By Mary Granath Posted September 2, 2009
Lowry fans witnessed something that had not been seen in five years….a home win for the varsity football team.
The Bucks defeated the Pershing County Mustangs 33-7 on Friday, August 28.
“It feels good to get our first home win in five years,” said senior Christian Alcaraz.
Lowry fumbled the opening kick but the defense responded well.
“We started off with a turnover right off the but the defense held them,“ said head coach Tim Billingsley.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair that ended without a score from either team.
After Pershing County converted a third and long play, sophomore Johnny Hernandez tackled the Mustang running back for a two-yard loss. Hernandez then sacked the quarterback for a three-yard loss with help from junior Will Thacker. On fourth and 6, Thacker chased the quarterback from the pocket and Tyler Anderson made the sack.
In the second quarter Lowry moved the ball down the field. After a 10 yard pass from sophomore Jace Billingsley to junior Sean Millikan, Lowry picked up a first down on a run to the left for four yards from Alcaraz. The Bucks gained an additional 15 yards from a defensive holding penalty on the Mustangs.
Junior Lane Barton then made a 12-yard run to the 35-yard line for another first down. This was followed by an 18 yard run by Alcaraz who pushed to the 17-yard line. Billingsley then completed a pass over the middle to Milikan who shed a tackler and scored the first touchdown of the night. The two-point conversion failed leaving the score at 6-0.
This drive was an example of the Buckaroo’s new mind-set. Senior Salvador Pulido and Alcaraz agree that this year’s team is different.
“Everybody got together…we played as a team,” said Alcaraz
On the ensuing possession, Anderson had a 17-yard sack to the 31-yard line negated on a horse-collar penalty which moved the ball to the Lowry 37. Pressure from Robert Price on the next play forced the quarterback to scramble for a 28-yard gain to the Lowry 9-yard line.
Once again the Buck’s defense came through. Millikan recorded a sack for a 4-yard loss. Thacker pushed the Mustangs further back with a 14-yard sack. On fourth and goal from the 27, Junior Bryan Noble broke up a pass over the middle of the field.
Lowry quickly added another score. Billingsley rolled to his left and threw a short pass to Alcaraz. Alcaraz evaded the Pershing County tacklers and ran 73 yards down the sideline for a Lowry score.
The Lowry defense continued piling up sacks and Lovelock turned the ball over on downs.
Lowry could not mount much offense on its next possession and was forced to punt the ball away. The punt was fumbled and recovered by Lowry at the Pershing County 29-yard line.
Billingsley then completed a 28-yard pass to senior David Eastman who had slipped behind the Mustang defenders. The Bucks were stopped short of the end zone on the first two plays as the Mustang defense held strong before Billingsley pushed the ball across on a quarterback sneak with eight seconds left in the first half. The two-point conversion failed on a penalty.
The third quarter opened much like the first until there four minutes remained in the quarter. Eastman fumbled the Pershing County punt but recovered to avoid two tacklers. He then cut left and was hit and wrapped by a Mustang but somehow managed to shake free and cut across the field to score on a 36-yard return.
Lowry added two more scores in the fourth quarter before
Sophomore Jace Billingsley throws a fourth-quarter touchdown pass in Lowry’s 33-7 win over Pershing County, 8-28-09.
Pershing County was able to muster its first and only touchdown of the night.
Coach Billingsley was satisfied with the win and is looking forward to the remainder of the season.
“It’s a fun group, they’re exciting, I think they’re having fun,” said Billingsley.
Billingsley wants to continue with the same winning formula next week at Battle Mountain.
“Next week we just want to keep playing hard, keep the intensity up, and hopefully go to Battle Mountain and get another win,” he said
