Lions drop heartbreaker to Raiders Clint Davis Livingston -After a night of ups and downs it all came down to one drive for the Livingston Lions with 3:29 left in the game and trailing by a touchdown the Lions took over seventy yards away from tying it up and they traveled sixty six before running out of time and dropping their district opener 42-35.
The Lions took the opening kickoff and moved smartly down the field for the score and 7-0 lead thanks mostly to the legs of Quinton Jackson.
The visitors from Lumberton wasted no time in answering the Lions, scoring on a 23 yd pass and with 7:21 left in the first quarter the game was tied 7-7.
Early in the second quarter the Raiders took the lead on 21 yard touchdown toss to the left front corner of the end zone where Antonio White was providing the coverage on just a well thrown pass.
Moments later Quinton Jackson broke free on a long run but was caught at the five and stripped of the ball a Raider tried scoop it up and bobbled it again KeKe Johnson came out of nowhere to pounce on the ball setting the Lions up deep in Raider territory where seconds later they tied the score 14-14 on two yard KeKe Johnson run.
The second half of football was a test of will for the Lions and once again they proved that a Livingston Lion football team will not quit. After a Raider 55 yard punt return for a touchdown the Lions found themselves down 28-14 with 4:45 left play in the third quarter. As the fourth quarter began KeKe Johnson took a pitch out and went 25 yards for the score to pull the Lions within a seven with a whole quarter left to play.
The Raiders answered quickly extending their lead once again to 14 with 10:05 left in the game. Several Lions fans led by Gary Don Murphy took the opportunity to head for the exits with the situation looking hopeless, the Livingston Lions proved once again to be warriors that never quit. Quinton Jackson would keep the Lions in this thing until the end after breaking off a 55 yd ramble he took it in himself from one yard out and the Lions were within a score with 8:02 left to play. Then came the surprising play of the night when Jared Hoover executed a perfect onside kick that was recovered by Ryan McClain and the Lions were in business with just under eight minutes left to play. Greg Johnson streaked into the end zone at the 4:59 mark the Lions had came all the way back to tie the game at 35 with only minutes remaining. The Raiders didn't need much time scoring on a reverse play that covered 50 yards leaving the Lions down by 7 once again and only 3:29 left to play. The Lions then embarked on one last drive relying on grit and guts and Quinton Jackson they moved all the way down to Raider four and on fourth down with only six seconds left to play Jackson was stopped short of the goal line turning it over on downs to the Raiders. Quinton Jackson led all rushersunofficially 271 yards and a couple of touchdowns Quinton is well on his way to shattering the single season Lion rushing record piling up over 600 yards in just four games. The Lions will be in Beaumont next Friday night to battle the Ozen Panthers who are 1-0 in district following an overtime win over Nederland. The Livingston Lions gave it everything they had tonightthese young men go out their every Friday night and lay it all on the line for this town so let's lay it all on the line for them and tell Dr. Meyers and the school board that they have our supportto build these boys a stadium they can proud of.
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