Exhausted, Lonny Lipscomb stood on the sideline Friday talking to his mom. The Huntsville senior, who hardly got off the field for three hours, was so tired he could not reach up and wipe the sweat off his brow.
“I’m wore out,” Lipscomb said. “But I’m glad I’m wore out with a win instead of a loss.”
Many of Lipscomb’s teammates probably felt the same way. Banged up and completely out of gas, the Hornets were too tired to celebrate wildly their 21-19 win over Caney Creek in the district opener for both teams.
About 25 yards away from Lipscomb, senior Howard Brown talked about the game with friends and family, his leg tightly wrapped from his calf to above the knee. Brown took a shot after making a key catch during a second-quarter scoring drive. His knee popped on the play, forcing one of the Hornets’ talented two-way players to watch the rest of the game propped up by crutches.
Brown was not the only Hornet who was hurting late Friday night. Huntsville’s Anthony Griffin and George Perry both suffered minor shoulder injuries, and Tyler Danford hurt an ankle.
“We’ve got some bruises to work through,” Huntsville coach Mitchell Coey said, “but at least we got a win to go with those bruises.”
Plays, and players, of the game
The Hornets didn’t dazzle anyone with their offense, defense or special teams, but they played well enough in all three areas to notch their first district-opening win in three seasons. Huntsville made plays when it counted, scoring a touchdown in each of the first three quarters. They also converted seven of 10 third-down opportunities, the biggest of which came late in the third quarter when quarterback Justin Gilbert slipped through three or four tackles and picked up 12 yards on third-and-9.
Gilbert’s slick run kept alive a drive that ended with Kevin Butcher diving into the end zone to put the Hornets on top 21-13.
Huntsville’s defense then made just enough plays to keep Caney Creek from tying the score late in the fourth period. After the Panthers capped a 68-yard scoring drive with 2:37 left, James Davidson batted down a two-point pass that would have tied the game.
The usual suspects — Gilbert, Davidson, Kirby Ennis, Howard Brown and Brys Baggett — made valuable contributions Friday, but they got plenty of help from their friends.
Marcus Williams, Forbes Baggett, Chris Blanks, Travis Rex, Adam Ayala, George Perry and Lipscomb all made plays for Huntsville’s Green Swarm defense. Joseph Maxey, Kevin Butcher, Tyler Danford, Jimmy Spivey, Ross Nesselrode, Lipscomb and young Jamael Lenoir made key contributions offensively.
For the Hornets’ special teams, junior kicker Martin Juarez came through in a big way. He booted all three of his point-after kicks and came close to adding a 32-yard field goal. Quentin Smith, Mark Wheeler and Marqueil Kizzee helped out on special teams, too.
On a night when there were plenty of standout players for the home team, the Item gives players-of-the-game awards to Forbes Baggett (defense), Gilbert (offense) and Juarez (special teams).
Bring on Brenham
Up next for the Hornets is district rival Brenham. The Cubs have won four consecutive 18-4A titles, but that run may be done.
Brenham opened the 2008 season with a pair of losses. The Cubs lost to Mayde Creek 17-10, then fell in overtime to Houston Westbury 43-36. The Cubs defeated Montgomery 17-10 in the district opener Saturday.
After Friday’s exciting victory, the Hornets were too tired to talk about their upcoming clash with the Cubs. They won’t have that problem Monday when they report back to practice.
Some of us get to sit back and enjoy while others work hard on the field. It should be a fun week for all involved.
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