Livingston played its final game in Lion Stadium Friday while dropping a district contest to Vidor, 56-17.
The Vidor (6-3, 4-1) Slot-T offense would be too much, amassing 439 rushing yards. The output was consistent, producing 14 points in each quarter. They needed just one pass in the game, on their first offensive play, a completion for 10 yards.
The Lions (4-5, 1,3) started in a hole, as Vidor would take the opening kickoff 95 yards for a 7-0 lead 13 seconds into the game.
The home team had an answer, as they would methodically drive downfield. In nine plays, the Lions moved 75 yards in 4:25 to tie it. Taylor Haynes had the score on a 22-yard touchdown, where he broke multiple tackles.
After forcing a turnover on downs, the Lions once again were marching. Falling short of the end zone this time, they settled for a 45-yard field goal from Dorian Ortiz, giving them the lead at 10-7.
The first half was littered with flags. The Bucs had just two penalties for the half, but Livingston suffered through 11 for 102 yards. For the game, they drew 15 penalties for 144 yards.
Vidor would need just five plays to regain the advantage at 14-10, scoring on a 22-yard run of their own.
Midway through the second quarter, the Slot-T was back on the field at the 50 yard line. A fumbled snap was picked up by defensive end Zayden Martin, who returned it all the way for a Lion lead at 17-14. The Lions looked to be offsides on the play, one of the few where a flag was not thrown.
Vidor would score on every possession that followed. Meanwhile, the Lion efforts ended in three punts, a missed field goal, turnover on downs, interception, and the final play of the game that was run to the Pirate 1 yard line.
“I don't know what the penalty count was, but it's extremely hard to sustain drives when it's a holding call or blocking in the back every third play, so that was frustrating,” Livingston coach Tucker Carter said. “I thought we held up well in the first half and then came out, went three-and-out on offense, and gave the ball right back to them. It was tough, but they’re a good group.”
Quarterback Jax Ruiz was 4-for-8 with 39 yards in his first eight passes. In his final eight attempts, he was 1-for-8 for one yard. He did gain 56 yards on the ground.
Haynes led the ground game with 93 yards on 11 carries. Zyleer King had 74 yards in eight totes, and Hunter Carr had 50 yards on 10 attempts. Uriah Tatum led receivers with 32 yards on three grabs.
