After leading by seven points at the half, then trailing by 21late, Panthers bounced back to regain the lead and the game
Spring – A game that sent fans into limbo, boiled down to a matter of who would make the last stop and the last play.
Junior defensive back Jared Morgan intercepted a pass in overtime and wide receiver Eugene Estes caught the game winning 20-yard touchdown reception from Quarterback Jordan Davis to lift the Klein Oak Panthers over the Langham Creek Lobos 63-56 in a play-off like atmosphere Friday night at Klein Memorial Stadium.
The victory gives the Panthers a (1-0, 0-0) record while the Lobos fall to (0-1, 0-0).
On the second play from scrimmage, in the first overtime, Morgan dropped back into coverage and intercepted Lobo’s star Quarterback Connor Feist to end the game. Moments before that, it took the Panthers four plays to find the end zone when Estes reeled in a twenty yard touchdown catch from Davis.
“They had some guys that make some plays,” says Langham Creek coach Todd Thompson. They made one more than we did.”
Davis 37-yard TD pass to Kahlil Frazier made overtime possible. That tied the score at 56, after Kicker Marcus Ripley’s extra point, and a minute left in regulation.
“These kids believe in there selves,” said Klein Oak coach David Smith. We had no business coming back winning it, but more importantly the spirit and the chemistry is more than X’s and O’s.”
Langham Creek trailed 28-21 with less than eight minutes left in the third quarter. But, the Panthers misfortune turned into a Lobo feast. Following three shanked punts, two which setup great field position at the Klein Oak’s 23. This led to, 21 unanswered Lobo points, increasing the score, 42-28 early in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, with time becoming of the essence, the Panthers responded with an impressive six-play, 99-yard scoring drive, capped on Jordan Davis five yard toss to junior running back Larenzo Stewart, which made the score, 42-34 after Ripley’s blocked extra point.
Then the Lobo’s return the favor when Feist fumbled deep in its territory, opening up the window of opportunity, as the Panthers capped a three-play 18 yard touchdown drive on Davis ten-yard touchdown run.
In the first quarter, Klein Oak who piled up 551 total yards, drove 75 yards to grab a 7-0 lead after running back Jaylon Brown caught a 7-yard scoring pass from quarterback Michael Trotter. Trotter rotated quarterback duties with Davis who spent the last two years in Chicago.
Davis who had life-long dreams of playing under the Friday night lights in Texas high school football had a sparkling evening, finishing 15-of-20 for 296 yards and five touchdowns.
Not long after, the Lobo’s got going, moving the ball 57 yards, tying the score at seven on Feist’s ten-yard strike to wide out Caleb Hobbs and Tucker’s extra point.
Feist known for his pocket passing, didn’t hesitate to use his feet, scoring five rushing touchdowns, including 5,5,1,3 and 4 yards. He was 19-of-41 passing, for 267 yards, a touchdown and one interception.
By halftime, both teams combined for 48 points with Klein Oak holding a 28-21 lead.
“In my coaching career, I went the defensive route and was really the defensive specialist. What does that say about me, 56 points put on us,” Coach Smith said with a laugh.
“I knew both teams had offensive weapons, but I didn’t expect this many points. I was telling our defense, lets stop them, make them work for everything and don’t give up anything cheap,” coach Todd Thompson said.
The teams were nearly identical in terms of offensive style and the type of plays ran. The spread.
