LOCKNEY — Kicker Josh Jimenez’s 39-yard field goal with three seconds before halftime turned out to be the momentum swing that led to the Lockney Longhorns snapping a four-season drought in the historic Floyd County Championship series by shutting out their archrival Floydada Whirlwinds 24-0 on Friday at Mitchell-Zimmerman Field.
The game was a telltale story of two halves with the Whirlwinds (0-2) playing the majority of he first half on Lockney’s end of the field, until the nine-play drive by the Longhorns right before intermission that led to the Jimenez field goal. The Whirlwinds unfortunately had nothing to show on the scoreboard for their first half ball control. The tide totally turned in the third quarter, and Lockney scored twice on a pair of touchdown runs to build up a 16-0 lead that it never relinquished.
The Longhorns (1-1) then closed the coffin door with a 65-yard pick six by Ian Rodriguez in the fourth quarter to seal the 24-0 win for Lockney.
“I thought the Lockney defense played well the entire game,” Longhorn coach Cory McCombs said. “We bent a few times, but did not break. Linebackers Dax Poole and Ian Rodriguez, plus safety Elias Alvarez were the leaders.”
“The Whirlwinds played with a lot of intensity. The effort was there,” Floydada coach J.R. Compton said. “I thought we overcame a lot of adversity in the game’s opening drive to move inside Lockney’s 10 yard line on an 11-play possession. The turnover hurt a lot.”
Floydada ran 25 plays to Lockney’s 10 snaps before the game made a complete turnaround on Lockney’s drive right before halftime. The scoring drive started at their 15 yard line.
“Quarterback Pablo Morales and his teammates executed a great drive,” McCombs added. Wide receiver Malaki Alvis made a pair of real nice catches on the sideline that he immediately stepped out of bounds after making a first down. Then Josh Jimenez split the uprights on the 39-yard field goal. Josh is going to be an offensive weapon for us this season,” McCombs said.
“The second half we executed a ball control running attack with Nathan Cineceros, Austin Rodriguez and Elias Alvarez. The Longhorns responded to a halftime challenge of playing with intensity until the end of the game,” expressed McCombs.
The turnover discrepancy of Floydada’s six turnovers and Lockney’s two played out as huge factor in the game.
GAME SCORING
FLOYDADA – 0 0 0 0 – 0
LOCKNEY – 0 3 13 8 – 24
Season Records: Lockney (1-1), Floydada (0-2)
(2nd qtr)
L – Josh Jimenez 39-yard FG
(3rd qtr)
L – Elias Alvarez 14-yard run (Jimenez kick good)
L – Nathan Cineceros 8-yard run (kick failed)
(4th qtr)
L – Ian Rodiguez 65-yard INT return (Cineceros run)
GAME STATS
FLOYDADA LOCKNEY
first downs 11 12
no. of plays 57 51
time of possession 22.55 25.05
rushing 27-119 44-193
passing 13-30-75 4-7-47
TOTAL OFF. 194 240
turnovers 6 2
penalties 8-65 16-125
punts 3-34 4-28
INDIVIDAUL STAT LEADERS
(Lockney)
Nathan Cinceros 101 rushing, TD
Elias Alvarez 45 rushing, TD
Jesus Gonzales 24 rushing
Malaki Alvis 35 receiving
Josh Jimenez FG & PAT\
(Floydada)
Andres Mendoza 108 rushing, 38 receiving
Saul Reyes 29 receiving
Trace Glasscock 75 passing
JV SCORE (Thursday)
Floydada 36, Lockney 6
Records: Floydada JV 2-0, Lockney JV 1-1
NEXT GAMES on Sept. 10
Lockney vs. Boys Ranch
Floydada vs. Smyer (FCHS Homecoming)