supercentex
11-13-2005, 08:56 AM
Knights force OT, but fall to No. 4 Lufkin
By Mark W. Miller
Killeen Daily Herald
WACO — It was the Knights' dream scenario — they were in the fourth quarter with a chance to upset the state's fourth-ranked team.
But it didn't have a happy ending for the Harker Heights football team.
Lufkin's Clifton Kibble scored on a 14-yard run in overtime and the Knights couldn't answer and lost 31-24 Saturday in the first round of the Division II-5A playoffs.
It was the closest game of the season for an undefeated team that was beating its opponents by an average score of 40-9.
"You gotta give credit to the kids from Harker Heights," Lufkin coach John Outlaw said. "They played their hearts out. They were just as hungry as we were, but when it got into overtime, luckily we made the plays we had to make and we finally started making plays defensively."
Lufkin's Ja'Corey Turner was the offensive star of the game, rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. He also had 35 yards receiving.
In their overtime possession, the Knights reached the Lufkin 14 on a defensive holding penalty and gained 2 yards on a first-down run, but Heights' season ended after three straight incompletions.
The last, a fade pass for Ronald Moore in the back right corner of the end zone, sailed long.
"I honestly thought the wind took some of it," said Shorts, who had a stiff south breeze behind him.
Had they scored, Heights coach Ross Rogers said the Knights would have gone for the victory.
"We were going for two (points) right away. We were going to try to end it and thought we had a good play."
The Knights' 24 points was the most scored on Lufkin this season, and the Panthers' 24 points in regulation were a season-low. Lufkin (11-0) was shut out in the second half.
"We had our chances," Rogers said. "I'm real proud of our kids. (Lufkin is) an explosive ballclub and I thought our kids went toe-to-toe with them."
Heights (6-5) had three chances to take a late lead.
The Knights drove to a first-and-goal at the Lufkin 8 with less than 9 minutes remaining, but went backward from there and had to settle for a game-tying 34-yard field goal by Luke Grothe.
"Coach Rogers didn't call the right plays there in the fourth quarter," Rogers said, referring to himself. "I thought we should have gone in there and got a score."
With 2:42 remaining, the Heights defense stopped Lufkin quarterback Jeremy Claybon inches short of a first down on fourth-and-three at the Heights 45.
The Knights drove just across midfield but had to punt, and Trevor Butler kicked a dandy that was downed at the Lufkin 4.
Lufkin was stuffed for no gain on back-to-back running plays, then, on third-and-10, Claybon was nearly sacked in the end zone for a safety in the final minute by Heights' Josh Johnson, but managed to dink the ball to Turner, who was standing almost next to him at the goal line.
Turner scampered 11 yards for a first down and, 45 seconds later, it was off to overtime.
The Panthers began the game looking like the No. 4 team, driving 51 yards for a touchdown on the opening possession after the Knights tried an onside kick. Texas A&M pledge E.J. Shankle capped the drive with a 15-yard TD reception.
Heights answered with an 80-yard drive, converting two third-and-elevens in the process, including Alexis Colon's 17-yard touchdown catch.
The Knights took the lead on Lufkin's next drive as Colby Lange sacked Claybon and caused a fumble that Julian Harris scooped up at the Panther 26 and carried into the end zone.
Later in the first half, Michael Tealer scored on a 25-yard pass with 1:19 left that figured to give the Knights a halftime lead, but the Panthers needed just 51 seconds to take back the lead.
Still, the Knights were pleased with the result.
"We told our kids at halftime we had them right where we wanted them," Rogers said. "They were in a close game and we had been in these close games, and this is where we wanted them."
For Shorts, who passed for 174 yards and two touchdowns, it was the end of a stellar three-year run at quarterback that saw him rush for 2,438 yards and 40 touchdowns. He passed for 3,852 yards and 29 TDs.
"Donnie Shorts, I can't say enough about how hard he's played for this team, especially the last two years," Rogers said. "He's not always perfect, but he's always giving you 100 percent and he's a gutty player."
"I thought we had a game plan that would have worked," Shorts said. "It should have worked. We were unfortunate and we lost ... Nobody in the world, nobody in the state probably thought that we had a chance against this team and we went into overtime with this team."
By Mark W. Miller
Killeen Daily Herald
WACO — It was the Knights' dream scenario — they were in the fourth quarter with a chance to upset the state's fourth-ranked team.
But it didn't have a happy ending for the Harker Heights football team.
Lufkin's Clifton Kibble scored on a 14-yard run in overtime and the Knights couldn't answer and lost 31-24 Saturday in the first round of the Division II-5A playoffs.
It was the closest game of the season for an undefeated team that was beating its opponents by an average score of 40-9.
"You gotta give credit to the kids from Harker Heights," Lufkin coach John Outlaw said. "They played their hearts out. They were just as hungry as we were, but when it got into overtime, luckily we made the plays we had to make and we finally started making plays defensively."
Lufkin's Ja'Corey Turner was the offensive star of the game, rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. He also had 35 yards receiving.
In their overtime possession, the Knights reached the Lufkin 14 on a defensive holding penalty and gained 2 yards on a first-down run, but Heights' season ended after three straight incompletions.
The last, a fade pass for Ronald Moore in the back right corner of the end zone, sailed long.
"I honestly thought the wind took some of it," said Shorts, who had a stiff south breeze behind him.
Had they scored, Heights coach Ross Rogers said the Knights would have gone for the victory.
"We were going for two (points) right away. We were going to try to end it and thought we had a good play."
The Knights' 24 points was the most scored on Lufkin this season, and the Panthers' 24 points in regulation were a season-low. Lufkin (11-0) was shut out in the second half.
"We had our chances," Rogers said. "I'm real proud of our kids. (Lufkin is) an explosive ballclub and I thought our kids went toe-to-toe with them."
Heights (6-5) had three chances to take a late lead.
The Knights drove to a first-and-goal at the Lufkin 8 with less than 9 minutes remaining, but went backward from there and had to settle for a game-tying 34-yard field goal by Luke Grothe.
"Coach Rogers didn't call the right plays there in the fourth quarter," Rogers said, referring to himself. "I thought we should have gone in there and got a score."
With 2:42 remaining, the Heights defense stopped Lufkin quarterback Jeremy Claybon inches short of a first down on fourth-and-three at the Heights 45.
The Knights drove just across midfield but had to punt, and Trevor Butler kicked a dandy that was downed at the Lufkin 4.
Lufkin was stuffed for no gain on back-to-back running plays, then, on third-and-10, Claybon was nearly sacked in the end zone for a safety in the final minute by Heights' Josh Johnson, but managed to dink the ball to Turner, who was standing almost next to him at the goal line.
Turner scampered 11 yards for a first down and, 45 seconds later, it was off to overtime.
The Panthers began the game looking like the No. 4 team, driving 51 yards for a touchdown on the opening possession after the Knights tried an onside kick. Texas A&M pledge E.J. Shankle capped the drive with a 15-yard TD reception.
Heights answered with an 80-yard drive, converting two third-and-elevens in the process, including Alexis Colon's 17-yard touchdown catch.
The Knights took the lead on Lufkin's next drive as Colby Lange sacked Claybon and caused a fumble that Julian Harris scooped up at the Panther 26 and carried into the end zone.
Later in the first half, Michael Tealer scored on a 25-yard pass with 1:19 left that figured to give the Knights a halftime lead, but the Panthers needed just 51 seconds to take back the lead.
Still, the Knights were pleased with the result.
"We told our kids at halftime we had them right where we wanted them," Rogers said. "They were in a close game and we had been in these close games, and this is where we wanted them."
For Shorts, who passed for 174 yards and two touchdowns, it was the end of a stellar three-year run at quarterback that saw him rush for 2,438 yards and 40 touchdowns. He passed for 3,852 yards and 29 TDs.
"Donnie Shorts, I can't say enough about how hard he's played for this team, especially the last two years," Rogers said. "He's not always perfect, but he's always giving you 100 percent and he's a gutty player."
"I thought we had a game plan that would have worked," Shorts said. "It should have worked. We were unfortunate and we lost ... Nobody in the world, nobody in the state probably thought that we had a chance against this team and we went into overtime with this team."