The Lyon College football team dropped its 2018 season finale on Saturday afternoon to the Texas College Steers, falling by a score of 38-37.
The Scots ended their season at 3-7 overall and 2-6 in the Sooner Athletic Conference, while Texas College finished at 1-7 overall and 1-7 in the SAC.
Prior to Saturday’s game, the Lyon College football team recognized 21 members of the football team as part of the Senior Day celebration. Cedric Cooney, Stephen Benedik, Joe Mahe, Mekhi Malvo-McFall, Chris Robinson, Shaka Robinson, Zac Lilly, Tre Hawkins, Elijah Keys, Peter Tuipulotu, David Knight, Jared Puamau, Taylor Thibeau, Raymond Gill, Christian Cain, Tyler Vanlandingham, Andrew Maxwell, Clark Thornton, Jake Fox, Zac Stewart and Garett Denton were recognized for their dedication to the program over the past several years.
Game Flow
The Scots opened up the game with a 40-yard field goal by Ignacio Gomez on their first possession, but the field goal was quickly answered by the Steers on the ensuing kickoff. Zion Gayden took the kickoff from the Texas College four-yard line and found a hole for a 96-yard kickoff return to put the Steers on top, 7-3.
Lyon ended the first quarter with a pair of big runs by Puamau and carried that momentum into the start of the second period. After a short run by Titus Nelson, a pass interference call on the Texas College defense put the Scots just outside the red zone. Puamau got the call once more and took care of the rest as the senior picked up 25 yards on the ground for a score and gave the Scots a 10-7 advantage.
A pair of big runs by the Steers set up another score of Texas College on its next possession. After a handoff to Carlos Mosby accounted for 21 yards, the second big play of the drive came on a 58-yard scramble by Vontyne Williams as Texas College regained the lead at 14-10. The Steers would add a 32-yard field goal by Markese Denmon to take a 17-10 lead at the half.
The Lyon defense stepped up big and forced a Texas College punt to open up the second half as the Scots went to work. Spencer Childress started the drive with a 16-yard strike to Jacquez Parker before Puamau got the call on the next two plays as he picked up five yards and capped off the drive with a 32-yard run to paydirt to knot the score at 17-17.
Texas College began to gain some momentum late in the quarter as the Steers ended the period with 14-unanswered points.
The Scots would not go away quietly however and worked their way back into the game with 14-unanswered points of their own to start the fourth quarter. Josh Sierra found Parker for a 14-yard touchdown pass for the first score before Nelson tied the game midway through the quarter with a 15-yard touchdown run.
Texas College regained the lead late in the fourth after Williams opened up a scoring drive with a 15-yard pass to Gayden. Williams followed with another big play, this time a 14-yard pass to Chris Henry. Williams then found his main target, Gayden, two more times, picking up 10 and 27-yards through the air to give the Steers a 38-31 lead.
With just under three minutes left to play, the Scots had one last chance to work their way back into the game. Sierra got the drive started with an eight yard scramble before Nelson picked up nine more yards on the ground. The Scots then took to the air as Sierra found Josh Abel and Parker for a pair of short passes. Lyon converted a big fourth-down play to keep the drive alive as Nelson burst up the middle and carried a couple Steers with him for a 16-yard rush that put the Scots inside Texas College territory. With time winding down, the Scots took to the air as Sierra found Jeremiah Bigham for a 16-yard strike. The Sierra-to-Bigham connection worked out once again later in the drive as the pair accounted for an 18-yard touchdown to pull the Scots within one at 38-37. Lyon elected to go for two to win the game after the score and had a man open in the back of the end zone, but the Scots were unable to convert as the Steers escaped with the one-point victory.
Key Statistics
– Sam Taylor finished with a team-high 13 tackles as he became the programs all-time leader in single-season tackles with 99.
– Gomez finished the season with 76 total points, which is the most in a single season in program history.
– Puamau finished with a game-high 104 rushing yards with two scores.
– Williams completed 9-of-18 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns for Texas College.
Article by Matt Jagodzinski, Lyon College Athletics Sports Information Director
Image via Lyon College Athletics
Get up-to-date local and regional news along with the latest sports and weather every weekday morning by listening to Gary B. and Ozark Newsline on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ, 93 KZLE, and other W.R.D. Entertainment radio stations. If you have a news tip or event to promote, email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow White River Now on Facebook.
