(Abarw.com/Allison Weirich Photo) Dylan Hamilton (24) races past two Lampasas defenders for a touchdown during the 7th-grade Gold game. The 7th-Gold beat their Lampasas counterparts, 30-14.
By Linda Lattanzio, Leader Sportswriter
A constantly shifting offense didn’t seem to bother the 7th Gold team’s defense as they plowed over their Lampasas Badgers to win 30-14 Oct. 24. But the chameleon offense had the 7th Purple team stymied, while a hungry Badger defense shut the Panthers’ down to win 0-22.
Someone forgot to tell the Lampasas 7th Gold team they had a football game, when the Panthers stepped onto the field with cold eyes. The Badgers received the opening kickoff, but after being held to downs, it didn’t take long for the Panthers to unleash Chris Guerra for the first touchdown of the night. His extra point run behind Ethan Fullmer was good.
The Badgers made very little headway. Held to downs, their punt was blocked by Damian Natividad and recovered by Kendall Badon on Lampasas’ 23-yard line. With 42 seconds left in the second quarter, Dylan Hamilton danced his way into the end zone. The half ended Liberty Hill 14, Lampasas 0.
Opening the second half, the Badgers still didn’t have an answer to the Panthers offense , as the Panthers received the kickoff. Two first downs and six plays later, Chris Guerra again rounded the end and put on the jets 40 yards to touchdown. After an offsides penalty, an 8-yard pass to Ethan Fullmer made the extra points.
But the Badgers finally found a spark in Malik Boone, when Boone broke past the line of scrimmage and ran 50 yards to touchdown at the top of the fourth quarter. Where were they keeping this guy?
The Panthers answered two plays later with Chris Guerra breaking up the middle 55 yards to touchdown. Dylan Hamilton’s extra point run was good. But the Badgers were set in motion now. Boone exploded into another break out run, gaining 45 yards before he was brought down by Ryan Ray. With 32 seconds left on the clock, Boone broke through the middle to score another touchdown. The extra point run was stopped by Cooper Baden. The Panthers weren’t watching the clock, as Connor Thompson cruised around the end, breaking tackles and gaining 49 yards before the clock ran out. The Panthers won 30-14.
The 7th Purple team felt the shock after receiving the kickoff, driven into negative yardage before the Badgers took over and owned the first quarter. The Panthers dug in, but the Badgers scored with seconds left in the quarter.
The Panthers finally started gaining momentum when Logan Hester rounded the line of scrimmage for a 37 yard run. Four first downs later, the drive ended in a fumble on the Lampasas 27-yard line, recovered by Cohen Cockburn, and it was Badger ball. A breakout run by Brandon Crutchfield put the Badgers within striking distance that was culminated by a quarterback sneak. Another Panther fumble left the Badgers on top at the end of the half 0-14.
The second half opened with a promising fumble created by a huge tackle by Chandler Grant and recovered by Logan Hester. But what the Panther defense seemed to be able to give to the offense, the Badger defense could take away. After two sacks and the Panthers held to downs, the Badgers went into the fourth quarter on top. Badger Chance Johnson broke tackles left and right and romped 35 yards to touchdown. The extra point pass was good.
The Panthers received the kickoff and dug in, making three first downs, thanks to David Allman and Logan Hester. But the Badgers stopped the Panthers on their own 18, holding them to downs with 1:17 left in the game. The Badgers won 0-22.
The 7th grade Panthers travel to Burnet next week to play the Bulldogs for the final district game beginning at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3.
