It started with a kickoff return for a touchdown, but included a blocked punt, blocked extra point, a down played beyond the chains, a pass completed with a referee's whistle blown during the play, and two personal foul calls that somehow only accounted for eight total yards.
Friday night's game had a little bit of everything, except a win for the home crowd. Livingston football fought until the end, but dropped its first game of the season in a 29-23 contest versus Class 5A Nacogdoches.
“I'm happy we didn't have any quit in us,” Lion coach Tucker Carter said. “I didn't think effort was an issue and we were playing really hard. It was a good wake-up call for us. We need to go into the open week and be hungry and want to get better. We're optimistic moving forward, but obviously, that was a tough one to swallow.”
Livingston (2-1) began the game with a 90-yard touchdown on the opening kickoff. Jose Olivares raced down the sideline, outrunning a final defender who had an angle on him.
On their next possession, Lion kicker Luis Trevino split the uprights on a 24-yard field goal to go up, 10-0.
The Livingston defense again held for three plays. On fourth down, freshman quarterback Jaylan Garrett (18-22, 299 yards, 2 TDs) was pressured and fighting off a Lion defender attached to his sleeve. He was able to break loose and appeared to cross the line of scrimmage by two yards before tossing a completion for a first down. The Dragons would finish the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by R.J. Whitaker.
Midway through the second quarter, Garrett tossed a bomb to Micah Lockett (6 catches, 122 yards, 2 TDs). The senior took it the rest of the way for a 56-yard touchdown to put Nacogdoches in front, 14-10.
To answer, Livingston marched for 10 plays in four and a half minutes. Lion quarterback Tyler Soza (188 passing yards, 2 total TDs) hooked up with Ziekus Garner (7-71, TD) on a fade route in the corner of the end zone. The extra point was blocked, but the home team had another lead at 16-14.
It wouldn't last long. The ensuing kickoff was returned to the 16-yard line, and one play later, tailback Trae Page (16 carries, 95 yards, TD) scampered in for six points.
Kicking off to begin the second half, the Lions’ special teams again came up big, recovering a fumble on the Nacogdoches 36-yard line. It took just three snaps for Soza to sneak in from a yard out.
“We've been emphasizing playing with great effort on special teams and changing the game,” Carter said. “We've been doing a good job of being opportunistic and creating turnovers, we just have to cash in when we get them. I am proud of the kids on there as far as embracing being on special teams. It has to continue to be a weapon for us and not just a phase of the game we throw out there. Every day, we work it and emphasize effort and getting to the ball and trying to create havoc.”
The Dragons (2-1) would respond one last time. Again, it was Lockett, and this time it was 37 yards. With 5:46 to go in the third quarter, it would be the last points of the game.
The final four drives for Livingston resulted in three punts and an interception.
“You have to give them credit. That is a very athletic, physical football team. We knew with their defense that we would have our hands full. I thought we moved it well at times. The defense played really, really hard, but there were too many self-inflicted wounds. That's really what it comes down to. We have to be more disciplined down the stretch if we want to win games.”
Next up on the schedule will be another home contest, as Hardin-Jefferson comes to Polk County. With a bye week before district play begins, the Lions will have some time to prepare for the Hawks.
“We will continue to work on our core values of being tough, resilient and having a mindset that adversity is going to happen, but we've got to stay together when it happens. We cannot have people doing selfish stuff. I think we've got a good group and it got a little chippy tonight, but I expected that. We've got a lot to work on, but we'll get it cleaned up and we'll be ready.”
