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| Out for the season: The Lions are missing the services of Defensive End, Kade Burman. |
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Vidor Humbles Livingston in Lopsided Affair, VIDOR, November 3, 2012 - Well, the soaring Lions who already clinched a playoff berth were brought back to earth by a Vidor running game that left tracks all over the Lion defense. The Lion offense only managed to score 14 points (defense scored 1 TD), while the Pirate offense put up 42 points. The problem was that our defense had absolutely no answer to the Vidor running game. The Pirates ran the ball so well that they didn't even need to pass. Every time I looked up, either the Pirate quarterback or one of their running backs were running the ball on a sweep and sweeping right through our defense. In fact, their running games swept the Lion defense right out of their stadium.
The Basic Rundown...
First Quarter: Vidor runs ball in on QB keeper. Pirates 7, Lions 0
Second Quarter: With 6 minutes remaining, Vidor runs for a TD on another QB keeper Pirates 14, Lions 0. With 3 minutes remaining, Vidor RB takes a handoff and runs in from 23 yards. Pirates 21, Lions 0. With just 20 seconds remaining in the half, Lions QB Chevoski Collins runs a TD on a QB keeper from 9 yards out. Pirates 21, Lions 7.
Third Quarter: Shining moment for Lion D: Chevoski Collins scoops up a Vidor Fumble and runs in for a TD from 30 yards out. Pirates 21, Lions 14. At this point, I was feeling a sense of hope (but my sense of euphoria would soon quickly evaporate). With 8 minutes remaining in the third quarter, Vidor ran in another TD. Pirates 28, Lions 14. With 3:40 remaining in the 3rd, Lion RB Marquise Thomas ran in a TD from 2 yards out. Pirates 28, Lions 21. With 1:37 remaining, the Vidor QB ran in a TD from 5 yards out. Vidor 34, Lions 21.
Fourth Quarter: With 4:24 remaining, Vidor defense sacks Lion QB Chevoski Collins at the Lion 1 yard line. The Pirates scored on the very next play.
Final Score: Pirates 42, Lions 21
In all fairness to the Lions, they actually scored the first touchdown of the game, but the refs saw a phantom pass interference? See our play of the week and you decide. Honestly, I see no interference at all. This robbed the Lions of momentum that they brought out. The Pirates ended up getting the ball and scored a TD a short time later. Having said that, bad calls, unfortunately are part of the game. The Lions have to be able to bounce back from bad calls. The Pirates just played harder than the Lions and beat us in all facets of this game. The defense was the most glaring weekness. What the Pirates did in the first half, they continued right on doing in the second half. It appeared that the Lion defense didn't attempt to make any adjustments for the Vidor outside running game that was cleaning our clock out. If I take an optimistic view of this, maybe this is just what the doctor ordered for the Lions who will soon find themselves in the playoffs. Maybe the Lions needed someone to bloody their nose so perhaps they'll be a little tougher for the playoffs. I dont' know. Next week the Lions will be back in the Lion's Den to play the hapless PNG Indians. The Lions should be able to win this one and go into the post season on a positive note.
Willie P. Openshaw
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