Head Coach Randy Rowe talks to a ref Saturday night in Beaumont.
Lions Fall to Beaumont Ozen, WHAT?, Lions Fall to Beaumont Ozen, BEAUMONT, October 23, 2011 - Okay, first let me get this off my chest, Kevin did give me a Lions shirt a few years ago (it was too small, but in all fairness to Kevin, he tried), my apologies to my friend, Kevin. Alright, the Livingston Lions went to the Thomas Center in Beaumont (second time this year) and played nearly a brilliant first half of football. The offense was firing on all cylinders and the Lions were taking care of business. The defense held the Panthers to 13 points in the first half. I know that's not perfect but it's acceptable when you consider the Lions were up by over 2 touchdowns at halftime. In that nice first half, the Lion running game was wreaking its usual havoc on its opponent. Antonio White, Marquise Thomas and Quarterback Chevoski Collins were nearly unstoppable. White got things rolling early on the first series as he sprinted for a 40 yard gainer putting the Lions deep in Panther territory, that set up the first touchdown. Collins scored all four of the Lions' touchdowns (one was a quarterback keeper for 49 yards). At halftime the score was Lions 28, Ozen 13. I felt satisfied knowing that the Lions would come out in the second half and either turn it into a lopsided affair, or at least do enough to preserve their lead and win the game.
Second Half... Hmmmm...I don't know. Is it just me, or did the Lions seem flat? If you go by halves, in the second half, the Lions laid a big 'ol goose egg. They scored ZERO points while allowing the panthers to score a safety and two TDs. Not one touchdown. Not even a field goal. The final score was Panthers 29, Lions 28. 1 point. To be slightly more specific, I don't know what the Panther coach told his team, but the Panthers seemed to make adjustments for the second half, and Lions adjusted nothing. The Panthers came out and started stuffing our run, while they in turn had a couple of good running backs, especially number 1, Jacoby Jones (no, not that Jacoby Jones, Ozen's Jones is better). If we get to the playoffs, it makes me wonder what's going to happen when a team (like Nederland) stuffs our running game and we have to rely on passing to get things going (that's all I'm going to say about that).
Glaring Thoughts on This Game... It's one thing to lose to Nederland, after all Nederland boasts a top rated defense. But Ozen?...Ozzzzzennn? Come on! It's easier to accept a loss from a team that you know is legitimately good, but honestly, I (and probably the majority of high school observers in East Texas) don't think that Beaumont Ozen is that good. Maybe we just sort of went into auto-pilot in the second half. Maybe we made the mistake of taking Ozen too lightly (after all it would be easy to take Ozen lightly). Maybe we were sleep walking. And what about 1 point. Had we scored even a field goal, based on the numbers, we win. Surely we could've scored one more touchdown. Right? On Ozen?
So far I've observed two firsts this season. This year was the first time we beat Lumberton since moving into this district, and then we turn around 1 week later and lose to Beaumont Ozen (first time losing to Ozen).
Next game is Friday night at 7:30 in the Lions Den against Little Cypress-Mauriceville. There's a couple of demons that need to be exorcised in that game. I believe the Lions will bounce back and regain their form. There's only 2 regular season games left before the playoffs. Come on out and cheer on our town's boys.
Willie Openshaw, Editor
Antonio White rips off a 45 yard gainer on the Lions' first possession.
Quarterback Chevoski Collins is a threat to run on every play.
Makin it look easy: Collins steps into the endzone on a short run.
Chevoski Collins was a scoring machine in the first half as he ran in each Lions toucdown, this one was a 49 yard QB keeper.
Marquise Thomas runs for 25 yards.
Collins again, another TD.
Antonio White is one of the smaller players on the field, but is consistently a tormentor to opposing defenses.
One cut and he's gone. Ozen's Jacoby Jones leaves Lion defenders in the dust as he cruises to a touchdown in the second half.
Lions dogpile an Ozen ball carrier.
Defensive End Kade Burman leaps high trying to block a punt.
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