Lions Clawed by the Timberwolves

Varsity team still looking for a win this season

The+Lions+walk+down+the+steps+to+take+the+field

Siandhara Bonnet

The Lions walk down the steps to take the field

by Siandhara Bonnet, Editor-in-Chief

The Lions fell to the Cedar Park Timberwolves October 10 with a score of 41-12,making their overall record 0-6.

Senior running back Darian McClatcher received the kick off and was taken down by Cedar Park on the Lion 29. Within two minutes of possession, they had to punt the ball away on a failed third down conversion. In the same time of possession, the Timberwolves scored a 21 yard touchdown pass. The point after touchdown was wide right, but the Lions were offsides, giving Cedar Park the opportunity to try again, and it was successful. The score was 7-0.

After a reception by junior Gabriel Sanchez on the Lions’s 44 yard line and an official timeout, the boys were flagged with an illegal snap, making it 1st down and 15 on their 49. After a five yard loss, Cedar Park roughed the passer, giving the Lions the ball at half the distance to the goal.  Within nine seconds, senior quarterback Brandon Hopp performed a half-back pass to Gabriel Sanchez who threw it to senior wide receiver Mikael Dawkins for a touchdown. The extra point hit the field goal posts and the Lions were down by one.

“We had a lot of enthusiasm, and we felt really good about it,” Dawkins said. “I was happy I could support my team in any way I could.”

With 5:28 left in the first quarter, Cedar Park got a turn at the ball and moved it to the 50, but got a false start call, a five-yard penalty. Thirty seconds later, senior corner Jonathan Permenter recovered the ball. After a five-yard penalty, the ball was on the 21 and the Lions had a first down with sophomore quarterback Parker McNeil.  After a pass interference call, the Lions had an automatic first down on the 36.

Two plays later, McNeil threw a touchdown pass to junior tight end Michael Berry which would also be the last score for the Lions. They tried for a two-point conversion, but were unable to  make the score, and they were leading 12-7. With 23 seconds left in the 1st, the Timberwolves scored and kick for an extra point, ending the quarter 14-12.

“[We talked about] how we had to execute and no more stupid penalties or mistakes to pull us down anymore,” Dawkins said.

The second quarter began with the ball in Lion possession. Shortly after it began, they took a time out and made a third down conversion by McClatcher to the 45 yard line. The Lions ended up punting away the ball, and the T-Wolves receiving the ball on their 20. They scored within three minutes with a 52 yard touchdown run and a good extra point, leading 21-12. They then recovered their own kick and end up with a touchdown pass and a good extra point, 28-12. The T-Wolves ended the half with an interception from the Lions and a field goal, 31-12.

“There were parts of it where we did lose hope, but I feel like in the end we kept fighting and we just never gave up,” Berry said.

The second half consisted of a CP touchdown in the third quarter and a field goal in the fourth. The game ended with Cedar Park taking a knee to win the game 41-12.

The Lions will play against the Marble Falls Mustangs October 17 at Marble Falls. Kick off is at 7:30.