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| Down by 3 points, last play of the game... Forget playing it safe with a field goal, the Lions were cocky and took everything. |
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Lions Prove to Themselves That They Can be Winners, SHEPHERD, August 31, 2019 - The Livingston Lions Varsity Football team took a step towards major improvement in Shepherd. They won the game. The Lions have been the losers of 17 straight games and surely wrestling with their confidence. On Friday night, they got a MASSIVE confidence boost when they beat the team that stomped 'em in last year's opener in Livingston. The Lions went into Shepherd and beat what is a reportedly better Pirates team than last year. The Lions made a lot of mental errors (false starts, senseless penalties that nearly cost 'em the game), but Head Coach Finis Vanover has seemed to, over time, breathe confidence and life into these young Lions. When the Lions were down by 3 points with only 50 seconds left in the game, they showed their confidence, desire, and guts to win when it looked hopeless. The Pirates had just scored a touchdown to take a 1 point lead, then they converted a 2 point conversion and left only 50 seconds on the clock. In past years, that would've probably been it, but not these Lions, oh no... With 5 seconds left and the Lions on the 5 yard line facing a tough run defense, they could've easily kicked a chip shot field goal and played it safe to tie the game... But they didn't play it safe. Maybe playing it "safe" is playing to lose. Vanover probably knows this. No, THESE Lions went for all the marbles (and made it look easy in the process). Tight End, Jaylen Harrell just lined up on the line, and when the ball was snapped, Harrell just peeled of and snuck into the endzone. Quarterback Damien Ruiz just lobbed a soft floater into Harrell's waiting arms. Game over. Lions win 32/29. Bravo, Lions. Got that monkey off your back. Looking forward to Orangefield next week. Please enjoy the highlight reel below. -- Willie P. Openshaw, Editor
SCORING SUMMARY:
First Quarter: 9:45 Ruiz 15 yd td pass to Jaylen Harrell, missed pat Lions 6, Pirates 0
Second Quarter: 8:07 Pirates 5 yd td run w pat Pirates 7, Lions 6
7:06 Ruiz 65 yd td run on a QB keeper, w 2 pt. cnv Lions 14, Pirates 7
Third Quarter: 7:30 Pirates 5 yd td run w 2 pt cnv Pirates 15, Lions 14
6:16 Keon Perkins 8 yd td run, missed pat Lions 20, Pirates 15
2:58 Perkins 60 yd punt return for td, missed 2 pt cnv, Lions 26, Pirates 15
Fourth Quarter: 9:48 Pirates 1 yd td run missed 2 pt cnv Lions 26, Pirates 21
0:50 Pirates 2 yd td run w 2 pt cnv Pirates 29, Lions 26
0:05 Ruiz to Harrell on a 5 yd td pass
FINAL: LIONS 32, PIRATES 29
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