Coach Shelton continues historic career with 300th win
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Updated: October 18, 2008
The Hays Consolidated Rebels and the Lockhart Lions entered Friday's game with a lot on the line for each. The Rebels were looking at a chance to not only improve their standing in district 17-4A, but were looking to give head coach Bob Shelton his 300th career win. For the Lockhart Lions, a team that only managed one win all of last year, it was a chance to not only get their 5th win of the season, but put themselves in a position to shock most of the state by winning their district.
The opening drive saw the Lions move from their own 24 yard line deep into Rebels territory largely on the running of Dominique Hardaway before the Hays Consolidated defense stiffened up and forced a turnover on downs. Hays responded by driving 61 yards and capping it off with a 19 yd TD run by Torrence Smith. The missed extra point attempt put Hays up 7-0 with 5:19 remaining in the opening quarter.
Again, Hardaway paced Lockhart to a series of first downs before Zachary Leija was caught in the backfield on a pitch. The loss forced the Lions to punt. Taking over the ball on their own 48, the Rebels scored on their second play when QB Trey Berry scampered 51 yards for the score. The two-point conversion extended the lead to 15-0.
Dominique Hardaway began their third possession just as he did the previous two with large gains and a series of first downs. Hardaway reached the milestone of 1,000 yards rushing within minutes of starting the game, but it was Kory Robbins that punched it in for the Lions first score from 9 yards out. The PAT put the Lions on the board, down 14-6 with 5:57 left in the first half.
The Rebels' Trey Berry again started where he left off, running for 30 yards on the first play of the next drive. A couple of incomplete passes deep forced Hays to punt. Lockhart took over with 4:25 remaining in the half. The plodding offense of the Lions looked as though it had no chance of scoring on an 84 yard drive until Richard Ybarra busted a 39 yarder that brought them to within 25. Kory Robbins (RB/LB) brought it down to the 12, but with just 50 seconds remaining, and only one timeout left, it looked unlikely that Lockhart would score. Tyler Tolley's pass to the 1 yard line was intercepted by Kyle Wirth and was returned to the Lion's 48 yard line.
The very next play saw Lockhart return the favor with an interception on their own 10. A kneel-down saw the half end with the score Hays Consolidated 14 - Lockhart 7. For the first half Lockhart led in total yardage 305 to 219 for Hays.
The second half began with a three-and-out by Hays Consolidated followed by a 52 yard drive by Lockhart which was capped off with a 32 yard Richard Ybarra score. The extra point tied the game 14 all with 6:28 remaining in the 3rd.
The Rebels were unable to mount an effective drive and turned the ball back to the Lions. Lockhart burst down the field on a 67 yard Richard Ybarra run and a 3 yard TD by Dominique Hardaway. The PAT was missed as Lockhart took the lead, 20-14 with 3:34 in the 3rd.
In response, QB Sam Breyfogle opened their next drive with a 19 yard run for Hays. A quick pass from Breyfogle to Anthony Pesina brought them down to the Lockhart 24. Facing 4th and 5 on the Lions' 19, Breyfogle passed for the first, but it was called back on illegal procedure. Fourth and 10 saw the Breyfogle once again step up and pass for 13 yard to the Lions 11 yard line. After four tries for the endzone, the Rebels came up short, leaving the ball to turn over on downs at the 10. The third quarter ended with the Lions driving.
When forced to punt, the Lions were the recipients of a roughing the kicker call that gave them a first down and continued their drive. Again, the plodding and confident offense of Lockhart burned an enormous amount of time off the final quarter - they punted from their 39 with 7:05 remaining the game. Hays took over with the ball 81 yards from the endzone and just 6:47 to go. The Rebels faced 4th and 2 on their own 27 and made the all-important first down by inches. Again and again, Hays Consolidated kept the drive alive until Trace Gandy shocked the stadium with a 60 yard touchdown run . The PAT gave the Rebels the lead 21-20 with just 2:42 remaining in the game.
All out of miracles, the Lockhart Lions opened their last-chance drive with an interception which sealed Coach Bob Shelton's 300th win.
Coach Shelton is already in the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame and this win makes him only the 7th person in the history of Texas high school football to reach that mark. His 45 years of coaching in the same school district has not only led to this impressive number of wins, but has made him an institution in the Kyle/Buda area.
Chris Doelle
