Vidor- Quinton Jackson took the ball on a wrap around draw and raced 46 yards to the end zone giving the Lions an early 7 point lead, but were unable to slow down the Pirate ground attack falling 28-14 ending their season.
The pirates tied the score early in the 2nd period on a 10 yard Pittman touchdown run then recovered an onside kick that swung the momentum decidedly in their favor.
Livingston's offenseplagued all night by Pirate penetration were unable to muster anything on their next drive allowing the Pirates the opportunity to get a score just before the half. The Pirates took a 21-7 lead to the locker room.
Give the Lions a lot of credit, playing for their playoff lives the Lions took the 2nd half kickoff and willed their way deep into Pirate territory. Quinton Jackson who carried the ball 16 times for 172 yards was popped hard inside the 20 loosing the football and ending the Lion threat.
The Lion defense struggled to slow down the bigger Vidor offense but delivered a jarring blow knocking the ball free keeping the Lion hopes alive. DeDe Rushing scooped up the ball and headed for the end zone, but an unexplainable whistle had blown killing the play and preventing a Lion score.
The Lions were unable to capitalize on the turnover givingthe ball back to Vidor who added an early 4th period score to take a 28-7 lead.
Lesser football teams may have mailed it in at this point, but not these Livingston Lions, Quinton Jacksonburst through the line of scrimmage going 54 yards for the score keeping the Lions in the game at 28-14.
A perfectly executed onside kick was recovered by Livingston and the never say die Lions still had a shot.
Quinton Jackson broke off another big run, lumbering deep into Pirate territory and the Vidor faithful suddenly seemed concerned.
A 4th down pass fell incomplete and time had finally ran out on the 2009 Livingston Lions.
Few events in life are more painful than watching the final few seconds tick off the clock ending your high school football career. Just remember this is not the end it is only the beginning. The pain will ease with time and you will be able to look back with pride at the great things the Livingston Lions have achieved on the football field.
To the seniors who love the game, seize the moment follow in the foot steps of Dustin Harris, IssacCrawford, Andrew Boyce, and Corey Dickerson, go play college football and make us all proud.
To the underclassman the 2010 season starts Monday,you have the talent to do great things over the next couple of years don’t squander it.
It has been a great pleasure covering this 2009 football team. The Lions are always winners in my book.
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