Smithson Valley Edges Hendrickson Late
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Updated: September 2, 2017
Home Teams Falls to 0-2 at The Pfield
In the second-ever football game at the Pfield Friday night, the Pflugerville Hendrickson Hawks hosted the Smithson Valley Rangers. Hendrickson entered the game looking to bounce back from a 3-7 season last year. While the Hawks did make the playoffs, they lost in the UIL 6A Division 1 Bi-district round to Austin Bowie. On the other side, Smithson Valley was looking to build on last year’s success when they finished the season at 8-3. The Rangers also reached the 6A Division 1 playoffs and lost in the third round to eventual state champion Lake Travis. While lightning forced the cancellation of last year’s game, this year’s contest finished as a nail-biter.
Hendrickson opened the scoring when senior wide receiver Thomas Williams scored on a 12-yard touchdown catch to put the Hawks up 7-0. On the ensuing drive, Smithson Valley drove the ball to the Hendrickson seven-yard line. However, the Hendrickson defense stiffened; and the Rangers were forced to settle for a 40-yard field goal by junior kicker Mason Reid early in the second quarter. After the Rangers’ defense forced the Hawks to punt, junior running back Nick Akin gave the Rangers the lead going into halftime with a one-yard touchdown run. The run capped off a ten-play 56-yard drive.
Despite trailing at halftime, the Hawks wasted little time taking the lead to open the third quarter. Junior quarterback Adam Cousins opened the drive with a 76-yard quarterback keeper, and junior running back Dre Conley scored on a two-yard touchdown on the next play. Smithson Valley blocked the extra-point attempt to keep the score at 13-10. Smithson Valley started the ensuing drive with good field position at their own 48-yard line, but junior defensive tackle Makody Robertson intercepted a deflected pass. Despite getting the ball deep in Ranger territory, the Hawks’ offense was unable to capitalize on the turnover and turned the ball over on downs.
Early in the fourth quarter, Hendrickson added to their lead when junior running back Timieone Jackson scored on a 39-yard touchdown run. The Hawks’ special teams, however, botched the ensuing kickoff and set Smithson Valley up at the Rangers’ 46-yard line. After a pass-interference penalty and a fourth-down conversion, junior quarterback Levi Williams cut the Rangers’ deficit to 20-17 on an eight-yard keeper. Hendrickson tried to run as much time as possible off the clock, but they were forced to punt and give the ball back to Smithson Valley with 2:48 left. Levi Williams and senior wide receiver Trevon Moehrig-Williams then drove the ball methodically all the way to the Hendrickson 28-yard line. With under 30 seconds to go on fourth and nine at the Hendrickson 27-yard line, Rangers’ head coach Larry Hill elected to go for the win rather than the tie; and his gamble paid off. Levi Williams found a hole in the Hendrickson coverage and connected with senior wide receiver Ricky Rios to give the Rangers a 24-20 win.
Next week, Hendrickson will travel to Belton to take on the Belton Tigers. The Tigers are 0-1 following a 38-31 loss to their crosstown rivals, the Temple Wildcats. Smithson Valley will return home to host Austin Anderson. The Trojans are 0-1 following a 48-28 loss to their rivals the Austin McCallum Knights in the Taco Shack Bowl.
by Steve Thomas
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