The Skyline Newspaper

The Lobos converge on a Mississippi Choctaw offensive player. Photo by Jason Hennington

Football Bids Farewell to 2007 Season Against Mississippi; Lose 56-35

By Steve Lang
News and Publications

At game's end, two teams -- along with coaches, fans and alumni -- had left everything on the playing field…
...including mutual respect and well-wishing.

Despite a 56-35 setback, Sul Ross State University head coach Steve Wright called Saturday's contest with Mississippi College "on of the most wholesome amateur athletic contest I've been involved with, after a second quarter that about got out of control in a team, combative sport."

The Choctaws, who finished the season 8-2, jumped to a 28-0 first quarter lead, then weathered a furious second-half Lobo rally. Sul Ross, ending the year 5-5, 3-5 in the ASC, twice closed within 13 points in the third quarter before MC pulled away.

A penalty-laden contest saw 20 flags dropped for 308 yards, including 12 for 120 against the winners. Many of the infractions came at crucial moments, including a highly-disputed offside call on Sul Ross that killed late first half momentum. Trailing 35-15, the Lobos seemingly corralled an onside kick, only to have the play nullified. The change of possession resulted in a one-play, 35-yard drive for the Choctaws, giving them a 42-15 intermission edge.

"The officiating had both teams in an uproar at the officials," said Wright. "On the positive side, both teams played hard-nosed, clean football. They knocked the stuffing out of each other, but five minutes after the game, fans, alumni and coaches from both sides gathered on the field to congratulate the players. The sportsmanship displayed in this game embodies what D-III football is all about..."

MC amassed 482 passing yards, including six touchdown strikes by Adam Shaffer, three to Marcus Terry and two to Allen. Barker added a pair of scoring runs.

T J Barber, Midland, who ended his Sul Ross career with school records of touchdowns (42) and rushing yards (3,898), tallied the Lobos' first points on a 16-yard run with 47 seconds left in the first quarter. Mike Van Wagner, Bandera, booted the first of three extra points.

After Terry hauled in a 58-yard strike from Shaffer for a 35-7 score with 4:26 left in the half, Austin Davidson, Hallsville, shuffled seven yards to the end zone with 1:34 left. His pass to Jesse Gonzalez for the two-point conversion cut the gap to 35-15.

The onside kick recovery was negated on the ensuing kickoff, and the change of possession moved the ball from the MC 45 to the SR 35. Shaffer hit Allen for the score on the first snap.

Sul Ross refused to wilt, though, and dominated the third quarter. Barber began the comeback with a 30-yard touchdown blast with 12:22 left, and Cameron Holliness, Royce City, plunged two yards with 1:55 left. Van Wagner converted both extra points, narrowing the deficit to 42-29.

A bad snap on a punt gave the Choctaws possession at the Lobo 24 early in the fourth quarter, and Shaffer found Terry for a scoring strike on the first play. Zach Gideon, Hallsville, blocked the extra point.

Davidson, who set several team passing marks, completed a 63-yard scoring aerial to Carlo Dominguez at 13:07 to again cut the margin to 13, 48-35, but the two-point conversion try failed. MC capped the scoring at 11:35 when Shaffer found Terry on a 76-yard completion, ending a three-play, 80-yard march. Justin Bullard grabbed the two-point conversion toss.

Davidson finished the game with 30 completions in 60 attempts, 283 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He ended his career with 27 touchdown passes this season, 61 for his career and 8,071 career passing yards, all records. He passed for 2,702 yards in 2007.

Barber rushed for 64 yards in 12 carries and caught eight passes for 49 more. He ended the campaign with 937 rushing yards and nine scores. Freshman Jarrett Dickerson, Willis, led the team with nine grabs for 85 yards and for the year, hauled in 51 for 829 yards and nine touchdowns.

Milo Garza, Pharr North, led the defense with 10 stops, while Fernie Acosta, El Paso Americas, and Nathan Graham, Odessa Permian, had eight and seven, respectively, including a combined five for 17 yards in losses. Gideon had four tackles and blocked two extra point attempts. Fifty-nine year-old senior Mike Flynt, Odessa Permian, saw action both on special teams and briefly at outside linebacker.

Wright, whose team was to compete Dec. 5 in the Chihuahua, Mexico, Bowl against the University of Chihuahua, called the 2007 season extremely satisfying.

"We overcame a great deal of adversity and costly injuries to reach 5-2," he said. "We won twice in overtime, another game in the final minutes and lost one [to Louisiana College] on the final play of the game. We did all this despite playing six games on the road in one of the most competitive conferences in D-III football."

Despite the loss of several key seniors, including Davidson, Barber, Graham, Garza, Watts, Vela, and Gideon, Wright is optimistic about next season.

"Our entire receiving corps, offensive linemen, and critical defensive personnel are made up of underclassmen, and we had one of the most talented freshman classes since I have been here," he said. "One of our key areas for improvement will be our snapping game, which affects our offense, special teams and how we react defensively to ball movement."

Lovato Finishes In Top Third In Virginia

Newport News, VA -- Larry Lovato finished Saturday's South/Southeast Regionals with a 42nd finish out of 170 runners in the men's individual cross country competition.

Lovato timed in at 27:47 with a pace of 5:36 in the men's 8,000 meter.

Saturday's NCAA Division III event was hosted by Christopher-Newport University.

Lobos' Chihuahuan Football Cancelled

Because of NCAA regulations which state that only 10 games are allowed during regular season, the Lobo football team's game has been cancelled. The Lobos were to play the Mexico National All-Stars on Wednesday, December 5, 2007, in Chihuahua City, Mexico.