooked the Pirates’ running attack, forcing them to punt.
Coach Fortune continued to fight for opportunities to get some breathing room for his team, by calling what he hoped would be winning plays for the Longhorns.
Tarkington’s Keinary, as always, ran the ball. Hobbs threw for 106 yards and connecting with Stroud five times, giving him 85 receiving yards that were a boost in the offensive arsenal.
The Pirates’ defense appeared to be flat-footed as Keinary ran for a huge gain to the Pirates’ 10-yard line. The ‘Horns went in for another touchdown, bringing the score to 14-0.
The Longhorns were not allowed to get overconfident, as that touchdown appeared to wake up the Pirates and senior wide receiver Jared Wilson, who he received the kickoff and ran following blockers to the Longhorns’ 40-yard line.
This ignited Shaw as he ran threw the middle for a big gain, but the Longhorns’ defense line stopped the Pirates from scoring. The Longhorns got the ball back as Hobbs tried to lateral the ball to Keinary, resulting in another fumble and Michael Walulik for the Pirates picking it up to make the score 14-7.
The Pirates defense then got the ball back to their offense and began to do damage led by double-trouble from Shaw and Amad Lewis that was the result of Coach Hanks substituting them in and out.
Next was a scary moment for the Pirates as a outside run put Shaw out for some downs, but it only inspired Lewis as he led the way by plowing through the Longhorns’ defenders. Lewis finished with 43 total yards.
Shaw returned and immediately got a screen pass with blockers in front of him. He put the burners on and scored, tying the game at 14-14. The Pirates were helped by a 36-yard reception thrown by quarterback Dustin Brown who finished with nine attempts for three completions with a total of 59 yards.
In the fourth quarter, the game became a head-to-head battle between Coach Hanks and Coach Fortune. Both knew they could not afford a mistake with the scored tied in the final part of the game.
Coach Hanks continued with the success that his dual running backs Shaw and Lewis have given him, but the Longhorns’ defense again stopped them, resulting in a fourth down with less than two minutes left in the game on the Longhorns’ 40-yard line.
Coach Hanks decided that his Shepherd team would fake a punt, but the Longhorns’ defense was prepared and it resulted in a quarterback sack that led to the winning drive for the Longhorns.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Pirates on their home field. They must regroup and move on. The Pirates face a tough Coldspring team this Friday.
As for the Longhorns, it was an amazing game as they won their first district game and second game of the season.
“I am so proud of these guys. I mean the character of our team, never give up always fight. I am so proud of my offense and defensive line that really was the key to our win,” Coach Fortune said.
The Longhorns will put their 1-0 district record on hold for a week as they have a bye.
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