After a loss to Cedar Park (7-0) two weeks ago, the Lions defeated Marble Falls (1-5) with a score of 42-28, the highest scoring game for the Lions so far.

“We went out and executed what we had practiced and took care of business,” junior quarterback Parker McNeil said.

The game began on a defensive high note when they forced the Mustangs to fumble and senior Matthew Long ran it 67 yards to take the lead early on. Another fumble for the Mustangs gave the Lions the ball, but they did not capitalize on it. On the Mustangs next drive they scored tying the game 7-7 with 4:34 remaining in the first quarter. On the next drive, McNeil lobbed a 65 yard touchdown pass to sophomore Dalton Flowers. McNeil finished the game with 303 passing yards, and Flowers had 132 receiving yards and two touchdowns. At the end of the first quarter the game was tied 14-14.

“[Flowers’] size is something you can’t teach,” McNeil said. “He is a game changer. I think the Cedar Park game was a learning experience, but he’s gaining confidence by the day and it showed against Marble Falls and it will show this Friday.”

After a stalled Lions drive to start out the second quarter, senior Pedro Silva intercepted a Marble Falls pass to give the ball back to the offense. After a leaping catch at the 2 yard line by senior Gabriel Sanchez, Long scored a rushing touchdown to put the Lions ahead 21-14. Sanchez finished the game with 11 receptions for 123 yards. With 21 seconds to go in the half, McNeil’s pass to senior Michael Berry was tipped off his fingertips and fell into the arms of senior Ty Worthy to score the touchdown. At the end of the half, the Lions led 28-14, and stopped the Mustangs from scoring in the second quarter. 

“It felt awesome,” Worthy said. “After I caught it I was just running around trying to find my team to celebrate with.”

After a missed Mustang field goal, McNeil threw an 11 yard touchdown pass to Flowers. At the end of the third quarter, the Lions led 35-21. After a missed Lions field goal, sophomore Alex Williams intercepted a Mustang pass and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.. Then, on the Mustangs next drive, senior Seth Venner intercepted a pass and the Lions ran out the clock. The final score was 42-28 with the Lions earning their third win.

“I felt really good,” Flowers said. “I made myself better, and I put my team up. Ever since I’ve come here, and they’ve put me in, I kind of feel like I’m part of the family now. I actually get along with everybody.”

This week, the Lions (3-4, 2-2 in district) travel to Georgetown to face off against the East View Patriots (3-4, 0-4 in district) this Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Other notable stats:

State-ranked #1 Cedar Park, #7 Vandegrift and #10 Vista Ridge currently lead the district, followed by the Georgetown Eagles at 5-2 and the Lions round out the top 5 teams in district 25-5A.