Longhorns season ends on one point loss
Published 12:00 am Saturday, November 10, 2007
SELMA &8212; It only seems fitting a one-point game would come down to one play.
With less than a minute left to play and down 16-15, Marengo Academy lined up on the left hash mark for a 20-yard field goal.
Instead of regaining control of a game they had physically dominated most of the way, the Longhorns (7-4) lost their ticket to the state championship when Kyle Stephens pushed the ball wide left.
Moments later Marengo was forced to watch Meadowview celebrate its first trip to the state title game in 15 years.
Big first downs and possible touchdowns were taken off the board all night because of penalties.
Marengo racked up 132 yards on 17 penalties, including a pass interference call on fourth-and four that gave the Trojans (9-3) a first down on the 14-yard line.
Three plays later, Meadowview receiver J.R. Lowe broke a tackle at the 1 and scored a touchdown. Running back Brett Collins lined up behind center in shotgun and ran the ball in for what turned out to be the game-winning two-point conversion.
Although Will Pitts caught the ball on the fourth-down play, Meadowview coach Rick Jackson opted to take the penalty to move three yards closer.
He also took advantage of the Longhorns&8217; aggressiveness.
It seemed in the beginning of the game Meadowview would have the same dominating start it did last week. Winston Bearden returned a fumble 33 yards for a touchdown and an 8-0 lead a minute and a half in.
Marengo tied the game on the following possession when Beau Digmon caught a 42-yard touchdown pass and Stephens ran in a two-point try.
An 8-yard touchdown run by Jesse Morgan gave Marengo a 15-8 lead with 5:27 left in the first half.
The turnaround in the second half was as sudden as it was shocking. The Longhorns had clearly physically beaten the Trojans, even leaving some of Meadowview&8217;s key players gimpy after big hits.
Then Daniel Blackmon made a one-handed interception of a Phillip Farmer pass which led to the winning score.
After going into the locker room with the lead, Marengo didn&8217;t score again. The team punted on three other second-half possessions.