The Herald Banner, Greenville, TX

Sports

November 21, 2009

Lone Oak comes up short in playoff rally

By Staley Cash

WAXAHACHIE — Despite an exciting fourth-quarter comeback, the Lone Oak Buffaloes bowed out of the area round of the state playoffs on Friday night losing to the McGregor Bulldogs 21-14.

The sloppy weather did not help matters as the Buffs lost five turnovers, including one that the Bulldogs returned for their first touchdown making the score 7-0 early.

A steady rain made it difficult for both teams to hold on to the football in the first quarter, but the Bulldogs put together a 45-yard scoring drive that was capped with Sean Chappell running the ball in from the 6-yard line making the score 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The Buffs drove the ball 64 yards to the 1-yard line on their first drive of the second quarter. A fumble gave the Bulldogs the ball back on their 2-yard line. The Buffalo defense held strong, led by Trey Malone who blocked the Bulldog punt, allowing Lone Oak to take over on the Bulldogs’ four. Lasseter tried hard to get his Buffs on the board but was stopped short again inside the 1-yard line on fourth down. The half ended with the score 14-0.

It was more of the same in the third for both teams. Neither team could score, trading punts and turnovers.

With 7:44 left in the game, McGregor's Chappell got loose again, this time on a 21-yard touchdown run. This made the score 21-0 and it looked like the Buffaloes were going to be shut out.

With 8:13 left in the fourth quarter the Lone Oak offense finally came alive. The Buffs put together a 70-yard drive that included the old swinging gate play which Trenton Overly took 25 yards for a first down. That set up Lasseter, who found Levi Jordan on a 6-yard strike to put the Buffs on the board. Micah Cano hit his extra point making the score 21-7 with 5:28 left in the game.

On the ensuing kickoff, Cano executed a perfect onside kick which Devonta Cooper recovered, giving Lone Oak the ball back at the 45. An incomplete pass, a fumble, a delay of game penalty and a rush for no gain put the Buffs in a fourth down situation. This time, from the Wildcat formation, Overly took the snap, passed to Lasseter, who then passed back to Overly, who took the ball 27 yards for a first down, giving the Buffs new life. Two passes later, Lasseter hit Jordan again on a 17-yard touchdown pass. Cano's PAT made the score 21-14 with 3:50 left in the game.

Another onside kick attempt was recovered, this time by the Bulldogs, and they went to work on the clock, but Malone came up with a big third-down stop. The Bulldogs tried to fake the punt but still could not convert .

Starting from the Bulldog 38, with 1:39 left and no time outs, Lasseter was forced to go to the deep ball. His third-and-10 pass was picked off, allowing the Bulldogs to run out the rest of the clock and take the area championship.

The Buffaloes finished their season with a 9-3 record. McGregor stayed undefeated at 12-0.

Lasseter finished 13-of-30 passing, 214 yards and two TDs. Jordan caught six passes for 93 yards. Overly hauled in nine passes for 90 yards. Cooper had 86 yards of total offense.

Malone and Cooper led the Buffalo defense with six tackles each.

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