Lobos Fall to Abilene Wylie in Area Finals to Close Historic Season

It was a rough night but certainly a memorable season for the Levelland Lobos on Friday night as they fell 75-to-21 to the Abilene Wylie Bulldogs in the 4A-1 Region One Area Finals.

The Lobos would have the opening drive and go on the move but an early holding call shut the drive down across midfield and the Lobos were forced to punt it away.

The Bulldogs would waste no time getting on the board. The Bulldogs drive would start at the 17 yard line but a big face mask penalty would push the ball to midfield and moments later JT Cary would hit Logan Gilliam on a 22 yard touchdown pass and with 6:10 to play in the front quarter, Abilene Wylie would go in front six-to-nothing. They would only get six as the Lobos blocked the PAT.

Levelland would drive again as passes to Trenton Jones and Michael Lopez pushed the ball deep into Abilene Wylie territory but the Lobos would again be forced to punt and the Bulldogs would set up their second drive from the 29 yard line.

Moments later, Trey Kleffner would strike for a 32 yard touchdown run and the Bulldogs would convert on the two point conversion. The score came with 2:30 to play in the first quarter and put Abilene Wylie up 14-to-nothing.

The Lobos got right back into it.

The Lobos would find Trenton Jones twice down the sideline and after a defensive holding penalty, the Lobos would get on the board. Nick Gerber would hit Tandon Jones from 3 yards out and the Lobos added a Jeffery Elliot PAT cutting the Bulldogs lead to 14-to-7 with 38 seconds left in the opening quarter.

The Bulldogs wasted no time to answer the score.

They would drive the ball 77 yards and get a three yard rushing touchdown from Josiah Light. The score came with 11:20 to play in the half and the Bulldogs led 21-to-seven.

The Lobos would then go four and punt and Wylie cashed in again.

A 66 yard drive was topped off by a five yard touchdown run from Jared Asbill and with 7:47 to go in the half the Lobos trailed 28-to-eight.

The Lobos would again cut the lead. Their next drive covered 67 yards and Nick Gerber hit Qualin Miller from nine yards out. With 5:35 to play in the half the Lobos were within striking distance at Abilene Wylie 28, Levelland 14.

Then disaster struck.

Abilene Wylie would get a 92 yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Josh Novil. With the extra point, Wylie led 35-to-14 with 5:22 to play in the half.

Levelland would drive the ball deep but a Nick Gerber pass was intercepted in the end zone by the Bulldogs giving Wylie the ball back at the 20 yard line.

Five plays later, Jared Asbill would rush in from three yards out and with 1:06 to play in the half, the Bulldogs were in front 42-to-14.

The Lobos would get the ball back, run four plays and set up to punt. The snap was a low, and punter Jeffery Elliot got swarmed under at the 16 yard line.

Wylie turned the mistake into points a Josiah Light would sprint in from 16 yards out and the half ended with Abilene Wylie squarely in front 49-to-14.

It was simply to big of a hill to climb for the Lobos as the Bulldogs would score on the first drive on the second half on a 22 yard touchdown run from Brooks Pepper and would get three more rushing touchdowns in the back half.

The Lobos would score again as Nick Gerber threw his third touchdown pass to Michael Lopez. The touchdown pass came early in the fourth quarter but was too little too late and the Bulldogs won the contest 75-to-21.

The Lobo offense was slowed by a lot of pressure from the Bulldogs as Nick Gerber was sacked seven times in the game. He still managed to throw for over 200 yards and three touchdowns with Tandon Jones, Qualin Miller and Michael Lopez all catching touchdown passes.

The Lobos would combine for just over 50 yards rushing in the loss.

The Twitter message sent from KLVT Sports at the end of the game gave the final score and was followed by “tough loss but a FUN SEASON!”

This was followed by a barrage of messages of support and congratulations to Coach Jared Sanderson and the Levelland Lobos as they find the first Levelland playoff win in 18 seasons.

The team was greeted by a host of fans waiting on south Highway 385 as they came home well after 2a.m. The return was also greeted by a round of fireworks courtesy of Danny and PJ Anderson from Anderson Electric in Levelland.

The team finishes five-and-seven for 2014 while taking third place in district and a 4A-1 Region One Bi-District Championship. The team will lose over 20 seniors but as Coach Jared Sanderson summed up the season on the ride home. As the team rolled into Levelland and he watched the fireworks through the front window of the bus he said, “I can’t wait for next season.”

Michael Godbolt gets credited for the Twitter of the year from a player when he sent the following tweet addressed to KLVT Sports and former Lobo standout Preston Woodard.  The first, “we did it bro. Like made history. It’s crazy. I don’t wanna go to sleep because I don’t wan this night to end.”   The second, “I love you brother. No matter how hard life gets you’ve been my inspiration since freshmen year.” Well said Bolt!