Klein Oak Panthers vs Spring Lions October 23, 2009
Second half fireworks resemble the 4th of July; Oak scores late to win again.
Klein Oak Panthers and the Spring Lions come out of the starting gate in a full gallop throwing 28 first quarter points on the board. Then with 7:21 left in the 3rd quarter the Lions lead 28 – 14 …….
Panthers start 1 and 10 on their own 32, five minutes and 3 first downs later sophomore running back Nick Baratti scores from 10 yards out. Barratti following pull blocks by Kyle Bottoms and sophomore Jeremy Jones plus a sweet down field block by Max Stevenson goes in virtually untouched around the left side. Several key plays by the offense made this drive successful. With a full backfield, Andy Wilson and sophomore fullback Eddie Fatu run for good yardage behind excellent line play. Plus Tory Waites had a catch to keep the drive alive on a critical 3rd down play. Oak leads 7 – 0; twenty seconds later Spring scores and its 7 – 7.
Oak takes over on the 24 yard line after a deep kick from Spring. Again the formation is Wilson, Baratti and Fatu in the backfield. On the second play from the line the Lions pick off a Wilson throw and run it back to the 3. Skyler Denny makes a saving tackle on the return. With less than 90 seconds off the clock Spring scores again…… and it’s 14 – 7. Oak stalls out on the next possession and Shroble punts after 3 plays. Nathan Hughes makes a super fine special teams play by crushing the return man for no gain on the punt. The Panther ‘D’ picks up on the momentum created by Hughes and two plays later Trey Payne has a pick 6. Scoring from the 40 on an interception in the flat. KO ties up the score 14 – 14 with 2:05 left in the 1st.
Travis Arthur makes defense stops on the next 3 plays with help from Collin Russell. Spring punts; KO punts; Hughes picks up where he left off with another smashing tackle for no gain which leads to another punt by the Lions……… a fake punt and the Lions pick up a 1st down. Plays on defense by Arthur (again), Tyler Jones and Jaime Garcia cause some trouble for Spring but they score again away. 21 – 14 the Lions lead again. The last drive of the half for Oak is frustrated by penalties plays are made then called back. Time runs out in the 2nd quarter.
The second half starts and Hughes is back wrecking havick on the Lions offense. Punts by both teams and its 1 and 10 for the Lions on their own 42 yard line, one play 58 yards later and Spring leads 28 – 14. With 7:21 left in the 3rd the Panthers are down 14 …. time to get with it!!! On the return Trey Payne makes a huge move, breaks tackles and returns the kick off to the Spring 16 yard line. Oak goes for it on 4th and 4 but doesn’t convert. Spring takes over on downs. Spring is 3 and out after a TFL by AJ Hilliard and D linemen Marcus McClendon and John Lewis.
KO offense is back on the field with a 1 and 10 on the 41 after a long return by Waites. The ‘O’ Line (Greg Flores, Bottoms, Denny, Justin Moreno and J. Jones) give Wilson plenty of time to throw and he hits Waites in traffic for a 24 yard pick up. A couple plays later and Baratti dashes in from the 8 to make the score 28 – 21 after the Shroble extra point. As the 4th quarter starts Oak gets a call from the guys in stripes taking away a long Lion TD. On a 3rd and 3 Payne makes a super fine solo tackle in the flat for no gain to force a punt.
The Panthers have another shot to tie the score..…. the offense picks up a couple first downs then is forced to punt again. Shroble pounds one deep. The coverage team is thundering towards the return man, the ball is juggled, bobbled then fumbled and Hughes pounces on the loose ball (like Man versus Wild catching the evening meal). Trying something new a reverse is called. Baratti takes off on a sweep left then flips the ball to Waites headed in the other direction. Wilson and Starr make huge down-field blocks and Waites scores from the 27; tying the score at 28. 6 minutes and 41 seconds remain in the 4th; 56 seconds later and Spring scores another TD. 35 to 28 the Lions lead again.
Over the next 2 minutes Wilson hooks up with Baratti for 15 then Stevenson twice for big gains (one for 43 yards), Fatu picks up a much needed first down on a blast up the middle. And with 3:47 on the clock Wilson scores on a QB keeper from the 2 following great line play by the big boys on the ‘O’ line. Tied up again 35 each. Spring comes back. Saving tackles by Demetrich Gilliam, Lewis, Payne, Arthur, Russell and Luke Muncie force a field goal by the Lions. Spring leads again 38 – 35 with 43 seconds on the clock.
The Panthers will not be denied. A hitch and ladder is called…… didn’t / doesn’t work. So Wilson tells Waites to go deeeeeep. The ‘O’ - LINE gives Wilson everything he needs, time stands still, Wilson launches a 59 yard bomb, Waites beats the corner streaking down the middle, the ball floats in (a perfect pass) and is caught over a stretched out defender. First and goal on the 7 Wilson to Waites again; OAK scores again to take the lead for good (Shroble kicks the extra point). Time runs out on the Lions. OAK wins!!!
Klein Oak nails down another come from behind win with 21 fourth quarter points. The final score is KO 42 and Spring 38. Westfield is on deck for next week and OakNation will be ready. OAK’ em!!!
