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| Running Back Damion Collins scores on a 68 yard touchdown run for the Lions' only score of the game. |
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Lions Fall to Nederland Bulldogs, NEDERLAND, October 6, 2012 - The Livingston Lions went to Nederland on Friday night and faced what many are calling the best team in our district; The Nederland Bulldogs. When the final seconds ticked off the game clock, there was no reason to think otherwise. The Bulldogs are the best team in our district (at least so far). Why not the Lions? There's no logical reason why the Livingston Lions shouldn't be the team to beat (no reason other than the Lions continue to beat themselves). In the first half of this game, the Lions showed the Dogs that they were the real deal. The first half was a defensive struggle that saw the Dogs score first with a touchdown with 8 minutes remaining in the first half. For the most part, the defense was doing its job and stuffing the Nederland Bulldogs' offense. Only moments later, the Lions struck back when Damion Collins scored a touchdown for the Lions on a 63 yard touchdown run. The half ended with the Bulldogs 7, Lions 7. In the second half, the Lions went into hurt self mode. Following a Chevoski Collins interception, the Lions were knocking on the door of scoring their second touchdown of the game that would've put them ahead, but a Lion fumble (on the 3 yard line) on a running play snuffed out what would've put the lions up by a touchdown and had momentum going in their favor. The next crucial error came when the Lions were punting out of their own endzone, and the snap sailed over the head of the punter. The punter tried to corral the ball, but the ball went out of the back of the endzone for a safety. Bulldogs 9, Lions 7 (with 6:30 left in the 3rd quarter). The next crucial error came pretty much throughout the second half, when the Lions defense who had been stuffing the Bulldog offense in the first half, suddenly couldn't stop Nederland's running back (# 24, Kendrick Hopkins). Hopkins was slashing off large chunks of real estate against the Lions' defense. I'm no expert, but how does a defense go from stuffing a runner to suddenly letting him eat your defense alive? Anyway, let's finish this painful column up. The Bulldogs scored another touchdown late in the 3rd quarter Dogs 16, Lions 7. The Bulldogs scored one more touchdown in the 4th quarter, Bulldogs 23, Lions 7.
The Lions should be the best team in this district, but they're not (and it's their own fault). Until the Lions learn to stop the mental errors (like the multiple fumbles I counted by the Lions in this game) then there'll always be a team (like the Nederland Bulldogs) who is ready and willing to capitalize on the Lions' mistakes. Final score, Bulldogs 23, Lions 7.
Still no reason to panic...
This Lions team is a good team and I believe that they'll be ready for Beaumont Ozen in the Lions Den on Friday Night. I believe the Lions will make the playoffs. I'll stop there (for now).
Willie P. Openshaw, Editor
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