West University Examiner - Sports
Lamar can’t hold off Taylor’s fourth-quarter rally
By MIKE TENNEY
A defensive struggle for three quarters, the Lamar-Taylor football playoff game turned into a wild-and-crazy affair near the end as the Mustangs rallied to pull out a 17-13 Region III-5A, Division II victory Saturday afternoon at Delmar Stadium.
The Mustangs, now 8-3 overall, advance to play Pearland in the Region III semifinals later this week.
Following a great opening drive to take a quick 7-0 lead, Lamar still held a 7-3 lead entering the fourth quarter. That was before a Taylor offense that had been moving pretty well at times started putting the ball in the end zone.
The Mustangs grabbed a 10-7 advantage in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but Lamar came right back with a quick swing pass from sophomore Darren Ervin to senior wide receiver Josh Gordon that resulted in a 67-yard touchdown.
Gordon broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage as he made the catch and dodged a couple of more defenders before hitting his stride down the left sideline. He broke a couple of more tackles near midfield and one at the 20 before trotting into the end zone to put Lamar back up 13-10 with 9:56 to play. The extra point was blocking.
But on the heels of a long kickoff return, the Mustangs set up shop near midfield to start what would be the game-winning drive.
Three straight rushes by workhorse tailback Steven Sartory, who would carry the ball an amazing 37 times for 180 yards, accounted for 35 yards to put the Mustangs inside the Lamar 25.
Quarterback Lee Rogers found receiver Collin McWaters in the end zone on a 23-yard touchdown pass for the 16-13 advantage with 6:45 to play. The PAT put the Taylor advantage at four.
A 45-yard return on the ensuing kickoff by Neiko Conway gave Lamar the ball at the Taylor 45. But after a sack that lost five yards and an incomplete pass, the Redskins had a deep pass intercepted, giving Taylor the ball at its own 14.
However, the Mustangs had two penalties and had to punt from their own end zone, giving Lamar the ball on the Taylor side of the field with four minutes to play.
A false-start penalty backed the Redskins up five yards to midfield and on first down. Then, Kohlhausen was crunched between two defenders and lost the ball. In a mad scrum, the Redskins held on, but were looking at a second-and-35 back inside their own 35.
Kohlhausen got 17 of those yards back on a third down run, but he had to leave the game after getting hit in the air and crashing out of bounds.
On fourth down-and-eight, the Lamar pass fell incomplete, and Taylor was able to run out the clock on Lamar’s season.
These two teams had been scheduled to play each otherSept. 20 during the nondistrict portion of the season, but Hurricane Ike wiped out that game.
Lamar began the day like it was going to be a Saturday stroll through the park, putting together a nine-play, 80 yard scoring drive after the opening kickoff.
With junior tailback Patrick Andrews rushing for 43 of those, Lamar drew first blood with an 18-yard pass from Kohlhausen to Gordon for the touchdown. Barry Isensee then followed with the extra point boot, making it 7-0 with 8:12 to play in the first period.
Taylor drew within 7-3 on a 38-yard field goal to end the first half.
The Redskins, who were District 20-5A trichampions, close the year at 9-2 overall.
The Mustangs, now 8-3 overall, advance to play Pearland in the Region III semifinals later this week.
Following a great opening drive to take a quick 7-0 lead, Lamar still held a 7-3 lead entering the fourth quarter. That was before a Taylor offense that had been moving pretty well at times started putting the ball in the end zone.
The Mustangs grabbed a 10-7 advantage in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but Lamar came right back with a quick swing pass from sophomore Darren Ervin to senior wide receiver Josh Gordon that resulted in a 67-yard touchdown.
Gordon broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage as he made the catch and dodged a couple of more defenders before hitting his stride down the left sideline. He broke a couple of more tackles near midfield and one at the 20 before trotting into the end zone to put Lamar back up 13-10 with 9:56 to play. The extra point was blocking.
But on the heels of a long kickoff return, the Mustangs set up shop near midfield to start what would be the game-winning drive.
Three straight rushes by workhorse tailback Steven Sartory, who would carry the ball an amazing 37 times for 180 yards, accounted for 35 yards to put the Mustangs inside the Lamar 25.
Quarterback Lee Rogers found receiver Collin McWaters in the end zone on a 23-yard touchdown pass for the 16-13 advantage with 6:45 to play. The PAT put the Taylor advantage at four.
A 45-yard return on the ensuing kickoff by Neiko Conway gave Lamar the ball at the Taylor 45. But after a sack that lost five yards and an incomplete pass, the Redskins had a deep pass intercepted, giving Taylor the ball at its own 14.
However, the Mustangs had two penalties and had to punt from their own end zone, giving Lamar the ball on the Taylor side of the field with four minutes to play.
A false-start penalty backed the Redskins up five yards to midfield and on first down. Then, Kohlhausen was crunched between two defenders and lost the ball. In a mad scrum, the Redskins held on, but were looking at a second-and-35 back inside their own 35.
Kohlhausen got 17 of those yards back on a third down run, but he had to leave the game after getting hit in the air and crashing out of bounds.
On fourth down-and-eight, the Lamar pass fell incomplete, and Taylor was able to run out the clock on Lamar’s season.
These two teams had been scheduled to play each otherSept. 20 during the nondistrict portion of the season, but Hurricane Ike wiped out that game.
Lamar began the day like it was going to be a Saturday stroll through the park, putting together a nine-play, 80 yard scoring drive after the opening kickoff.
With junior tailback Patrick Andrews rushing for 43 of those, Lamar drew first blood with an 18-yard pass from Kohlhausen to Gordon for the touchdown. Barry Isensee then followed with the extra point boot, making it 7-0 with 8:12 to play in the first period.
Taylor drew within 7-3 on a 38-yard field goal to end the first half.
The Redskins, who were District 20-5A trichampions, close the year at 9-2 overall.
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