Klein Oak Panthers vs Spring Lions October 22, 2009
Klein Oak Panthers lose at home to Spring Lions 21-14
The game began in Oak’s favor when Tony Williams intercepted a Spring pass that gave the Panthers a 1st down and 10 at the Lion 15 yard line. A defensive pass interference penalty moved the Panthers to 1st and goal at the Spring 4 yard line. A 4 yard run by Rock Stevens and an extra point by Kwame Kuffor gave the Panthers an early 7-0 lead on the for once green grass at Klein Oak Stadium on a warm Indian Summer evening.
Spring received the ensuing kick-off at their 39 yard line. The Oak Defense looked good from the start with tackles by Georgi Zdravkofv and Derrick Downing and a deflected pass by Samuel Vela that forced a punt. However, the mood turned sour after a Panther fumble was recovered by Spring at the Panther 5 yard line. Spring scored on a 5 yard pass play and an extra point that tied the game 7-7.
Klein Oak was intercepted on their next two possessions. The defense limited the damage from these turnovers with good pass protection and tackling including a shoe string tackle in open field by Justin Scorpetta that saved an otherwise sure touchdown and brought up 4th down and 4. Klein Oak took over on downs at the 36 yard line. Neither team managed to move the ball much past the 50 yard line on their next two possessions. However, a Special Teams fumble recovery by John Dice after a Spring punt gave the Panthers the ball at the Spring 30 yard line. The Panthers moved the ball from here behind offensive running plays by Gabriel Limon, Rock Stevens and Aaron Reyes and a pass completion to Andrew Medina. Oak threatened at the 4 yard line, however a fumble on a busted play moved Oak back to the 20 yard line and Spring took over on downs at the 20 yard line. An Oak interception by William Thomson gave the ball back to the Panthers just before half time and the score remained tied 7-7.
The Panthers received the ball at their 40 yard line to start the 2nd half. After turning the ball over on downs, a Spring pass was intercepted by Tony Williams which gave the Panthers good field position at the Spring 20 yard line. A 5 yard run and 1 handed pass reception by Gabriel Limon put the Panthers on the10 yard line of Spring. However, once again Oak was unable to score from the Red Zone. A field goal attempt into the wind was no good and Spring took over on downs at the 10 yard line.
The Defense held and Spring had to punt the ball which was returned by Oak to their 48 yard line. At 1st and 10 from the 48 yard line, Rock Stevens broke free and ran the ball 52 yards for a Panther touchdown. Kwame Kuffor kicked the extra point giving Oak a 14-7 lead.
Again the Oak Defense held with pressure from Tyler Norwood, Saul Chavez, and Bradley Korenek. The Panthers took over at the at their 22 yard line and managed to move the ball to their 38 yard line. However, Gabriel Limon was tackled for a loss on 3rd and 2 and Oak had to punt. Unfortunately, the punt was blocked and recovered by Spring at the Oak 30 yard line. Spring managed to find their running game and two long plays later scored a touch down and an extra point that tied the game 14-14.
Klein Oak’s Offense again struggled to move the ball consistently. However, the Defense held behind pressure from Tony Williams, Derrick Downing, Kurt Berkes, Jeffery Toth and Matt Kelso. Klein Oak took over on downs at the 25 yard line, but fumbled the ball which Spring recovered at the Oak 30 yard line. With time running out Spring completed a 30 yard pass for a touch down that gave them the lead and the game 20-14.
