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“Anytime we win a ballgame now, it is history,” commented Lovejoy head coach Jim Bob Puckett. “But when you defeat the defending state champions that puts a decent little feather in your cap.” The Leopards took an early lead when Eddie Puskarich hit a field goal from 32 yards out. However, a steady diet of Prosper’s outstanding running back, Juan Williams had the Leopards scrambling on defense. Williams scored from 10 yards out and the Eagles went up 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. In the second, the Leopards defense got more of the same as Williams seemed unstoppable on the ground. Conversely, the Lovejoy offense labored against a strong Eagle defensive line, struggling to find holes and positive yardage. Late in the second, Prosper’s Brian Hardy connected with Lucas Soileau for a 32 yard touchdown pass after a failed Leopard fake punt, and the Eagles took a 14-3 lead into the half. After giving up 177 rushing yards in the first half, the seemingly porous Leopard defense came out on fire in the third quarter, stifling the Eagles running game, and completely shutting down Juan Williams. Sacks by Nate Krumrei and Ticer Havens ignited the Black Shirts and gave the Leopard faithful, hope of another comeback. Midway through the third, Michael Means hit Hayden Marsh for an 86 yard score, and the momentum shift began as the Leopards deficit was now 14-10. Lovejoy’s Byron Butler then intercepted a Hardy pass giving Lovejoy great field position on the Leopard 45 yard line. Tanner Michaels blasted through the Eagle defense for 24 yards, and Means then connected with Blake Martin for 14 yards to give the Leopards a first and goal. Running behind his beefy offensive line, Means scored from 1 yard out and Lovejoy surged ahead, 17-14 to end the third. Without a feasible running game, the Eagles found some success through the air as Hardy picked up chunks of yardage, hitting Soileau, Mario Edwards, and Brett Thompson. But Lovejoy’s Trey Carson recovered a fumble to give the ball back to the Leopards with 8:22 left to go in the game. Now on a roll, Means used his arm and legs to march down the field, eventually hitting a wide open Zander Hamilton in the end zone on a 32 yard pass, and Lovejoy led 24-14 with less than five minutes to go in the game. In desperation, Prosper completely abandoned their running game, and though they threatened late, Blake Westback’s interception in the back of the end zone with 1:32 to play in the game sealed the Leopard victory. Defensively, the Leopards held Prosper to minus 14 yards rushing and 124 total yards in the second half forcing two interceptions and a fumble. Offensively, Means recorded 75 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown, and was 8-15 through the air with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Leopards history making season continues next Saturday, 7:30pm in Waco ISD Stadium as they go head to head with Abilene Wylie in the division 1-3A state semi finals. Written by Kim Havens
We knew all along that our boys had hearts of champions, little did we know that their parents possessed lungs of champions. Hats off to those "volunteers" that fired up our leopard restaurant crowd. It will be a long time (particularly with the ample video evidence) before any of us forget those five(5) cheer performances. This week's stop on the road to a championship is in Waco, Tx. Locals are much friendlier when you pronounce it with a long "a". We were fortunate to reserve a huge room during this holiday season @ Poppa Rollo's Pizza, 703 N. Valley Mills Dr. Waco, Tx. (254)776-6776. The manager (Justin) has their "Outback" room reserved for us starting at 4:45pm. It will be all you can eat pizza, salad, tea and soda--adults are $8.75 and children 5 and under are $5.00. We plan to play season highlight videos on their 15' screen during a portion of dinner. As we get deeper into the playoffs we have to "step" it up as fans. This week's dinner will be free to that leopard fan who most energizes the crowd with their choreographed cheer. For you "crowd pleasing, mascot bashing" types, Abilene Wiley's mascot is a bulldog. then click "On Campus" then click "Athletics" |
Lovejoy Sports News 
